I fully share the view of V. Dm.[*] that it is possible for us to draw into the ranks of social-democracy a far greater proportion of small producers and far sooner (than in the West), – that to accomplish this we must do everything within our power, – that this "aspiration" must be expressed in the program "against" the Martynovs et Co. I entirely agree with all of this. I welcome the addition of what is expressed at the end of § 10 – I emphasize this in order to avoid misunderstanding.

But one must not bend the bow too far in the opposite direction, as V. Dm. does! One must not confuse "aspiration" with reality, and moreover with that immanently-necessary reality to which alone our Prinzipienerklärung[137] is devoted. It is desirable to draw all small producers – of course. But we know that this is a particular class, though bound to the proletariat by a thousand threads and transitional stages, yet still a particular class.

It is absolutely necessary first to fence ourselves off from everyone, to single out one and only one, exclusively and solely, the proletariat, – and only then to declare that the proletariat will liberate all, calls all, invites all.

I agree to this "then," but I demand this "first" before it!

In Russia the diabolical torments of the "toiling and exploited masses" called forth no popular movement whatsoever, until a "handful" of factory workers began the struggle, class struggle. And only this "handful" guarantees its conduct, continuation, expansion. Precisely in Russia, where even critics (Bulgakov) accuse social-democrats of "peasant-phobia," and Socialist-Revolutionaries{88} cry out about the necessity of replacing the concept of class struggle with the concept of the "struggle of all toiling and exploited people" ("Vestnik Russkoy Revolyutsii" No. 2), – precisely in Russia we must first, with the sharpest definition of the class struggle of the proletariat alone, fence ourselves off from all this rabble, – and only then declare that we call all, will take all, accomplish all, extend to all. But the commission is "extending" while forgetting to fence ourselves off!! And they accuse me of narrowness because I demand that this "fencing off" precede the extension?! This is sheer falsification, gentlemen!!

The struggle inevitably impending for us tomorrow with the united critics + the gentlemen from "Russkiye Vedomosti" and "Russkoye Bogatstvo"{89} + the Socialist-Revolutionaries will inevitably demand of us precisely a demarcation of the class struggle of the proletariat from the "struggle" (is it even a struggle?) of the "toiling and exploited masses." Phrases about these masses – this is the trump card in the hands of all unsicheren Kantonisten[138]. And the commission plays into their hands and deprives us of weapons to fight against half-measures, in order to emphasize one half! Do not forget the other half!

Written in early April 1902.