the third thesis). From this third thesis alone Kautsky quotes in full only the following part of it: "The Republic of the Soviets represents not only a higher type of democratic institution (in comparison with the ordinary bourgeois republic with a Constituent Assembly at its head), but also the only form calculated to secure the most painless transition to Socialism" (Kautsky omits the word "ordinary" and the introductory words of the thesis: "for the transition from the bourgeois to the Socialist order, for the dictatorship of the proletariat.").
Having quoted these words, Kautsky, with a magnificent irony, exclaims: "Pity that this conclusion was only reached after the Bolsheviks had found themselves in a minority in the Constituent Assembly. Previously no one had demanded it more passionately than Lenin."
This is textually what Kautsky says on page 31 of his book. This is really a gem.[1] Only a sycophant of the bourgeoisie could present the question so that the reader should get a wrong impression, as if all the talk of the Bolsheviks about the higher type of State were an invention born into the world after they had found themselves in a minority in the Constituent Assembly. Such an infamous lie could only have been uttered by a scoundrel who has sold himself to the bourgeoisie, or what is absolutely the same thing, who has placed his trust in P. Axelrod, and is concealing the source of his information. For it is known to all the world that on the very first day of my return to Russia, on April 4–17, 1917, I delivered a
- ↑ Kautsky, among other things, quotes repeatedly, with an evident attempt at sarcasm, the expression "most painless." But since this is an attempt for no noble purpose, Kautsky a few pages later commits a little forgery and simply quotes: "painless transition." Naturally, it is not difficult by such means to put into the mouth of an opponent any absurdity. The forgery also facilitates the evasion of the argument materially, namely, that the most painless transition towards Socialism is only possible with the help of the organization of all the poorer classes (in Soviets) and of the central State power (of the proletariat).
( 49 )
