The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-11-24

industrialization of the country,
rapid rate of development of indus
try, the identification of the coun-
try, the REIMBURSEMENT of the entire
economy on a new technical basis,
the cooperative development of
great masses of peasants and the
increase of the productivity of their
undertakings, the gradual combina-
ton of the individual peasant under
takings in the form of collective
estates, the development of the
Soviet undertakings, the ousting
and suppression of the capitalist ele-
ments in town and country, and so
on.
Lenin on Capitalism in U. S. S. r.
Lenin speaks as follows on this
point:
"As long as we live in petty
bourgeois country, capitalism has
IN Russia a stronger economic
basis than Communism. We must
bear this in mind. Every one
who attentively observes life in
the rural districts in comparison
with life in the cities, knows that
we have not yet eradicated capt.
talism altogether and that we
have not yet deprived our internal
enemies of their foundation. They
still depend on the small peasant
undertakings, and to remove this
prop there is but one means, that
of readjusting rural economy, in
Guiding agriculture, on new
technical basis, that of the great
industries of the present age.
Such basis is electricity. Com
munism means Soviet authority
plus the electrification of the en-
tire country. Otherwise the coun-
try will remain a petty-peasant
country and this must be fully
recognized. We are weaker than
the capitalists, not only in the
world in general but also within
our own country. That is known
to all. We have recognized this
fact and we shall succeed in turn
ing the economic basis of the
country out of petty-peasant in
to great industrial basis. Only
then, when the country is cleo
trified and when industry, agri-
culture and transports are COM
pletely on the basis of the great
industries of the present age, only
then shall we have gained def
mite victory"
1t follows, firstly, that as long as
we live in petty-peasant country,
as long as we have not extirpated
the roots of capitalism, the latter
will continue to have firmer econ
omic basis than Communism. There
are cases in which a tree has been
felled but it has been omitted to ex-
terminate the roots. The available
forces did not suffice. There fol-
lows the possibility of restoration
of capitalism in our country.
Victory of Socialism Possible.
1t follows, secondly, that besides
the possibility of re-establishment
Of capitalism there is also the pos
sibility of a victory of Socialism in
this country, for we may succeed in
destroying the possibility of a re-
establishment of capitalism, we can
exterminate the roots of capitalism
and carry off the final victory over
capitalism, if we develop a strenu-
GUS activity towards the electrified
ton of the country and if we pro-
cure for industry, agriculture, and
transports, the technical basis of
our up-to-date industries. Hence
there follows the possibility of a
victory of Socialism in this country.
1t follows, finally, that it is i'm
possible merely to develop Social
ism in industry and to leave agricul-
ture to the arbitrary volition of an
elementary development by starting
from the assumption that the rural
districts will approach the cities of
their own accord. The existence of
a Socialist industry in the towns is
the main factor of the Socialist re-
adjustment of the rural districts.
That does not mean, however. that
this factor alone suffices to enable
the Socialist towns to lead the pea
SAINT villages in their wake, it is
necessary, as Lenin points out, "to
place the economy of the rural dis