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LENIN ON ORGANIZATION
cratic tendencies which are being displayed in the ranks of our Party" ("Two Congresses," p. 18).
Exactly how the "Rabochie Delo" is combatting the "anti-democratic tendencies" of "Iskra" we will see in the next chapter. For the present let us examine a little more closely the "principle" advanced by the economists. Everybody will agree we suppose, that the "broad democratic principle" implies the two following essential conditions: firstly, complete publicity, and secondly, election to all posts. It is ridiculous to talk of democracy without publicity; and the publicity must not be confined to members of the organization only. We call the German Socialist Party a democratic organization because everything in it is done openly, even the party congresses are held openly, but nobody would call an organization which is shut off from non-members by a veil of secrecy a democratic organization. It will be asked, what is the sense of advocating the "broad democratic principle" in a secret organization when the fundamental condition of that principle cannot be fulfilled? "Broad principle" is a high-sounding, but empty phrase. But that is not all. The phrase reveals a complete failure to understand the essential tasks of the moment in the sphere of organization. Everybody knows to what extent conspiracy is lacking among the "broad" masses of our revolutionaries. We have seen how bitterly B-v. complains of this, justly demanding a "strict selection of members" ("Rabochie Delo," No. 6, p. 42). And here we have
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