the class of has-beens, the semi-proletariat, later the proletariat. In politics, also, the petit bourgeois democracy, particularly in the persons of its chiefs, leans towards the bourgeoisie. The leaders of the petit bourgeois democracy pacify the masses with promises and assurances of the possibility of coalition with the great capitalists, and, under the most favorable conditions, they may, for an exceedingly short time, obtain concessions from the capitalists for the not very numerous upper layers of the working masses; but in all decisive matters the petit bourgeois democracy has always been an appendage of the bourgeoisie, an impotent satellite, an obedient tool in the hands of the captains of finance. The experience of England and France has confirmed this.
The experience of the Russian Revolution, from March to July, emphasizes the old Marxist truth concerning the instability of the petite bourgeoisie, very clear and comprehensibly, particularly when events, under the influence of the imperialistic war and its consequent profound crisis, began to develop with unusual rapidity.
The lesson of the Russian Revolution is this: There is for the toiling masses no way out of the iron ring of war, of hunger, of enslavement to the landholders and capitalists, except in a complete break with the parties of the Social-Revolutionists and Mensheviki, in a clear understanding of the treacherous role they have played, in the renunciation of every kind of coalition with the bourgeoisie, in a decisive stand by the side of the revolutionary workers. The revolutionary workers alone, if they are supported by the poorest peasants, will be in a position to break the resistance of the capitalists, lead the people to a seizure of the land without compensation, to full liberty, to a victory over hunger and over war, and to a just and permanent peace.
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Postscript
This article, as may be seen from the text, was written early in August. Its arguments have been fully confirmed by the history of the Revolution since. And then the Komilov uprising produced a new turn in the Revolution, making evident to the whole nation that the Cadets, in alliance with the counter-revolutionary generals, are aiming to disband the Soviets and re-establish the monrachy. How powerful is this new turn in the Revolution, whether it will succeed in finally putting an end to the disastrous policy of coalition with the bourgeoisie—this the near future will show.
September 19, 1917.N. Lenin.
