"Den'" writes today concerning the resolution of the Central Committee of April 20, which speaks of the necessity of the transfer of power to the revolutionary proletariat with the support of the majority of the people:

"Very simple, but in that case what is holding things up? Instead of a resolution – come and take power."

Here is a typical specimen of the usual methods of the bourgeois press! People pretend not to understand the most obvious thing and thereby ensure themselves – on paper – an easy victory. Whoever says: "take power," can, thinking it over just a little, figure out that an attempt to take power would be adventurism or Blanquism ("Pravda" specially, specifically, precisely, clearly, unambiguously warned against this), as long as there is no support from the majority of the people.

In Russia now there is such freedom that the will of the majority can be determined by the composition of the Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies; consequently, in order to proceed seriously, not in a Blanquist manner, toward power, the proletarian party must struggle for influence within the Soviets.

All this has been said, restated, and chewed over by "Pravda," and only lack of comprehension or malicious intent can "not understand" this. Let the reader judge for himself which of these two dishonorable categories the "Rabochaya Gazeta" belongs to, which calls the "proposal" (to the Soviet) to "take power into its own hands" "irresponsible incitement," "demagoguery devoid of any sense of political responsibility, lightheartedly calling democracy to civil struggle, war, exciting workers and soldiers not only against the government but against the very Soviet itself," and so on.

Can one imagine greater confusion and shifting blame from a sick head to a healthy one on the question of demagoguery?

Prime Minister Lvov, according to the evening "Birzhevye Vedomosti"{141} of April 21, said literally the following:

"Until now the Provisional Government has encountered unwavering support from the guiding organ of S.R. and S.D. [Socialist Revolutionaries and Social Democrats]. These last two weeks relations have changed. The Provisional Government is under suspicion. Under such conditions it has no possibility whatsoever of governing the state, since in an atmosphere of distrust and discontent it is difficult to accomplish anything. Under such conditions it would be best for the Provisional Government to step down. It is all too well aware of the responsibility resting upon it before the homeland and for its sake is prepared this very moment to resign if that is necessary."

Is this not clear? Can one really not understand why our Central Committee, after such a speech, proposed a poll of the population?

What do "civil war," "incitement," "demagoguery," and other fearsome words have to do with it, if the Prime Minister declares himself ready to "step down"??? if he recognized the Soviet of W. and S.D. as "the guiding organ"???

One of two things: either "Rabochaya Gazeta" believes that Lvov is deceiving the people with such or similar declarations – then it must call not for trust and support but for distrust and refusal of support. Or "Rabochaya Gazeta" believes that Lvov is indeed "prepared to step down" – then what is all this howling about civil war?

If "Rabochaya Gazeta" understands the situation correctly, understands that the capitalists are covering their desire violently to thwart the will of the majority with shouts about civil war, then what good are all the cries of this newspaper?

Lvov has the right to propose to the Soviet to approve and accept his, Lvov's, policy. Our party has the right to propose to the Soviet to approve and accept ours, the proletarian, policy. To speak of "incitement" and so forth means to reveal complete lack of understanding of the matter or to descend precisely to base demagoguery. We have the right to struggle and will struggle for influence and for the majority in the Soviet and in the Soviets. And we repeat:

"Only then will we be for the transfer of power into the hands of proletarians and semi-proletarians when the Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies take the side of our policy and wish to take this power into their own hands"[52].

Written April 22 (May 5), 1917

Published May 6 (April 23), 1917 in the newspaper "Pravda" no. 39

Printed from the newspaper text