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LENIN ON ORGANIZATION

instance, in the pamphlet referred to in the footnote, side by side with the argument against narrowing down the political struggle to a conspiracy there is described (as a Social Democratic ideal) an organization which is so strong that "in order to deliver the decisive blow to absolutism" it is in a position to resort either to "uprising" or "to any other form of attack^[1]. In an autocratic country such a strong revolutionary organization, judged by its form, may be called a "conspiratorial" organization, since conspiracy is in the highest degree essential to such an organization. Conspiracy is so essential a condition of an organization of this kind that all other conditions (the number and selection of members, their functions, etc.) must be made to conform with it. It would therefore be the height of simplicity to fear the accusation that we Social Democrats want to create a conspiratorial organization. This accusation should be as flattering to every enemy of economism as the accusation of "Narodovolism."

↑ "Tasks of the Russian Social Democrats," p. 23. By the way here is another example of the fact that "Rabochie Delo" either does not understand what it is talking about, or changes its views "with the weather." In No. 1 of "Rabochie Delo" we find the following statement printed in italics: "In essence the pamphlet wholly coincides with the editorial program of 'Rabochie Delo'" (page 142). Indeed? Does the view that it is impossible to make the overthrow of the autocracy the main task of the mass movement, or the theory of "the economic struggle against the masters and the government" or the theory of stages coincide with the "Tasks." We ask the reader to judge, can a paper with such original ideas of "coincidence" possess firm principles?

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[1] "Tasks of the Russian Social Democrats," p. 23. By the way here is another example of the fact that "Rabochie Delo" either does not understand what it is talking about, or changes its views "with the weather." In No. 1 of "Rabochie Delo" we find the following statement printed in italics: "In essence the pamphlet wholly coincides with the editorial program of 'Rabochie Delo'" (page 142). Indeed? Does the view that it is impossible to make the overthrow of the autocracy the main task of the mass movement, or the theory of "the economic struggle against the masters and the government" or the theory of stages coincide with the "Tasks." We ask the reader to judge, can a paper with such original ideas of "coincidence" possess firm principles?

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