The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-06-16
THE SPANISH REVOLUTION

reois population, which were decidedly hostile to
the monarchy
Alfonso resigned out Of fear Of the growing
revolutionary upsurge and with the desire by
means a tricky maneuver, to retain the ap-
psratlls of the class oppression. 1t was not the
result of the elections that led TO the establish
ment of the Spanish Republic but the popular
movement which had not yet fully developed,
but nevertheless was already strong enough to
cause the ruling classes to tremble.
The establishment of the bourgeois republic
in Spain has taken place with great historical
beIatedness in the epoch in which the question
of a proletarian revolution is on the order OF
the day. The same was the case in Russia.
AS a result the Russian revolution went over
in the shortest possible historical period from
the liquidation of the monarchy to the dictator
ship of the proletariat. That was its course
from February to october.
What are the immediate perspectives Of the
Spanish revolution in this respect? One must
openly state that these are not by a long way
so favorable.
The Russian Revolution of 1917 began with
the double power" that is, the fundamental
character of its first stage. Alongside OF the
bourgeois provisional government there arose
in Russia the Soviets against the will OF which
the bourgeoisie was able to achieve very little.
For the time being there does not exist a
double power in the Spanish revolution. Power
lies in the hands of the Spanish bourgeoisie
land the landowners. They are exercising this
power with the aid of the State apparatus, which
they kept intact.
This Circumstance. from the standpoint of the
interests of the proetariat, is the most import
ant negative feature of the Spanish revolution.
This feature renders more difficult than was
the case in Russian 1917 not only the develop
ment of the bourgeois revolution into the So
cialst revolution but also the simple consolida-
ton of the modest democratic achievements
even the defense of the republic against the
danger which is very real under the present
circumstances of nlonarchist restoration.
Why did it not not come to double power"
in Spain?
In the first place because the Spanish pro-
Ietariat entered the present revolution without
that rich experience of the class struggle in
the most various forms which the working class
of Russia possessed; without the experience of
the year 1905 (Which is Of particular Importance
as it was in the year that Soviets were first
formed. The Communist Party of Spain is far
| and away weaker than was the Bolshevist Party
! under Lenin's leadership in 1917.
d
tered the revolution without a correct orienta-
ton and without leadership The Communist
Party of Spain proved TO be politically and Or
! ganizationally too weak to lead the proletariat
! In the meantime, the socialists and anarchists
who have behind them considerable part OF
| the working class, are following at the heels Of
the bourgeois republicans. The socialists i'm
mediately entered the bourgeois government.
OF great Importance also is the circumstance
that the monarchy was not defeated by the
masses in an open armed struggle The victory
of the masses in an armed struggle is Of grea
importance for the further course of the revo
luton. The masses who have the weapons il
hand and make successful use of them, ar
ready for any fight in order not to be deprived
of the weapons or of their achievements.
There are number of further important fac
tors which show the difference of the Spanish
revolution compared with the Russian revolu
ton. In 1917 Russia was in a state of war, AM
this affected its inner and international situa
ton. The youngest and the most active par
of the Russian peasantry were under arms. Tn
masses were war-weary they wanted possessis
of the land and therefore turned their weapon
against those who would not give them ethe
land or peace. At the moment of the victory c
the Russian revolution the imperialist world wa
divided into two warning camps, and therefor
was unable to attack the young SOVIET Repupn
with its whole forces.
These favorable conditions do not exist &c
Spain.
All that has been said above suffices to Civ
an idea of the difficulties Of the Spanish revc
luton. The analogy with our February revc
luton applies only insofar as power has passe
into the hands Of the bourgeoisie, that tt
achievements of the people are obviously ii
adequate, that further steps must be taken; b,
the analogy does not apply a whole, as tt
Spanish proletariat has not won the positic
which the Russian proletarat had won in Eel
ruary, 1917 and it will be much more difficu
for the Spanish proetariat to advance.
Ito Be Continued