Page:Resolutions and Theses of the Fourth Congress of the Communist International (1922).djvu/10



RISONERS of Capitalism! Heroes in the struggle for the freedom of the working class, the representatives of the revolutionary proletariat of all countries assembled at the Fourth World Congress of the Communist International send you greetings!

Comrades, from year to year the world Congresses of the revolutionary proletarian vanguard, pointed out the conquests of the working class, paid homage to the working class and to the victims of the struggle, who have fallen at the hands of the executioners and to those confined in prisons. From the moment that the United Front of Capital began its onslaught, its cruelty has manifested itself in full force. Once again throughout the capitalist world where the proletariat is fighting its "last battle" with its class enemy—proletarian blood is being shed and the flower of the proletariat languishes in prisons. Waves of the White Terror spread over the capitalist nations.

In Italy, the Fascisti fight the proletariat with fire and sword—burn up the offices of the trade unions, labour organisations and party organs—not stopping at anything, even destroying the homes of the fighters for the freedom of the working class!

In France the heroic sailors who have refused to go against the Russia of the workers and peasants continue to languish in prisons, and during the Havre strike the defenders of capitalism once again reaped their bloody harvest. The blood of the workers flows along the streets of Berlin, and the workers who fight against the monarchist reaction are being thrown into prisons. Those who took part in Soviet Bavaria, regardless of the fact that three years have passed since its fall, are still in prison. Many of the participators in the March uprising are still confined to prison, notwithstanding the fact that an amnesty has been declared.

In Esthonia, after the execution of Comrade Kingissep, the prisons are filled with the representatives of the proletariat. In Latvia punishment by hanging is being again introduced. Comrade Klyavs-Klyavin is sentenced to death, and the fate of the hundreds of arrested workers has not yet been decided.

In democratic Poland, fighters for Communism are sentenced to hard labour in accordance with the laws of Czardom.

The "Inviolable" deputy, Comrade Dombel, has been sentenced to hard labour and is already serving his term. Electoral committees are being illegally arrested. Over 500 men are confined in prison for participating in election com-