What does “ Freedom of Criticism ” Mean !
- V . I . Lenin
What is to be Done ?
To proceed . If Bernstein ’ s theoretical criticism and political yearnings were still unclear to anyone , the French took the trouble strikingly to demonstrate the “ new method ”. In this instance , too , France has justified its old reputation of being “ the land where , more than anywhere else , the historical class struggles were each time fought out to a decision ...” ( Engels , Introduction to Marx ’ s Der 18 Brumaire ). The French socialists have begun , not to theorise , but to act . The democratically more highly developed political conditions in France have permitted them to put “ Bernsteinism into practice ” immediately , with all its consequences . Millerand has furnished an excellent example of practical Bernsteinism ; not without reason did Bernstein and Vollmar rush so zealously to defend and laud him . Indeed , if Social-Democracy , in essence , is merely a party of reform and must be bold enough to admit this openly , then not only has a socialist the right to join a bourgeois cabinet , but he must always strive to do so . If democracy , in essence , means the abolition of class domination , then why should not a socialist minister charm the whole bourgeois world by orations on class collaboration ? Why should he not remain in the cabinet even after the shooting-down of workers by gendarmes has exposed , for the hundredth and thousandth time , the real nature of the democratic collaboration of classes ? Why should he not personally take part in greeting the tsar , for whom the French socialists now have no other name than hero of the gallows , knout , and exile ( knouteur , pendeur et deportateur )? And the reward for this utter humiliation and self-degradation of socialism in the face of the whole world , for the corruption of the socialist consciousness of the working masses – the only basis that can guarantee our victory – the reward for this is
January - 2022 pompous projects for miserable reforms , so miserable in fact that much more has been obtained from bourgeois governments !
He who does not deliberately close his eyes cannot fail to see that the new “ critical ” trend in socialism is nothing more nor less than a new variety of opportunism . And if we judge people , not by the glittering uniforms they don or by the highsounding appellations they give themselves , but by their actions and by what they actually advocate , it will be clear that “ freedom of criticism ” means ’ freedom for an opportunist trend in Social-Democracy , freedom to convert Social-Democracy into a democratic party of reform , freedom to introduce bourgeois ideas and bourgeois elements into socialism .
“ Freedom ” is a grand word , but under the banner of freedom for industry the most predatory wars were waged , under the banner of freedom of labour , the working people were robbed . The modern use of the term “ freedom of criticism ” contains the same inherent falsehood . Those who are really convinced that they have made progress in science would not demand freedom for the new views to continue side by side with the old , but the substitution of the new views for the old . The cry heard today , “ Long live freedom of criticism ”, is too strongly reminiscent of the fable of the empty barrel .
We are marching in a compact group along a precipitous and difficult path , firmly holding each other by the hand . We are surrounded on all sides by enemies , and we have to advance almost constantly under their fire . We have combined , by a freely adopted decision , for the purpose of fighting the enemy , and not of retreating into the neighbouring marsh , the inhabitants of which , from the very outset , have reproached us with having separated ourselves into an exclusive group and with having chosen the path of struggle instead of the path of conciliation . And now some among us begin to cry out : Let us go into the marsh ! And when we begin to shame them , they retort : What backward people you are ! Are you not ashamed to deny us the liberty to invite you to take a better road ! Oh , yes , gentlemen ! You are free not only to invite us , but to go yourselves wherever you will , even into the marsh . In fact , we think that the marsh is your proper place , and we are prepared to render you every assistance to get there . Only let go of our hands , don ’ t clutch at us and don ’ t besmirch the grand word freedom , for we too are “ free ” to go where we please , free to fight not only against the marsh , but also against those who are turning towards the marsh ! B . The New Advocates of “ Freedom of Criticism ”
Now , this slogan (“ freedom of criticism ”) has in recent times been solemnly advanced by Rabocheye Dyelo ( No . 10 ), organ of the Union of Russian Social-Democrats Abroad , not as a theoretical postulate , but as a political demand , as a reply to the question , “ Is it possible to unite the Social-Democratic organisations operating abroad ?”: “ For a durable unity , there must be freedom of criticism ” ( p . 36 ).
From this statement two definite conclusions follow : ( 1 ) that Rabocheye Dyelo has taken under its wing the opportunist trend in international Social-Democracy in general , and ( 2 ) that Rabocheye Dyelo demands freedom for opportunism in Russian Social-Democracy . Let us examine these conclusions .
Rabocheye Dyelo is “ particularly ” displeased with the “ inclination of Iskra and Zarya to predict a rupture between the Mountain and the Gironde in international Social- Democracy ”. j
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