Title | The collapse of the Second International |
Creator (LCNAF) |
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Contributor (Local) |
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Publisher | The Socialist Labour Press |
Place of Creation (TGN) |
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Date | 1920? |
Subject.Topical (LCSH) |
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Subject.Name (LCNAF) |
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Genre (AAT) |
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Language | English |
Type (DCMI) |
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Original Item Extent | 72 pages: portrait; 20 cm. |
Original Item Location | HX11.I5L383 |
Original Item URL | http://library.uh.edu/record=b8320090~S11 |
Original Collection | Socialist and Communist Pamphlets |
Digital Collection | Socialist and Communist Pamphlets |
Digital Collection URL | http://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/scpamp |
Repository | Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries |
Repository URL | http://libraries.uh.edu/branches/special-collections |
Use and Reproduction | This item is in the public domain and may be used freely. |
File Name | index.cpd |
Title | Image 41 |
Format (IMT) |
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File Name | uhlib_4975147_040.jpg |
Transcript | 39 y.Siar xTm the iron hoop which now binds together diverse and hostile Nationalist elements, will break." (This last quotation IQndT qU0t^d, by kautsky himself from his article written in iyU4.) . . . The Russian Revolution . . . has given a mighty impetus to the Nationalist aspirations of the East, and has added Asiatic problems to those of Europe. AU these problems renedered more acute by the present war, loudly clamour for solution and exert a tremendous influence over the minds of the masses, including the proletarian masses, whilst the ruling (iasses are chiefly possessed of Imperialist aspirations." (Page 6(6; tne italics are ours.} Here we have another instance of the prostitution of Marxism! Because of the fact that "democratic Russia ' would kindle a desire in the nations of Eastern Europe to strive after freedom (which fact is indisputable), therefore, the present war, which frees no nation, but, whatever its outcome, will enslave many, is not a " purely " imperialist struggle. Because the " collapse of Tsarism " would mean the downfall of Austria, due to its undemocratic national structure, therefore counter-revolutionary Tsarism (which has temporarily gathered strength, is plundering Austria and h?.s in store still greater oppression for the peoples of Austria) has taken away from the "present war" its purely imperialist character, and has given it, to a certain extent, a national one. Because the ruiling classes deceive dull witted men of the lower middle class and down-trodden peasants by means of tales concerning nationalist aims of the imperialist war, therefore a man of science, an authority on "Marxism," a representative of the Second International, has the right to reconcile the masses with this deception by means of the " formula " that the ruling dlasses are possessed of imperialist aspirations while the " common people " and the proletarian masses are possessed of " nationalist' ones. Here we see dialectics turned into sophistry of the meanest and basest kind ! The national element in the present war is represented only by the struggle of Serbia against Austria, a fact which was noted, by the way, in the resolution of our party's conference at Berne. Only in Serbia and amongst the Serbs* have we a national liberation movement of many years standing, and one which embraces millions of the masses. The war between Serbia and Austria- is a " continuation " of this movement. Had this been an isolated phase of the war, having no connection with the general European war, i.e., with the covetous and plundering aims of England, Russia, etc., |