I transcribed a scan of a manifesto written by several Anarchist groups exiled from the Russian Empire by the young Bolshevik government. It was hard to read in parts.
The PDF is hosted on libcom.org
Manifesto
On
The Russian Revolution
Issued By The
Anarchist Communist Groups of U.S. and Canada
Federation of Anarchist Communist Groups of U.S. and Canada
Ukrainian Anarchist Communist Groups of U.S. and Canada
Distributed Free
1922
Manifesto on the Russian Revolution.
To the Proletariat of the World
Foreword
Before stating the facts of the present occurrences in
Russia, it is important to dwell upon the differences in tactics and aims,
which separated the Socialist and Anarchist into two distinct movements.
The Socialists doubt the ability and judgment of the
exploited masses to free themselves. They consider the State an institution
which must be conquered, and suffrage as a weapon through which to achieve
this. In attempting to sieze the State the Socialists aim at capturing a
machine with which to rule the masses, though they claim that the seizure of
the State is for the workers’ interests.
The Anarchists, on the other hand, have always trusted in i
he masses’ ability to bring about their own liberation. In recognizing the
State as an institution intentionally created by Capitalism, forcibly to keep
the workers down, the Anarchists see the necessity of its immediate and
complete destruction. To bring this about, they propose the most direct
revolutionary methods such as General Strikes and uprisings.
For this the Socialists have denounced the Anarchists as
“madmen** and “Don Quixotes” whose methods meant useless bloodshed; while the
Anarchists could see nothing but disappointment for the exploited in the tactics
and aims of the Socialists.
The workers who gave their support to the Socialist movement
reaped only this result: — the attainment of well paying positions for the
Socialists elected to political offices, through the parliamentary tactics, but
nothing of value gained to the proletariat.
The anti-revolutionary tactics of the Socialists led them to
take stands against the interest of the proletariat in many Genera! Strikes, as
in France. Spain, Germany, and Italy—even to oppose the General Strike as a weapon
against war. The rear 1914, showed nearly the entire Socialist parliamentary
representation in every country siding with the Capitalists war. The action of
the Socialists in this war practically shattered any hope or trust left amongst
the toilers towards the Socialist movement. It stood bankrupt and discredited.
Then came March 1917, bringing with it the Revolution in Russia.
Both foes and lovers of true liberty recognize the fact that the overthrow of
Tzarism in 1917 marked the greatest attempt of a people on earth, to liberate
themselves from economic and political slavery. It is true that important
revolutions have occurred ever since oppression, rule and exploitation began;
the French revolution of 1848, not to speak about the earlier revolutions, or
the year 1871 that saw the rise and fall of that gigantic and heroic Paris
Commune; — nevertheless it must be admitted that of all the attempted
revolutions in the history of mankind, none could compare in economic and
political significance with the Revolution of Russia in 1917. If any doubt
still lingered, the overthrow of the Kerensky regime erased it. Here were over
150 million people who desired, not a
change in rulers,. but a change in the entire social order. This is why the
people cast overboard the great idol of the March Revolution — Kerensky and his
Government, by carrying out the October Revolution.
The people wanted peace. They realized how millions of their
own flesh and blood were being vainly sacrificed for the Tzardom that they had
destroyed. They wanted land and freedom. To them land and freedom meant to own,
in common — the land and factories, themselves producing and consuming the
necessities of life; it also meant the complete annihilation of every form of
political rule. It was with this instinctive aim and spirit that the cry arose
from the masses: “All power to the Soviets” ! This slogan did not mean though
all power to any new set of rulers.... On the contrary, it meant all power to
the producers comprising the Workers and Peasants Soviets. Thus, in this spirit
and to attain this aim, the Anarchists in Russia joined in that same chorus
wTith the fighting masses. This cry was also echoed by revolutionary Socialists
calling themselves Bolsheviki. If the Bolsheviki had had the same aim as the
Anarchists, they would have helped to materialize the slogan they were
shouting. Instead of this what did they do ? The answer will be given in
subsequent paragraphs. This answer calls for the earnest attention, not only of
the dwindling pro-bolshevist Anarchists, but also of the rank and file in the
Communist Parties, as well as all thinking revolutionary workers. The facts we
state here are based upon documents which are known to all those taking an
interest in the revolution in Russia, and can be verified by a perusal of the
Anarchist and Bolshevik press of every language.
THE SOVIETS.
When the spokesmen of the Bolsheviki joined in the masses*
cry of “All power to the Soviets!” they evidently never meant it in earnest.
What they did strive for, however was to procure the masses’ confidence to make
them believe that the Bolshevik party was actually for the slogan. When they had
accomplished this, they immediately set about subjugating the Soviets, until
they succeeded in making them mere supporting
props of the Government machine which they created.* [1]
The Soviets, as they were understood by the masses who
overthrew Kerensky, exist no more. The Bolshevik Party in establishing itself
as a Government ended the Soviets’
function as expressive organs of the Revolution. To carry this out safely, the
Bolsheviki had to subvert the Soviets into organs under their control so as to
enable them in ruling over the people. Having accomplished this, their other
acts followed as a natural consequence.
THE CO OPERATIVES
The Co-operatives which existed previous to the overthrow of
Tzardom, and which could have been turned into organs to aid the Soviet of
Peasants and Workers carry on the distribution of foods, etc., were absorbed by
the Bolsheviki who turned them into organs of their Government.
THE LABOR CODE LAWS
An examination of the labor code laws reveals the fact that
no worse form of compulsory labor, spy system, ‘‘efficiency” sweating of labor,
and differentiation in payment of high and low wages, for “skilled” and
“unskilled” workers was ever surpassed by any capitalist rulership. -It also
reveals that all conditions of wages and labor rest finally and decidedly, not
in the hands of the workers, but of the Commissars of Labor, who are the
officials of the Government. Capitalism does not pretend to shield its
exploitation and rule under any “holy” motives, whereas the Bolshevik Government
hides its motives under the misleading defence, that its system of industrial
and political slavery is carried on in the interest of the workers!
THE RED ARMY
A Revolution successfully to attain its aims, can depend
only on the voluntary cooperation of the
masses to defend it whenever needed. The masses in the Russian Revolution
have shown that they could rise as volunteer fighters. The overthrow of the
Tzar, Radzianko, Kerensky and Korniloff proves that. But the Bolshevik
Government fearing the subversion of its rule, nullified the toilers’ right to
bear arms, and began the formation of a conscripted army whose leadership was
mostly composed of the same Generals and minor officials that had made Tzardom
so abhorred by humanity.
PEACE AGREEMENTS
The first attempt which culminated in a peace agreement
between Russia in Revolution and a Capitalist Government was the beginning of
the Social Revolution's end. Russia in Revolution could either defy the entire
capitalist world, by using the greatest opportunity in the history of the
Proletariat’s struggles to arouse the oppressed of each country to rally to the
defense of the Social Revolution in Russia, which would have meant the possible
realization of a World Revolution, or, in the event of failure have gone down
as defiant and brave as the Paris Commune. The memories of the Paris Commune
are treasured and commemorated by every revolutionist because it fought
uncompromisingly. We all revere it, for having remained true to its aims. The
Bolshevik Government by concluding peace with Capitalism, prevented either
victory for the Revolution, or intrepid, uncompromising defeat.
THE TRADE UNIONS AND THE RED
INTERNATIONAL
After the Bolshevik Government realized its failure to subjugate
and use the rank and file of the Trade Unions, as they had succeeded in doing
with its officials, they adopted new methods of compromise, whereby they
“granted” some rights to the unions, though retaining the bulk of power in
their own hands.
The formation of the Red Union International was instituted
by the Bolsheviki of Russia, not with the avowed purpose of uniting the
revolutionary proletariat of the world, but, as they admit in their party
press, for the purpose of gathering those forces only who approve of the
tactics and aims of the Bolsheviki in Russia, under whose dominating influence
the Red Union International will always be.
THE SYSTEM OF CAPITALISM RESTORED
The Bolshevik Government failed to force the peasants and
factory workers to continue yielding their produced wealth to them, and this,
in spite of their armed expeditions upon defiant peasants and their decrees and
penalties upon factory workers. Instead of realizing and amending their futile coercive
measures the Bolshevik Government further injured the revolution by a complete reintroduction
of capitalistic barter, profiteering and speculation between the peasants and
city workers, and by restoring on a larger scale than before high and low
wages, premiums and bonuses amongst the factory workers.
RELIGION
The preachers of a future heaven have never as a whole sided
with the exploited masses. Whenever they had a chance to mislead and harm them
they did so. These adherents of Capitalism have been acknowledged as some of
the worst enemies in the road of the toilers’ struggle for liberation. Yet, the
Bolshevik Government gave full protection to the preachers to continue
deceiving the people. In return for this we find the prelates working in close
co-operation with the “revolutionary” government.
WHAT THE ANARCHISTS SAW
The Bolshevik Government began its attacks on the Anarchists
and their movement because the Anarchists refused to assent to any of the
perfidies committed against the Revolution. The Anarchists saw in the
establishment of a Government by the Bolshevik party the death-knell of the
Soviets that were to function as organs of the revolution. They saw in the
signing of the Brest-Litovsk peace the next act of treason. They saw the Government’s
subjugation of the Soviets, Co-operatives, and Trade Unions into Government
organs, all controlled by the Bolshevik party. The Anarchists, saw, likewise,
the peoples initiative killed and their spirit for the Revolution destroyed;
and Tzaristic Generals becoming “red” army Generals, while Tzaristic exploiters
at home were relegated to their old positions under the new name of
“commissars”. They saw peace being made with Capitalism and its Governments,
while Anarchist Communes (as in Samarov and Saratov) were relentlessly
destroyed. The Anarchists then realized how all these acts by the Bolshevik
Government were subverting the aims of the October revolution and making it
impossible to arouse by such compromises the spirit of Revolt in the minds and
hearts of the Proletariat in other countries.
WHAT THE ANARCHISTS DID
They refused to join in such acts, refused to assent, or to
keep silent, and instead exposed every act of the Bolshevik Government to the
best of their abilities. The work of the Anarchist movement in Russia, however,
did not consist, merely in refusing to keep silent, but pointed out the road
that the Workers and Peasants ought to take in order to save the Social Revolution. They showed that it was
preferable to have production and distribution completely in the hands of the
producers themselves, voluntarily united into Soviets of factory Workers and
Soviets of Peasants, than to have a useless non-producing Commissar bureacracy
comprising the entire Government, that has failed in spite of all its decrees,
laws and repressive methods of Centralization, to show any light to its existence. They maintained, that if the
Workers and Peasant Soviets had remained the organs of the revolution as
outlined, then no conscription to defend the revolution would have been
necessary, for there would have been all the volunteers needed for the defense
of every endangering position of the Revolution. This movement also showed that
it was better to have the producers make mistakes by practicing voluntary
Communism than by laying off such practice “for 60 years or more”, in the
meantime reintroducing every evil method of the Capitalist system of
exploitation, and rulership. They showed too, that no compromise with
Capitalism would bring about the rallying of the World Proletariat to the
Revolution in Russia. The compromises and peace agreements made by the
Bolshevik Government, would only estrange them. The duty of every sincere
Revolutionist was to remain among and
with the masses, always trying to show the right way — instead of leaving the masses and establishing
themselves into a Centralized Dictatorial
Government over the masses.
PERSECUTIONS OF THE ANARCHISTS
For these reasons the Bolshevik Government has and continues
to persecute and jail Anarchists, suppressing their movement and refusing
admission to deported Anarchists. They suppress also news about their
repression of the Anarchist Movement. Thus does every Capitalist Government in
the world always persecute and torture Anarchists for refusing to bargain or
compromise with them, at the expense of achieving economic and political
freedom. Why should then, one expect any different action towards the true
libertarians from a Bolshevik government, though it calls itself
“revolutionary”? The purpose of Governments, from the most reactionary to the
most “revolutionary” are, and always will be — similar. The basic foundations
of Government is to rule over the people and to oppress those who oppose their
rule. The Bolshevik or any other similar named “revolutionary” government is
not, nor can it be, any exception to the rule. As far back as April, 1918, the
Bolshevik Government attacked all the Anarchist clubs of Moscow, murdering,
wounding and jailing many Anarchists. In a more brutal manner, and on a larger
scale, the Anarchist communes of Saratov and Samarov were destroyed by the
government. Innumerable similar attacks were committed by the Bolshevik
Government upon the Anarchists in every part of Russia, though they and their
supporters kept on denying these allegations as invented lies of the Capitalist
press to hurt the Revolution. For more than two years they succeeded in keeping
the world ignorant as to the truth of these charges. But just as the barriers
of Tzardom were broken, so the Bolshevik barriers were also torn down, by the
underground methods always resorted to by revolutionists. All the denials of
Anarchist persecutions by the Bolshevik Government were intentionally
misleading, and the death and funeral of Peter Kropotkin revealed this in the
most glaring manner. The radios sent out by the Anarchist Funeral Committee
containing the news of Kropotkin’s funeral were censored by the Bolshevik
Government. The portion which told of Anarchists imprisoned in the jails of
Russia, of the manner in which the government first refused the release of the
imprisoned Anarchists in Moscow to attend the funeral, of how they assented and
then again refused this request; of how at last in order to avoid an open
scandal only seven were released; of how the seven were the pall-bearers and
that one of them spoke on the cemetery; of how a demand by the funeral
commission to issue a four page paper in memory of Kropotkin, uncensored, was
refused; and of how a demand to issue 400,000-copies of such a paper was also
refused, and a grant of the right to issue 30,000 was given instead, that all
these parts containing the above important facts of persecutions of Anarchists,
sent out by the Funeral Committee, were
suppressed by the Bolshevik Government.
The Bolshevik Government helped the counter-revolutionary
movements in Southern Russia, when they persistently refused to furnish arms to
the Makhnovtzi (comprising thousands of volunteer fighters), just because the
Makhnovtzi would not recognize the Dictatorship of the Bolshevik Party.
The Bolshevik Government after joining forces with the
“Makhnovtzes” and successfully defeating Wrangel, started to kill and jail
every “Makhnovtzi” that they “captured”.
450 representatives of the Anarchist Movement at an
Anarchist Congress in Kharkov, December 1920, were attacked and arrested by the
Bolshevik Government. It is now known to all that a general relentless
persecution, jailing and suppression of Anarchists and their organs rages
continuously all over Russia, under direct orders from the Bolshevik
government.
At the moment the Bolshevik party, at its tenth Congress,
1921 labelled the Workers' Opposition within their party, as a Syndicalist Anarchist
movement, (because the Workers' Opposition favored the control of industries by
the Trade Unions, and therefore must be crushed...) the day following this
declaration, a general raid of every Anarcho-Syndicalist organization and
jailing of their members took place all over Russia, ending in the entire
suppression of the Anarcho-Syndicalist movement; , just as that of the
Anarchist-Communist movement which took place long before.
The Bolshevik Government was not telling the truth when _
they asserted, that the Kronstadt uprising of March, 1921, was a
counter-revolutionary one. The Bolsheviki themselves admit, what is now known
to all, that the rising was inspired by the - desire Tor reorganization of the
Soviets as opposed to the present Soviets that are being used as supporting
tools of the Dictatorship of The Bolshevik Party. The government killed
thousands of the best revolutionists when they defeated the-Kronstadt Revolution,
which, if successful, would have meant a rebirth of the Social Revolution in
Russia.
The Bolshevik Government refuses to admit workers,
especially deportees into Russia, because they are Anarchists, in contradiction
of their so-called “constitution” which promises free asylum to all political
refugees. At the same time, they admit and welcome representatives of
Capitalism and their Governments. This adds another striking proof as to what
the Bolshevist Government is and to what degree it “represents” the true spirit
of the Revolution.
Another action of this government was to assault the
defenceless Anarchist and other political prisoners in the Bootirski Prison,
during the night, of April 25, 1921.
Another wholesale murderous act upon Anarchists was
committed in September 1921, when ten active Anarchists were murdered by the
Tcheka. The charge made against them is in itself the most striking proof as to
the depths into which even a so-called “revolutionary” government is forced to
sink, in order to protect is rulership. The charge against the ten murdered
Anarchists was published in the Isvestia of September 30th, 1921. They were
accused of participating in an illegal Anarchist movement that carried out
expropriations, m order to raise funds, with which to publish Anarchist
literature.
Exactly the same charges that the Tzar used to make against
the very same Bolsheviki when they were still revolutionists and not government
officials 1 The Bolshevik regime is ruling supreme, taking all funds it finds
necessary, from the Russian people, to publish dozens of daily papers, hundreds
of weeklies and monthlies and millions of books and pamphlets. But when the
Anarchists are outlawed, have they not then that absolute moral right to
organize illegally and carry on expropriations upon such a “revolutionary”
government?
At the time this is being issued, June, 1922, we still find
houndings upon the most active Anarchists continuing as before; and the jails
of Russia filled with hundreds of Anarchists and other revolutionists. These
prisoners are moved about from one jail to the other, in most instances held
for years without even a “trial”. In some prisons, the victims have to endure
much torture. The Bolsheviki regime, seeming to imitate the Tsaristic regimes
has also inaugurated deportations of revolutionists abroad and into different
regions of the country.
WE ACCUSE
The Bolshevik Government is trying to defend every attack
upon the Anarchist Movement by the cry that it is done for the “good" of
the Revolution. The truth is however, that by attacking those class — conscious
workers of the Revolution who refuse to betray the true aims of the revolution,
it thus proves to the proletariat of the world, that it is the Bolshevik
Government itself, which is betraying the Revolution.
The aims of every “Communist" Party outside of Russia,
exactly resemble those of the “Communist" Party in Russia. The
“Revolutionary" utterances by the Third “Communist" International and
its affiliated parties are only intended to hide every compromise and perfidy
committed by the “Communist" Government, at the expense and in the name of
the Revolution in Russia.
All these betrayals are committed, not to save the
revolution, but to save the rule of the “Communist" party, which blocked
the Social Revolution when they established themselves as the “Communist"
Government of Russia.
This Communist Government committed rank treachery by
opening negotiations and concluding peace, with Capitalism, without even
consulting the toiling masses of Russia, in whose name they pretend to rule,
and only after the peace agreements
were about completed, were the officials, not the masses, asked to approve
them.
The Third Communist" International acted insincerely,
when it appealed and expected the workers of those capitalistic countries with
whom the “Communist" Government made peace to save the Revolution, — to
rise in revolution against these very same capitalistic governments.
The “Communist" Government is misusing the masses’
trust by assisting in all ways, every “Communist" party in foreign
countries, to carry on the propaganda of getting the worker’s confidence in
helping them to gain power and afterwards rule over them as in Russia. This
wealth is taken without the knowledge or consent of the toilers, at a time when
thousands are dying of famine and disease.
From all we have stated, we believe we have a right to
expose and charge the Socialist State of Russia and the “Communist"
International which supports it with
having deceived the people and betrayed the Revolution in Russia, and having
sup- pressed every revolutionary movement that dared to expose them.
The proletariat of the whole world is beginning to realize,
that the Third “Communist” International is nothing but the same discredited
body as the second Socialist International, only bearing a new name. The
deception of the Second was in the parliaments, General Strikes, and war, while
this of the Third “Communist” International, is that of a Social Revolution.
A LESSON AND APPEAL
We have concluded our facts and
accusations against the “Communist” Government of Russia, which is approved,
upheld and defended by the Third “Communist” International, comprising every
“Communist” party.
We do not ask you, the thinking
revolutionary workers to waste any energy protesting against these acts of the
“Communist” government and its parties. We understand that you, the rank and
file of every revolutionary working-class movement, are sincere and honest. We believe that realizing the truth of our
exposures, you will feel outraged. You may want to avenge the Anarchists who
refused to assent to the betrayal of the Revolution, and, as a result, are
being murdered, jailed, suppressed and lied about by the “Communist”
Government. It is to all such revolutionists that this message is particularly
directed.
We want you to understand that
the vengeance which we would wish you to carry out is of an entirely different
kind than you might expect. It is; that you realize that the Anarchists foresaw in the rising authoritarian
Socialist movement, the dangerous consequences that might ensue in the event of
the achievement of a Socialist State; just as they foresaw in the Socialists’
assent to participate in the electorate of Capitalism’s institutions of the
State, the Stream for turning the Socialist movement into a channel where every
revolutionist would eventually he tempted to enter, and thus turn traitor to
the workers’ liberation.
We want you to realize that
whether the Socialist State in Russia were composed of people calling
themselves Social Revolutionists or Mensheviks the same treacheries would have
ensued, just as under the “Communists”.
Why? Because the final aim of the
“Communist”, the Social Revolutionist or Menshevik is the same, all striving to
carry out in practice — Marxian — Authoritarian Socialism. Ih is this Marxian
Socialism that considers the producing masses incapable and devoid of enough
intelligence to carry on a revolution, or to rebuild society without first
establishing a Socialist State.
This State would function as a
ruling machine over the masses, for generations, until the whole earth were dominated,
by Socialist States, and then, so Engels assured, the “political State” would
be “turned” into simple “administrative” functions supervising the Social
interests.
We trust you will understand why
that what is carried on by the “Communist” Government in Russia, the entire
stoppage of the Revolution and the re-introduction of Capitalism, is, already
being justified by the “sound” conception of Marx’s viewpoint. Marx contended
that only a people who passed all the stages of Capitalism were capable, and
fit to rise in a Social Revolution. The Revolution in Russia, proved Marx’s
fallacy. At first the “Communists” themselves admitted that. But since they
became the ruling State in Russia, they nullified every organ of the
Revolution, and gradually climbed down ini their compromises, until to-day,
they shamelessly attempt to justify themselves by asserting that the people of
Russia, (who had risen in a Social Revolution) must first pass all the stages
of Capitalism before attaining a Communist Society!
We hope you will realize, also,
that the deception of 50 years Parliamentary Socialism; of the “Communist”
Government, in Russia and of the Third “Communist” International, are not
treacheries developing because of the dishonesty of individuals, but because of
the ideas and tactics of Marxian Socialism.[2] And this
failure, bankruptcy and duplicity of 50 years Marxian Socialism has not only
proven every contention of the Anarchist movement as correct, but what is more
important we can point out that:
The toiling masses (as in Russia,
October, 1917) are capable of arising in a Social Revolution, and are also
capable (as they actually did) of taking over the land and factories Organizing
production and distribution upon the basis of voluntary communism. If, after this, the voluntary communistic
producers would unite in a Federation of Communes, they could not only become strong enough to crush every counter
revolutionary movement within or without, but could also become the most
gigantic inspiring reality in arousing the oppressed of the entire world in
rallying to the necessary defence and support of the Revolution, by following
the revolutionary road within their own countries. In this way, they could
bring about the World Revolution.
We contend that the Revolution in Russia, could and still
can organize itself on the basis of voluntary communism and dispense with the
entire useless institution of the State.
We also assert, that the great
success of “Saturdayna" in Russia, (the voluntary offer to do the most
essential work on Saturday afternoons without any recompense) had proven, in
the most striking manner that the masses are instinctively ready and willing to practice voluntary communism.
We contend, too, that the Social
Revolution in Russia can and will yet be saved
only by the toiling masses' destruction of every form of State, which means
also, the breaking of every peace agreement with Capitalism.
Finally, we contend, that what
has transpired in the last 50 years of the proletariat's struggles for freedom,
and of what has — and is now taking place in Russia particularly, ought to be
clear and convincing enough to show to the thinking proletariat of the World the
road that he should choose in order to liberate
himself from economic and political slavery.
Anarchism-Communism trusts the
liberation of the oppressed, and the rebuilding of the new society and defense
of it, into the hands of the exploited masses. This is the only ideal and
pathway left for the proletariat of the world, if he wishes to achieve
liberation.
We are proud that it is for the
defense of this basic principle of Anarchism, that our comrades in Russia are
sacrificing their freedom, energy and lives. From our murdered comrades graves,
and behind the walls of the prisons in Russia, our comrades' message to the
enslaved proletariat of the world rings out:
“We want you to avenge the
sufferings inflicted upon us, by the “Communist" Government because we
remained true to the aims of the Social Revolution. The only way for you to
retaliate, is by saving the Revolution in
Russia, and making the World Revolution 'possible.’’
How can you accomplish this? This
is up to you, the thinking proletariat of Russia, and every other country who
are striving to attain economic and political liberation. You ought to realize
that this will never by achieved through trusting such a task into the hands of
a Government- or Party rule. No
Government or Party will ever cease its rule voluntarily. It will change its
name from a political to that of an administrative
State, but a State it will remain and
rule it will continue over the people.
Particularly those sincere
Communists in the rank and file of the “Communist” parties who can realize this, by what has, and is now occurring in Russia,
should and can avenge the sacrifices of the Anarchists by leaving enmass the ranks of their parties and joining the
movement whose ideal strives for, and
whose tactics can attain, the economic and political liberation of the
proletariat — the Anarchist-Communist movement.
This would be the only effective
reward that we feel, would satisfy our comrades in Russia, the realization of a
world wherein truth, liberty, equality and happiness for every toiler on earth
— would begin.
We call upon every Revolutionist
and sincere Communist to joins us in carrying out this vengeance, and never
relent in our work until the liberation from slavery, oppression and rule is
achieved, and the materialization of the World Federation of Communes has
become a reality.
Down with every form of
exploitation and rulership!
Long live the Social World
Revolution!
Long live Voluntary — Communism —
Anarchism Communism !
1922
Anarchist Communist Groups of U.
S. and Canada
Federation of Russian Anarchist
Communist Groups of U. S. and Canada
Ukrainian Anarchist Communist
Groups of U. S. and Canada
[1]
*M. L. Olgin who is defending the “Communist” Government furnished the
strongest proof of this when he wrote in the Forw ard (New York Socialist
Daily) : “Thus it came to pass that in Russia there are two organs of power:
the Soviets on one side and the Communist Party on the other. This duality was
carried out from top to bottom. At the head of all Russia stands the Sovnarkom,
(Soviet Narodnih Commissarov — The Soviet of People’s Commissars, the m inisterial
cabinet of Russia), but the decisions that are accepted there, are first
carried through by the Central Committee of the Party and before the Central
Committee had considered and worked out an opinion, it will not be taken up in
the “Sovnarkom”. It is needless to say, that the “Sovnarkom” will not accept a
decision againt the desire of the Central Committee”
[2]
In order to convincingly show th at in accusing the Bolshevik regime- with its
protector the Third International of rank treachery, nothing is being
exaggerated, it should suffice to bring forth the fact that a new Fourth Workers
Communist International came into being this year. In its first manifesto this
International (composed of the left wing element that left the Third Com. Int.)
bases the right of its existence on the charge that the Bolshevik regime of the
Communist Party in Russia, together with the Third Inter, which is controlled
by them, has betrayed both the Russian revolution and the proletariat of the
world. It is only to be regretted that the program of this new International
does not differ much from the original program of the Bolshevik party before assuming
power. This new International fails to realize that If its left wing element
should per chance assume the reigns of government in Russia, they would
gradually begin to commit the very same acts of treachery that every rulership
must begin to commit from its inception till its death. The fault lies not with
the dishonesty of the Bolshevik! but with the manner in which they try to do
things. It is the ideas and tactics of Marxism that lead to the Bolshevik's
course, and the same would occur if any other party of individuals accepted
Marxism as a guide by which to„ carry on the Social Revolution.
