V. I. Lenin

The Third Congress of the R.S.D.L.P.

APRIL 12–27 (APRIL 25–MAY 10), 1905

18

SPEECHES IN THE DEBATE ON THE DRAFT RESOLUTION ON THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE
GOVERNMENT’S TACTICS ON THE EVE OF A REVOLUTION

APRIL 19 (MAY 2)

1

Iagree with Comrade Belsky’s opinion. {1} We tend to minimise the concept of revolution when using
this word in relation to the mere wresting of a few paltry rights.

2

Iagree that “revolutionary way” is an expression for a more vigorous
conduct of struggle, but this tends to minimise the concept of
revolution. I propose either that we replace it by the words “regardless
of the law”, or that after “revolutionary way” we delete the words
“minimal programme”, as it could be taken to mean that we want to carry
through the whole revolution in this way.

| Trety ocherednoi syezd R.S.D.R.P. Polny tekst protokolov , Central Committee publication, Geneva, 1905 | |
| --- | --- |
| Printed from the text of the book | |

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Notes:
{1}
When the thirteenth sitting of the Congress discussed the draft
resolution on the attitude towards the government’s tactics on the eve of a
revolution, there was a great debate on point “c” of the resolutive
section, which read: “To organise the proletariat for the immediate
introduction, in a revolutionary way, of an 8–hour working day and for the
implementation of all the main demands of our minimum programme.”
P. A. Krasikov (Belsky) objected to the words “revolutionary way”, and
proposed their substitution by the words “actual gain”.

Asa result of the debate, the point was adopted in the following
wording: “To organise the proletariat for the immediate implementation, in
a revolutionary way, of an 8-hour working day and the impending demands of
the working class” (see Trety syezd R.S.D.R.P. , p. 222).

p. 155