Page:Friedrich Engels - The Revolutionary Act - tr. Henry Kuhn (1922).pdf/6



In view of recent events, this thesis by Frederick Engels, appearing as an introduction to one of Karl Marx's pamphlets, "The Class Struggles in France, 1848–1850," comes at this time like a voice of warning from the tomb. For years past, the discussion has been going on, among groups which call themselves revolutionary, as to the proper tactics for accomplishing the Revolution; whether the Revolution could be accomplished peacefully or of necessity would have to be brought about by bloodshed, whether the political ballot backed by an adequate industrial force was sufficient to accomplish the Revolution; or whether military preparations and the necessary psychological attitude were indispensable prerequisites to enable the working class to bring the Revolution about; whether indeed the political ballot and its accompanying political agitation had any value whatsoever as a revolutionary weapon of the working class.

The physical-forcists, avowed anarchists, and veiled dynamiters, made a disproportionate amount of noise and consequently were able to find their way into the