**Source: PSS vol. 32**

The expression "hand tricks" is taken from today's leading article of *Delo Naroda*. The newspaper of the "Socialist-Revolutionaries," in which Kerensky and Chernov participate, writes, exposing the machinations of French representatives of "socialism tamed by the bourgeoisie":

"…These are old and ancient hand tricks; among us Mr. Plekhanov has repeatedly and unsuccessfully amused himself with them, without deceiving anyone…"

Only Plekhanov, my dear friends?

But after all, you are running in the elections in a bloc with this very same Plekhanov "Unity," you are pushing it through, you are saving it!!

And yet in your own newspaper (No. 44 from May 9) S. Mstislavsky wrote about Plekhanov:

"when such" (as in *Russkaya Volya* and *Novoye Vremya*) "counter-revolutionary outbursts the recently former ideological leader of Russian social-democracy lends a hand to, one must note with deep regret, with sincere sorrow such a fact, for truly one would not have thought that the decomposition of the International would go so far."

…and the decomposition of the Socialist-Revolutionaries, who entered into a bloc with this "Unity"!

And in No. 48 of *Delo Naroda* (from May 13) in an unsigned, that is to say editorial, note we read:

"The political unity of 'Unity' with liberal bourgeoisie—this is a universally known fact…"

Listen! Listen! "Socialist-Revolutionaries" and Mensheviks in unity with that very same "Unity," whose political unity with liberal bourgeoisie is a universally known fact. Do not forget this, comrade workers and working women, comrade soldiers!

The Menshevik *Rabochaya Gazeta* in an editorial leading article No. 35 from April 20 wrote:

"We are against English imperialists. 'Unity' is against English socialists. That is the whole difference. Therein lies the reason why 'Unity' must reason like a Hottentot… Russian workers remember perfectly well how Plekhanov under the tsarist regime sought in every way to dissuade them from any strikes whatsoever. Then Plekhanov also frightened us with something even more terrible, assuring us that this struggle was only a service to the general staff of the German army."

And in No. 57 (May 16) of the same newspaper, the most moderate ministerialist Cherevanin wrote:

"Plekhanov and his 'Unity' are doing everything in their power to compromise the principle of defense, already sufficiently compromised on an international scale by the efforts of the majority of German, French, and other socialists, to compromise it among us as well."

That is how 'Unity' is being evaluated, that is how it is being shunned, that is how the Populists and Mensheviks are ashamed of it!!

And at the same time they are entering into a bloc (alliance) with it in the elections, – and Plekhanov is accepting positions from people who publicly call him a "trickster," "tamed by the bourgeoisie," a "Hottentot," "compromised," "united with liberal bourgeoisie."

Which side is worse in such a bloc?

Workers and soldiers! Not a single vote to the bloc of Populists with Mensheviks, covering for and pushing through "Unity," "united with liberal bourgeoisie"!

Written May 25 (June 7) 1917

Published June 9 (May 27) 1917 in the newspaper *Pravda* No. 67

Printed according to the newspaper text