Speech on the Issue of Organizational Unity Within the Party [1]
(April 24, 1937)

We now observe certain phenomena, such as the practice in some places of "a new ruler brings in his own courtiers," and in northern Shaanxi, there is also the issue of relations between cadres from outside the region and local cadres. It must be made very clear that the primary concern is unity in political line; only on the basis of unity in this principle can solidarity be achieved. In the past, we have had painful experiences, such as the sectarianism of Chen Duxiu and Li Lisan. Such shortcomings will inevitably arise in the future, as China’s economic backwardness makes these defects prone to emerge. Our task is to wage a struggle against sectarianism. Only through ideological unity can we defeat the enemy. As the Party develops nationwide, the proportion of intellectuals within it will account for a certain number. This situation further increases our responsibility for education. Every organizational error always stems from ideological deviation; organizational unity and ideological unity cannot be separated. To maintain ideological unity, it is necessary to expand democracy within the organization and exercise caution in making organizational conclusions.

[1] This is part of Mao Zedong’s speech on the issue of organizational unity within the Party at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.