The Dictatorship of the Proletariat Democracy Is the Only Road to Socialism
Kaunving, K.
The Dictatorship of the Proletariat Democracy Is the Only Road to Socialism By K. Kaunving SOME believe that the methods of democracy have failed throughout the world, aad that progress eaa be...
...It will certainly never cross the North Sea...
...president of the Central Unemployed and Workers' Federation, the Dallas unemployed have bean camped for over a weak in the City Hall demanding restoration of a 40% cut ia their relief...
...Only under democracy, under the free play of intellectual currents within the masses of the people, can the proletariat achieve the power and capacity to emancipate itself and administer the productive processes of society...
...Eventually this leads to the degeneration of the people and decay of the state...
...We do not seek to anchor the rale of oar party ia any political regime...
...The forcible subjection of the masses, while serving to cultivate revolutionary fanaticism, cripples at the same time their capacity for free organization and clear thinking...
...These are the countries hi which the middle classes, bourgaoisi* aad petty bourgeoisie, together with the proletariat, for a long time bound politically to these classes, had developed sufficient strength at an early period to acquire the freedom of action they required to assert their power through direct opposition to aad destruction of the monarchist absolutist state...
...Revolutionary naav ures are those designed te prorata its abolition...
...To be sure, the mere existence en paper of a democratic constitution cannot break the economic power of the exploiters...
...however, a setback for democracy through dictatorship...
...The first comprises the countries where democracy is firmly rooted...
...We realize this and1 are therefore engaged in creating' cooperatives and in cultural and trade-union activities...
...g evaluating such measures kafl be absurd to draw a line of deanrcation between "reformist" |gf "revolutionary" measures, to as, elude the first, or to draw a m. tinction between two kinds otJsV cialists—to condemn the reioisakh and to hail the revolutionists...
...The same process occurred, although not with equal speed, ia seme of the newly created free states, west of Russia...
...K formist measures are those can, patible with the existing systejop production...
...Wa coatiaa* to hoU abjft #ft banner which for one hundred *M fifty years has inspired oar fata** and forefathers, the banner wbjrt has ever guided them forward...
...Revolutionists condemned this task as reformist and, therefore, inadequate...
...Those who believe this understand neither modern history nex the democracy of the West to which it gave birth...
...Return* from ten of the eleven provinces give the Social Democratic Labor party 114 seats, out of a total of 528—a loss of one seat as campared with 1931...
...Habf^aea^m I ha 1 ant er of big strikes in Dallas and other places, aad- is eager to get dates from locals ia every pari of the state...
...The stabilization of democracy is necessary and possible...
...All these alemsnte lost faith ia themselves aafi yearned for a strong leadership...
...We, however, believe ia the ¦**¦ letariat...
...Dictatorship is merely another framework for the clash of these contradictions and conflicts...
...This is particularly impossible under modern capitalism, which gives rise to quite unexpected and novel crises and catastrophes...
...The truth is, however, that the advance of the general democratic conception, accompanied by its widespread realization, has been the outstanding characteristic of the historic process, beginning with the advent of modern industry and communications in the 16th Century aad developing increasing momentum since the lath Century...
...Do two things...
...Those who assert that a Socialist society can come only through dictatorship and aa* through democracy age, governed fond a mentally not by lack of...
...Added to this was the important economic factor of the development of commodity production ia agriculture, which set the peasantry in competition with the urban population, with which it used to cooperate ia the past...
...In the Democratic Countries All these countries passed through revolutions which implanted firmly a deep sense of independence in the minds of the manses The blind, docile subjection to the organs of taw state which absolutism aad dictatorship bring with them is either entirely eat of the question ia these countries or ia so utterly foreign to the rtmirinaspsos of the imputation as to condemn to failure attempts to erect any new, enduring absolutism...
...Under these circumstances, political and economic defeats of a labor party serve only to spur it to greater efforts and more severe self-criticism...
...But how can the working masses wage a systematic, organized struggle against their exploiters when deprived of democratic rights...
...Communists and fascists also g lined, as did also varionim.il splinter parties...
...Bat av body has yet explained how dsaatracy for the proletariat is to be reconciled with dictatorship over tU other section* of the people, Ihtffi a satisfactory explanation »fJNJ...
...This implies not the mere seizure of power, to be retained at all cost and with which we are to remain forever satisfied, but a tireless struggle for the defense of proletarian interests, which coincide with the genera, internets*** society...
...The determining eeneMsrV ation of all social measures aad h> novations then becomes eenteafJH the question whether or not qj| contribute to the material 2[f moral wellbeing of the masses...
...The psychology of I such a class approaches ever closer the proletarians of ancient Rome, who sold their liberty to the higheat bidder, to the Careers...
...Bat where each a proletariat does not exist, there is also no other road to Socialism...
...Fascism will saver cross the Rhine...
...And thai constitutes the psychologies 1 basis of the popularity of the dictatorships of our time...
...This situation while not killing the aspirations' of the bourgeoisie and petty traders for a certain measure of democracy is responsible for their abandonment, since 1848, of the revolutionary road to attainment of democracy...
...There was a gradual accumulation of political and economic difficulties emanating from the war and the world depression...
...A hunger march on Austin is planned fay the near i - sure if>taa.jcat la hot restored...
...Everywhere the comrades are emridaff with local unions in their *trugfJav whiehhuman parasite* graft themselves aaon aad Hoe hy the iadaetry of other*, maintaining their yatlsVlw terrariaab fraud, eobmejMH fcea44': *iit aaa ¦ •* aaipalatiea...
...The chief isse* ia recognition of the union, aal abolition of a system under wba* workers are...
...For one hundred aad fifty MP the working mass as of Earsfajtf* been fighting far democracy...
...Like democracy, dictatorship holds no guarantees against contradictions and conflicts within the state...
...The very attempt to achieve this leads to unbearable conditions...
...Bat where .we do achieve power and influence we mast continue to strive unceasingly to anchor oar power and prestige m the seal of the working class...
...The security of democracy and advance toward Socialism art possible only with the exh*ee*wfif a certain aH-hapa taat resemsite: the presence...
...Despite the coalition of the opposition, Comrade Palacios polled . 179,619 votes against 30,359 for the fusion candidate representing all parties backing President Justo...
...Democracy Is Essential The working classes eannot do without democracy even where they are not in power...
...Socialist Victory Blow At Fascism in Argentina By Ben Lichtenberg THE last batch of La Vanguardia, Argentine Socialist daily, which just arrived, discloses that the Socialist vote in the recent election for national senator from the Federal capital, which resulted in such an overwhelming land-, slide for the Socialist candidate, Dr...
...aa>t*i <apd poHtieaUy ^•sric...
...The political and economic struggle in a democracy stimulates the expansion of the free organization of the masses, enlarges their political and economic experience, thus strengthening their capacity to...
...There is not a single instance In history of s dictatorship surrendering its power voluntarily or promoting the true welfare of the people...
...Ia countries possessing a strong land politically enlightened proletariat it is possible so to strengthen the existing democracy as to render it quite impervious to the assaults of enemies who would supplant it by dictatorship and absolutism...
...No dictatorship can endure indefinitely...
...The "left wing" secession group grew from three to four...
...The longer the dictatorship lasts the more aggravated and universal does this condition become, which, in turn, paves the way for another dictatorship or chaos . The general consequence is to bar the road to higher social forms...
...ia Ha capacity far deadopment, in its fatare, and far H* reason we have faff eeafidaaaMi democracy...
...The dictator has no each motive...
...Food it being collected from sympathetic merchants and prepared in a kitchen in Socialist headquarters...
...Democracy compels amm recognize both, precisely becsf** the mere existence of demeestay does not insure the rule of tafi Democracy...
...On the other hand, they maintained that establishment of cooperatives strikes at the wage system itself, being, therefore, revolutionary in character...
...The gain in one year, was thus 48,348...
...The idea of the dictatorship of the proletariat becomes an absurdity where the proletariat is divided into different parties...
...After him the deluge...
...The reelection of P. EL Spaak, Socialist member of the new coalition government, was confidently expected, but what was surprising was the great increase, both relative and absolute, in the party's vote...
...Local Elections in Holland The quadrennial election of provincial legislatures in Holland were held in the month of April...
...This was test accomplished ia Switzerland then m Holland...
...Hence, they said, they are a waste of time and effort...
...I do maintain, however, that after the downfall of fascism in tot countries where it is in apnea1 t may be quite possible to ret tag...
...The Ideology of dictatorship b an ideology that reduces the e*as> lariat to the status of sheep, ti an ignorant, unthinking hem...
...The enduring stabilization of a party dictatorship is impossible...
...The fundamental mistake Of Hitler ism is the belief that once dictatorship is achieved it is possible to enjoy power forever...
...The representatives of the new sgjaasnjjaj state themselves do not believe in its capacity to A Pertinent Question Are we to sesame that this state of things is bound te cease everywhere, that the slsrishneas of the masses, which ia the prerequisite te every dictatorship, has become characteristic of all modern peoples, and that this slsviahnees ia to serve aa the psychological basis for the emancipation of the proletariat...
...Dictatorship makes impossible the transfer of power from one party to another except through destructive, bloody catastrophes, domestic and foreign...
...Certain effects of the war and of the peace treaties, and, finally, the world economic crisis of the past several years, brought with them...
...I* France, England, America it will remain the novelty of a few insignificant mountebanks...
...Democracy, to be sure, offers no such | guarantee...
...build the new state and the new economic order and enhancing their ability to administer them...
...Dictatorship can maintain itself only by keeping the masses in subjection, which destroys their capacity for criticism and initiative...
...This made ansa nil* the isnstsblisliawiit of a new absolutism in Russia only after a few months of complete freedom...
...In San Antonio the cigar strike, about which The Near Leader carried a story several weals ago, » still going strong...
...Some of us want democracy bM only for the proletariat...
...This may appear to indicate a measure of progress, but a rather questionble one...
...Bui 14 the Socialist Party aad get stem far The Leader to help bade* it...
...women are not enfranchise^ :,<.L.J A yoar sg tfce Socialist candi-1 date polled 131,376 votes for the same office...
...an bnsn*> tually developed, W...
...Those who accept this Ids sway stmt t the moral bankruptcy of Socialism, however much they any desire it...
...Led by Comrade Carl Brannin...
...Neither dictatorship nor democracy can guarantee the permanent stabilization of the political power of any party, including our own...
...State Organout in tan mghaatf* and crossroads, ta...
...It would, indeed, be a great misfortune for the German people to be compelled to chose betwen.two dictatorships...
...Good report* are received f«s» Fart Worth, Beaumont, ChHdrem, Temple and other localities...
...It is also much easier to destroy a dictatorship by raising the slogan of democracy than by seeking to substitute one dictatorship for another...
...confidence b democracy bat by mistrust of B* proletariat...
...pMnfrgaf far turnmf ia...
...Let us consecrate our efforts toward raising the level of existence to its greatest heights...
...They argued that trade unions and labor legislation do not strike at the roots of the evils of capitalism and leave untouched the system itself...
...Alfredo Palacios, was a Isost emphatic repudiation of fascist tendencies developing in Argentina...
...Bat as aa ridiculous is it to rnaflas oersehm at all times to revolutionary aaav ure...
...The peasants are interested in high food prices, while the urban population wants to keep prices down...
...All he is concerned with is to be heat by the state...
...e> spite some peiafaj failures, m which has altered fondsiaaatojh the fare of the world...
...The Communists and fascist parties both made considerable gains, which were balanced hy losses for the Liberals and Radicals...
...In addition, J. C. Thompson is preparing fay action ia the Bast and Northeast of the state...
...new masters, however well intentioned they may be...
...To be rare, it would be ridiculous to remain reformist at ait tan* aad on all occasions...
...This effect is inevitable under any circumstances, even though the dictatorship may set itself Socialist aims, far these aims can be achieved only when the working classes can take part in the building of production and the new state with enthusiasm, understanding and intellectual independence...
...Developments Since 1917 The liberties achieved in the countries in question since 1917 >ad 1918 failed to eradicate entirely flfc?ha~t%*at masses o? the people the age-old spirit of docility and lack of independence with respect to the authority of the state which bad remained quite pronounced, except in a revolutionary minority...
...I have described this process in detail in the first volume of my work, "War aad Democracy...
...In this respect they ape not the descendants of the Caesars, nor are they Bonapartist in character...
...for the defense, preservation and extension of democratic principles and institutions whan were being assailed by the reactionaries...
...The Socialist Psrty carried on an intensive campaign, holding innumerable meetings of tremendous proportions and waged an unremitting fight against nascent fascism, bringing the...
...The Dictatorship of the Proletariat Democracy Is the Only Road to Socialism By K. Kaunving SOME believe that the methods of democracy have failed throughout the world, aad that progress eaa be made only through dictatorship...
...The future, the immediate future, at any rate, belongs to dictatorship, we are told...
...We do not wish to mesa aaeh a readme a casafattahls bad ia which we may rest upon esw laurels...
...As these difficulties gathered scope and momentum, increasing numbers of the population lost their political balance, this negative process affecting not only' the bourgeoisie, petty tradesmen and peasants, but also that portion of the proletariat which had not yet attained to any degree of intellectual independence or had degenerated into a parasitic claas kept by the state...
...This process continued to the and of the World War, the conclusion of which was marked by great victories for democracy everywhere...
...This is an arduous task which cannot be accomplished solely by an electoral contest...
...It is possible to erect a nan-capitalist or anti-capitalist state without democracy and the type of proletariat of which I speak, bat its substance will be a state economy baaed upon .state slavery, a system of production economically inadequate and leading to the decay of all intellectual and moral capacities of the workers...
...In hereditary monarchies the state ia the domain not of the individual monarch but of the dynasty...
...The total number of voters was 7^00 larger than in 1932, but the Socialist vote Was 13,182 larger...
...The party's jjercentage of the total rose from a little less than 28 to almost 32...
...Bat this, tee, is not a fact everywhere...
...I venture to characterize the aMl conception as an absurd phaamsj...
...Once it comet bk power, all measures undertakaajfc oar party assume a SociahstnE dency...
...I say "it may be quite possible.'' There can be no guarantee that democracy can be maintained under all circumstances and that democracy must of itself lead t© Soetolism...
...Mil did the fighters for demecrajffJSh ronfldaare In It...
...The British (aad also the Americans) and, finally, the French, even before the advent of the 19th century, came next in line...
...With one minor exception all the other parties combined on the Concordancuta candidate Teran...
...BsjB were the defeats they suffered, bjR never did they lose courage...
...Every dictatorship leads either to the decay of the state and, hence, to its own destruction, or to mass revolution against the...
...toil *f?j§j§s about Socialise...
...Dictatorship is detrimental to the interests of these classes, intellectually and materially, even where it is hi the hands of friends of labor...
...And only under democracy can this capacity be utilized in a manner condusive to the establishment of a system of production superior to capitalism, a system whkh Marx and Engeis characterized in the Communist Manifesto as "an association in which the, free development of each ia the condition for the free development of all...
...As we have already indicated in previous articles, every'Socialist is a revolutionist by virtue of the aims he sets himself...
...what the foremen call bad cigars...
...Quite differen^is the development under democracy if it can be made secure...
...Marx the "Reformist" When the First International was founded in 1864, under the inspiration and leadership of Karl Marx, it set before itself, first and, foremost, the task of building trade unions and promoting labor and social legislation in the various countries...
...as it does all democratic parties seeking to' serve the interests of the masses and depending upon them for support and existence, to devote the greatest possible thought aad energy in extending aad enlarging our labors for the people...
...Such integral activities firmly root our party in the public conscience and its organic power of growth, constituting it an unrestrainable force of exuberant and inexhaustible vitality...
...message of Socialism ta the masses and sounding a clarion caj...
...The number of those interested in the latter objective will always be much smaller than those who demand complete political freedom of movement not only for themselves but also for others...
...Buenos Aires has a population of 2,214,700...
...A «a*d* •> feat should not move as to sbsafia the old...
...democracy, to make secure iu foasdations, and thus promote pragrm toward Socialism...
...One girl ended a weaKb work owing the company SS coats...
...Some among us, however, are not satisfied merely with the conquest and maintenance of democracy and the opportunities it offers ttj> all mass parties, including the Social Democracy, for educating and organizing their followers and leading them to political and economic power...
...He captures the state in order to plunder it...
...The monarch believes it his duty to leave the state to his heirs in good condition...
...Senator Palacios is one of the, founders of the mighty Argentine Socialist Party and is well known ~~, iAtoenaoocal Socialist circles >a Karepe...
...Nor has the idea of a Socialist dictatorship any better prospect in these countries...
...J conquest is the specific fvawtiaa </f Socialism...
...In Dallas, also, a garment workers strike is going strong-and Sseifjists are active on the picket line despite frequent arrests...
...Big Socialist Increase in Brussels Poll The special parliamentary election held in Brussels on April 15 ha* given great encouragement to the Belgian Labor party...
...They followed whereover they felt they could get such leadership...
...The fact that democracy itself does not assure the victory df Social Democracy and cannot be forever made secure against assaults does not in any way diminish its value or the importance of the task to preserve it and make it stable with all the powers at our command...
...Dictatorship of our own ! party, we are told, does offer such ' a guarantee, i. e., a dictatorship ; which must necessarily involve also I a dictatorship of leaders within I and over the party...
...In reality, however, the work of the "reformist" Marx In the International acquired, with the years, the highest significance, white the "revolutionary" founders of statesubsidized cooperatives have left no trace behind them...
...The dictatorships of oar time have founded no new dynasties...
...Parties in power who lose the confidence of any substantial portion of the people may'be easily supplanted by others, while opposition parties and minorities retain all rights of organization and propaganda, with the expectation of being able to return to power...
...Politically, Europe may be divided into two great region...
...The extent to which any measures we may undertake are to be regarded as reformist or revolutionary depends at all times upon the historic circumstances...
...Ta* loeaj is gaining new HHiisirsH* a* a result of these activities...
...Quite different is the situation in those countries where lack of political and economic development had retarded the urge and need of the middle clamed aad of the proletariat for intellectual, political and economic freedom of movement . Economic and political development which supplies the basic impulse for such urge and need, had not begun to attain the requisite maturity in these countries until the proletariat of the Wast had already begun to develop a feeling of independence, creating -thus a current of proletarian-democratic aspirations side by side with these of the democratic bourgeoisie...
...If 10 Capture Soul of Workers The very circumstances that the rule of Social Democracy in a democracy cannot be assured without other factors compels us...
...And always ftf democracy rise triumphant...
...Not a few among us demand more: they demand a regime which would not only make it possible for us to achieve power but to hold it under any circumstances, regardless of the sentiments of the great masses of the people...
...The later development of military technique, however, rendered the masses of the people helpless against modem armies ia any civil war encounters...
...No Guarantee in Dictatorship The fact is, however, that despite the monopoly of political power implicit in a dictatorship it cannot guarantee to the party resorting to this method the control of political power under all circumstances...
...praV tariat...
...Socialists Aid Many Strikes in Texas atr William Naeantn * _T wW^w ^^Tr* Texas Stats Secretary, Socialist CAN AN TON JO...
...Whan we achieve power wt shall be called upon to insUtaa both reformist and ----'-itinasii innovations...
...No Other Road to Socialism Where such a proletariat dees not ex|at, democracy cannot bead to Socialism and may itself be threatened...
...In a aMseage to the voters the day before, the elections Palacios wrote, "I se» my cordial salutations to the workers who are struggling for a ram, prosperous and virile Argentina reminding them that political liberty ;s one part of the total Itherjy which, man need* for the, fullest development of hi* being: and is jntegrated hy econoaaw...
...well tried read, which she* can lead oar party ta victory atf assure the permanent libarstica at toUing mankind...
Vol. 18 • May 1935 • No. 18
