V. I. Lenin

The newspaper Bednota45 is read mostly by peasants.

On this, the second, anniversary of the establishment of Soviet
power, I wish to extend greetings to the many millions of
working peasants who have been liberated from landowner and
capitalist oppression and say a few words about that liberation.

Soviet power, which overthrew the rule of capital and placed
power in the hands of the working people, has to contend in Russia
with unparalleled and incredible difficulties.

The landowners and capitalists of Russia, now joined by the
landowners and capitalists of the whole world, are still making
frenzied attempts to destroy Soviet power. They fear the example
it has set; they fear that it will win the sympathy and support of
workers the world over.

Conspiracies within the country, the bribing of the
Czechoslovak forces, the landing of foreign troops in Siberia,
Archangel, the Caucasus, South Russia and near Petrograd, the
hundreds of millions of rubles being spent to help Kolchak,
Denikin, Yudenich and other tsarist generals—every conceivable method is being employed by the capitalists of all
countries, who have accumulated millions and thousands of millions
from war contracts, in an attempt to overthrow the Soviet
government.

But all in vain. The Soviet government stands firm, overcoming
all these unparalleled and incredible difficulties, despite the
measureless suffering caused by war, blockade, famine, shortages,
breakdown of the transport system and general economic dislocation.

Soviet power in Russia has already won the support of the ‘Workers of the whole world. There is not a single
country where the people do not talk of Bolshevism and Soviet
power.

The capitalists talk of it with hatred and rabid malice,
slandering and vilifying it without end. But this malice gives
them away, and the mass of workers are turning their backs on the
old leaders and coming out in support of Soviet power.

Despite the crushing, painful burden imposed by the enemy
assault on Russia, Soviet power has triumphed throughout the
world—triumphed in the sense that everywhere the sympathy of
the working people is already on our side.

The victory of Soviet power throughout the world is assured. It is only a question of time.

Why is Soviet power so firm and stable, despite the incredible
ordeals, the terrible famine and the difficulties created by war
and economic dislocation?

Because it is the power of the working people themselves, of
the millions of workers and peasants.

The workers hold state power. The workers help the millions of
labouring peasants.

The Soviet government has overthrown the landowners and
capitalists and is steadfastly defending the people against
attempts to restore their rule.

The Soviet government gives all the aid it is capable of to the labouring peasants, the poor and Middle peasants, who make up the vast majority.

The Soviet government holds a tight rein on the kulak, the
village money-bag, the proprietor, the profiteer, on everyone
who wants to get rich without having to work, everyone who
battens on the misery and hunger of the people.

The Soviet government is for the labouring people, against the profiteers, proprietors, capitalists and
landowners.

That is the source of the strength, stability and invincibility
of Soviet power throughout the world.

Tens and hundreds of millions of workers and peasants all over
the world are suffering oppression, humiliation and plunder at the
hands of landowners and capitalists. The old state apparatus,
whether of a monarchy or a "democratic" (pseudo-democratic) republic, helps the exploiters and oppresses the
workers.

Tens and hundreds of millions of workers and peasants in all lands know
this; they see it and experience it in their everyday life.

The imperialist war lasted over four years; tens of millions were killed and
crippled. What for? For the division of the capitalists' spoils, for
markets, profits, colonies and the power of the banks.

The Anglo-French imperialist predators defeated the German imperialist
predators. With every passing day they are exposing themselves for what they
are-robbers and plunderers, oppressors of the working folk who batten on the
misery of the people and tyrannise weak nations.

That is why support for Soviet power is growing among the workers and
peasants of the world.

The severe and arduous struggle against capital was victoriously begun in
Russia. It is now spreading in all countries.

It will end in the victory of the World Soviet Republic .