V. I.

Lenin

Theargument about the tactics in respect of the State Duma is becoming more and
more heated. The differences between Iskra and Proletary are
becoming ever deeper, especially since Parvus’s article in Iskra .

Tacticsmust be debated, but in this the utmost clarity must be striven
for. Questions of tactics are questions of the Party’s political conduct. A line
of conduct can and should be grounded in theory, in historical
references, in an analysis of the entire political situation, etc. But in all
these discussions the party of a class engaged in a struggle should never lose
sight of the need for absolutely clear answers—which do not permit of a double interpretation—to concrete questions of our political
conduct: “yes” or “no”? Should this or that be done right now, at
the given moment, or should it not be done?

Suchclear replies are essential to prevent differences from being exaggerated
or confused, and also to make definitely known to the working class the specific
kind of advice being offered it by this or that group of Social-Democrats at a
given moment.

Witha view to introducing complete clarity into our controversy with
Iskra we have drawn up the following list of concrete questions
concerning the political conduct of the Social-Democrats in the present Duma
election campaign. We do not in the least claim that this list is complete, and
would welcome suggestions for amending, changing, or subdividing any of the
questions. It stands to reason that what is said here concerning election
meetings applies to all meetings in general.

What is the Advice the Social-Democrats are Giving the Proletariat
with Reference to the State Duma?

1. Should workers endeavour to gain entry to election meetings?

Iskra : Yes

Proletary : Yes

2. Should workers endeavour to gain entry to election meetings even by force?

Iskra : Yes

Proletary : Yes

3. Should we speak at such meetings about the uselessness of the Duma and
explain all the aims and the entire programme of Social-Democracy?

Iskra : Yes

Proletary : Yes

4. Should the workers and the people as a whole be called upon at such meetings
to rise up in arms and form a revolutionary army and a provisional
revolutionary government?

Iskra : ?

Proletary : Yes

5. Should these slogans (point 4) be made the focus of our whole
“Duma” campaign?

Iskra : No

Proletary : Yes

6. Should Osvobozhdeniye League members (or
“Constitutional-Democrats”) entering the State Duma be denounced as bourgeois traitors who are pursuing a policy of
“compromise” with the tsar?

Iskra : No

Proletary : Yes

7. Should we Social-Democrats tell the people that it would be preferable to
elect to the State Duma the Petrunkeviches rather than the Stakhoviches,
etc.?

Iskra : Yes

Proletary : No

8. Should we conclude any agreement whatever with the Osvobozhdeniye
League on our support of the latter on the basis of certain conditions,
demands, pledges, etc.?

Iskra : Yes

Proletary : No

9. Should we make the slogan of “revolutionary self-government” the
central point of our agitation?

Iskra : Yes

Proletary : No

10. Should we call upon the people immediately to elect, on the basis of
universal suffrage, bodies of revolutionary self-government and through
these a constituent assembly?

Iskra : Yes

Proletary : No

11. Should we elect Social-Democratic election committees? Should we put up
Social-Democratic candidates for the State Duma?

Iskra : Yes

Proletary : No

---
Notes: