I am amazed that we have not all grown tired of this. Comrade Maximov is needlessly getting heated, because there has never been a split without extreme accusations, and the incidents of secession have always been confused with questions of honor. I recall scenes with Krichevsky in 1901, in 1905 with Martov, in 1907 with Plekhanov—and everyone would pounce on me with cries about honor. The matter is not one of honor, but rather that in the process of struggle people disorganize their own faction and organize a new one. For example, Lyadov. He has not become a bad comrade, but he disorganizes our faction and creates his own. I think that Maximov disorganizes those whom he considers Mensheviks. That is his perfectly legitimate right, and yet he speaks to us about inviting Lenin to the school. The question of control is also absurd. One cannot proceed in this manner. It is clear that the school is a new center, a new tendency. Marat says that he will not abandon his posts. You, Comrade Marat, have succumbed to factional passion, determined by the political struggle of the "divine" Otzovists.

What is a faction? It is a union of like-minded people within the party. In the Duma—the party is a union of like-minded people within the Duma. After all, when a member of the Duma, say Khomyakov, transfers to another party, he does not cease to be its chairman. The same applies to the relationship of a faction to the party. The post that you have occupied by virtue of the party can only be taken from you by the party. We are quarreling now—that is because we have no union of like-minded people. No one is encroaching upon your party post, and there is nothing to confuse it with. We have a split within the faction, not the party. Party posts are not subject to our assembly. And there is nothing to say here about honor. And I am accustomed to this: I am being reviled for the fourth time already. One must acknowledge what is: two centers, two tendencies, and a school as a fact. And everything will become clearer when we regroup.

*Printed from the text of the book, verified against the protocol record*

*First page of the manuscript of V. I. Lenin's "Speech on the Question of the Tasks of the Bolsheviks in the Party" June 11 (24). – 1909. (Reduced)*