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 partial struggle; because the futility of strikes, demonstrations and isolated pressure has been understood and recognised by all.

If we approach the study of the state of mind of the masses from the point of view of the whole development of the class struggle and the political struggle, as well as of the whole course of events during these six months of revolution, we shall clearly see how people terrified by the bourgeoisie have false perspectives. The present point of view is not that of April 20–21, of June 9, of July 3, for then there existed a spontaneous effervescence that we, as a Party, did not take advantage of (April 20); or that we restrained and transformed into a peaceful demonstration (June 9 and July 3). For we knew quite well at that time, that the soviets were not yet on our side; that the peasants still believed in the Liber-Dan-Tchernov method and not in the Bolshevik method (insurrection); that, moreover, we could not have had the majority of the people with us; and that, consequently, insurrection would have been premature.

At that time the idea of the final decisive battle had not seized the mind of the majority of thinking workers; not a single party committee even considered the question. As for the partly-conscious masses, they had not yet been thrown back on their own resources, they had not yet the courage of despair. They were seized with a spontaneous effervescence, with the simple hope that an "intervention," or even simply a demonstration, would suffice to "influence" the Kerenskys and the bourgeoisie.

Now, for an insurrection something entirely different is required. What is necessary is, on the one hand, the deliberate, firm, and unshakable decision of men who have decided to fight to the very end; and, on the other hand, the silent despair of the masses who feel that henceforth half-measures will not bring salvation, that it is impossible to "influence" the government, that the starving will "sweep all away, will break down everything, even anarchically," if the Bolsheviks do not know how to lead them in the decisive struggle.

Now, it is precisely to this concentrated state of mind of thinking men, and to this almost desperate hatred of the masses against