Page:Boris Souvarine - The Third International.djvu/14

 elements to the abdication of parties and of leaders, but at first their number was infinitely small. The succeeded in profiting by favourable occasions in expressing their fidelity to international Socialism, and in resuscitating the revolutionary spirit. They discovered means of revolting against "Socialist discipline," in the name of Socialist doctrine. Their lack of discipline towards the parties saved the honour of Socialism in Germany and in France, saved Socialism itself.

But for a long time their voices were stifled, and only the traitors to Socialism were able to speak in the name of Socialism in voices that could be heard. They spoke, they wrote, they acted, unfortunately for the proletariat to their eternal shame.

If they had renounced the Specialist interpretation because they were powerless in face of chauvinism let loose, at least they should have remained silent, and have waited for the propitious moment to utter a Socialist protest. They need not have put their programme into action, but, at least, they should not have renounced it.

They did renounce it. They not only submitted to the war, they accepted it. then they approved it, then they justified it, then they magnified it, and thus they prolonged it. After the vote of credits, the symbol of the renouncement of opposition, the French Socialists entered the bourgeois government, while in Germany an active support was given to the Imperial government. This was followed by a refusal to link up international relations. Later on the omnipotence of the army staff, the dictatorship of war profiteers, the censorship, the state of siege, the "war to the end" (that is to say till imperialist appetites were satisfied) were all. one after the other, accepted. Finally came adhesion to the counter-revolution.

In their apostacy they adopted all the bourgeois