V. I.

Lenin

“ We have a constitution, thank God!” exclaimed
Mr. Milyukov after June 3, 1907. The leader of the liberal bourgeoisie
sought comfort in amusing assertions of this kind, while concealing its
distrust of the people and its reluctance, its fear, to depart from the
“constitutional” path.

Most characteristically, it is just now, when the same Mr. Milyukov or
his prim, official-minded liberal Rech acknowledges the
“beginning of a social upswing” (No. 26), that the collapse of these
constitutional illusions is becoming obvious. Underlying these illusions is
the desire to dismiss an unpleasant reality (and the unpleasant necessity
of taking a path that does not resemble the “constitutional” one), the
desire to lull oneself and others with “constitutional” catchwords.

And now look what the liberals have to say of the present situation!

“ It is dull in the Duma because there is no struggle going on” (No. 25).

Well, gentlemen, it was you who said we had a constitution!

“ All the words have been spoken. What is needed now is
deeds, but there is no faith in them . Hence the apathy” (ibid.).

You lulled yourselves with faith in words , which you addressed
chiefly to the Octobrists. Now you admit that you spoke those words to cover up lack of faith in deeds. You
have condemned yourselves, liberal gentlemen. Democrats in general, and
workers in particular, have had no faith in words (about the constitution)— [1]

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Notes:
[1]
Part of the MS. has been lost.— Ed .