The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-10-02
A Typical Liberal Intellectuaps Curious Version
of Revolutionary Strategy

Laski, in order to secure a base
from which to attack the revolu-
tionary movement, climbs on a self
constructed promontory from which
he hurls the javelins of mendacity
at the theoretical founders of our
movement.
The MARKHAM Interpretation OF
history, Historical Materialism, cor
rectly states that the mode OF
wealth production in any given So
ciety determines the general char
acter of all our political, religious
and other social institutions. No
where, in all the voluminous writ
.ings of Marxists is it possible to
lind the slightest indication of such
a vulgar conception as Laski at
tributes to Marx; the notion that
change in economic conditions in
stantly changes in the whole vast
superstructure of society.
Much Too Simple.
If history could be interpreted in
such a fashion it would indeed be
possible for Oxford graduates and
Harvard and London professors to
become accomplished historians, in
stead of devoting their talents to
writing hackneyed apologies for the
imperialist bourgeoisie. 1nstitu-
tions. customs, thoughts, ideologies,
art, literature, laws, do not emerge
from a given economic foundation
as automatic, mechanical effects.
Quite the contrary. The process is
very complicated Marxians, far
more than others, recognize these
facts. To attribute to Marxism that
identical vulgarization against which
every Marxist in the world has Wig
orously fought is to reveal one OF
two things-either a total incapa-
CITY to understand Marx, or a vile
attempt deliberately to misrepresent
his teachings.
There have been, and are today,
vukarizers of Marxism, who pre-
tend to be followers of Marx, who
concoct elaborate apologies for their
failure to participate in the class
struggle, or their cowardice, by re-
heating over and over the stupid
formula that when economic condi-
tions are "ripe" the revolution will
automatically appear. For such as
these the orthodox MarXist has only
the deepest contempt.
Non Economic Factors.
Marx and Engels constantly re-
ferred in their historical writings to
the role that is played by custom,
law. tradition, religion, etc. The ia
NOUS quotation from The Eighteenth
Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, 1.-The
tradition of all past generations
weighs like an alp upon the brain
of the living" is no mere figure OF
speech. but a profound historical
observation.
Marx and Engels, in their time
fully recognized certain non-econo
mic factors as obstacles TO the oe'
development of the revolution. IT
the famous work, Revolution ant
Counter Revolution or Germany II
18is. we read the following est
mate Of the situation prevailing
then:
'Gn passing Judgment upon the
sIowness of political develop
ment in Germany no one ought
TO omit taking into account the
d,fficulty of obtaining correct
information upon any subject IN
country where all sources of
information were under the con-
troll of the government, where
from the Ragged School and the
sunday School to the newspaper
and university nothing was said,
taught, printed or published but
what had obtained its approba-
ton"
This is but one of many observa
tions of the founders of the revolu
tionary movement that could b.
quoted to prove that Marx and En-
gels fully recognized the potency O.
!, theological weapons, which the econ