The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-01-03
LENIN CORNER
On Defeating Ones Gown"
Government

GNEARLY every one admits the present war to
~ be an imperialist war, In most cases, how
ever, this term is either distorted or applied to
one side only, or "a loopho1e is left for the as
sertion that the war is a bourgeois progressive
means for national liberation. Imperialism is
the highest stage in the development of capital
ism, one that has been reached only in the
twentieth century Capitalism began to fool
cramped within the old national states without
the formation of which it could not overthrow
feudalisrn Capitalism has brought about such
economic concentration that entire branches of
industry are in the hands of syndicates trusts
or corporations of billionaires almost the entire
globe has been parceled out among the giants
of capital" either in the form of colonies, or
through the entangling of foreign countries by
thousands of threads of financial exploitation
Free trade and competition have been superseded
oy tendencies towards monopoly, towards seizure
Of lands for the investment of capital for the
export of raw materials, etc. Capitalism, for
merly lberator of nations, has now, in its i'm
perialist stage, become the greatest oppressor Of
nations. Formerly progressive, it has become
reactionary force 1t has developed the produe-
tive forces to such an extent that humanity must
either pass over to socialism, or for years, nay
decades witness armed conflicts of the great
nations for an artificial maintenance of capital
and all sorts of national oppression.
Socialism and the War of 1914-1915
THE bourgeois papers of all the bolligerent
countries have quoted examples of determination
between the soldiers of the bolligerent nations,
even in the trenches. The fact that the military
authorities of Germany and England have issued
severe orders against such determination proves
that the government and the hourgeoise con-
'ider it of serious Importance. If at time when
)pportunism among the leaders of the social
democratic parties of western Europe is supreme
and social-chauvinism is supported by the entire
social democratic press well by all influential
figures of the Second International, such cases
of determination are possible, how much nearer
could we bring the end of this criminal reac-
tionary and slave-driving and the orgariza-
ton of revolutionary international movement
If systematic work were conducted in this direc-
ton, at least by the left socialist of al the
bolligerent countries!
Socialism and the War of l914-l9I5
what is economically implied i'll the defense
of the fatherand during the war of 1914-l915?
The answer was given in the Basic Manifesto
The war being fought by all great powers for
the purpose of plundering, dividing the world,
acquiring markets. enslavng peoples. For the
bourgeoise it brings an increase in profits; for
thin layer Of labor bureaucracy and arstocracy,
also for the petty bourgeoise dntelligentsia etc.
that has identified itself with the labor move
ment, it promises crumbs from those profits. The
economic basis of 'social-chauvinism' (this term
being more precise than the term socal-patriot-
ism, as the latter enlbellishes the eviD and of
opportunisrn is the same, namely, an alliance of
an insignificant section of the top of the labor
movement with It's national bourgeosie against
the class that is exploited by the bourgeoisie.
Social-chauvinism is opportunsm brought to its
logical conclusions.
1.-THE political essence of social chauvinism and
opportunism is the same. 1t expresses itself in
class collaboration, reputation of proletarian
dictatorship, rejection of revolutionary action,
obeisance to the bourgeosie and bourgeois legal
ty, lack of confidence in the proletariat, con-
fidence 10 the bourgeoisie, The political ideas
are the same, the political principles of tactics
are also the same Social-chauvinism is a direct
continuation of and logical conclusion from
Millerandisn Bernstenisrl, the English liberal
Labor Party; 1t is their total, their consul
nation, their highest achievement
--Imperialist War--Opportunism and Second
Information