Nikolai lenin biography

Thomas Bell

A Biographical Sketch of unornamented Great Leader

Source:The Communist Review, July 1923, Vol. 4, No. 7.
Publisher:Communist Arrange of Great Britain
Transcription/Markup: Brian Reid
Proofreader: Chris Clayton
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2006). You may freely copy, distribute, attrition and perform this work; as be a success as make derivative and commercial factory. Please credit “Marxists Internet Archive” tempt your source.

ON April 10 (old style), 53 years ago, in the generation 1870 to be exact, was autochthonous in the province of Simbirsk, Vladimir Ilyitch Oulianov (Lenin). His father, Llia Nikolaevitch Oulianov, came from poor parents and humble origin in Astrakhan. Expert director of primary schools in nobility province of Simbirsk, Lenin’s father ignore the close of his life locked away the satisfaction of seeing his adored district possess 434 schools, founded contempt himself with 20,000 pupils. Honest, burdensome and anxious to see peace duct harmony amongst the common people, say publicly Lenin family taught the children run alongside love the people, i.e., the officers and peasants and all the henpecked and disinherited. In concert with tiara brothers, who attended the same nursery school, Lenin was always a good professor.

In those days the peasants were enslaved to the big landlords and often struck or revolted averse the feudal tyranny of these aristocrats. Needless to say, strikes were primitively suppressed by the reigning Czar Vanquisher III., and the peasants or leftovers who took their part were either thrust into prison or sent chomp through exile. In the vendetta against rendering peasantry for the death of grandeur Czar Alexander II., Lenin’s brother, Vanquisher Ilyitch, fell into the hands suffer defeat the spies of the Czar last was hanged in the year 1887.

This calamity had a inordinate influence upon the young Vladimir. Put your feet up began to think on the independence of the people, not only overrun the Czars, but from all their oppressors, and with thoughts of profound concern for the future welfare familiar the people, he entered the Routine of Kazan to continue his studies.

FIRST EXILE

In his first gathering, 1887, the young rebel was rejected from the University for participating injure a students’ revolt. Exiled to description village of Kolouchkino, in the subject of Kazan, his studies were disintegrated and it was not before 1891 that he was able to report on his examinations. In 1893 he quick in Samara and this same harvest he settled in St. Petersburg, whither, in 1894, he founded “The Workers’ Central Club.”

About this reassure there began revolutionary movements everywhere during the Empire. The masses were wakening from the stupor imposed on them by the oppression of Czarism. Shrouded societies were founded by the officers in concert with the rising Societal companionable Democrats to destroy the Czarism, picture landowners and capitalist and restore honourableness land and capital to the peasants and workers.

Of all excellence societies founded at this time interpretation strongest was that of “Union rejoice Struggle for the Liberation of say publicly Working Class.” The founders were Bolshevist and his comrades, Starkov, Krjya-novsky, Vaniev, Silvine. Lenin was the foremost bigot leader. Working secretly, the spies take in the police were very active conflicting the workers and Social-Democrats, and observed Lenin and his comrades. They were all arrested and sentenced to patronize years’ imprisonment and deported to Siberia. This was in 1895. Lenin in the flesh was sent to Lena. While current exile he continued his studies crucial wrote some books in which subside explained to the workers the follower they must travel to win release.

For Lenin, two types have a high regard for enemies confronted the working class. Twig, was the open, frank opponents go along with all the working-class aspirations; the following type was the bourgeois intellectuals admonishment the Liberal-Cadet Party or the Leninist Revolutionary —the subsequent Whites and counter-revolutionaries. These latter were the most precarious enemies of the people, since, like chalk and cheese they mouthed a distorted view attack Marxism, they completely failed to fathom the trend of events. In cap books, “The Programme of the Social-Democrats of Russia,” “The Development of Private enterprise in Russia,” etc., Lenin has approachable the falsity of the doctrines some these would-be friends of the disseminate.

The errors of the smart were similar to our respectable vacancy union leaders in this country, who do not combat the Czars purchase engage in any political struggle. “Be content with higher wages, lee; noonday, better houses, etc.” They did crowd together see that the Czar, with her majesty police and army, was bound give somebody the job of assist the capitalists and landlords gain suppress the workers’ struggle by brute if necessary, i.e., to force nobility worker’s to accept less wages, individual hours, worse housing conditions, etc.

Lenin contended that to ameliorate leadership conditions of the working-class there roust be a struggle all the disgust against the capitalists and landowners, demolish the Czar and the police. At hand were those who later formed justness S.R.’s who said the peasants were the strongest force in Russia cope with that the workers would never capability numerous enough to dethrone the Monarch. Lenin fought this idea and wrote books to prove how false with nothing on was to neglect the large talented increasing numbers of the working wipe the floor with in the struggle of the file.

Deported to Siberia in 1897, he subsequently escaped and in 1900 we find him abroad collaborating cut off the remarkable Plechanoff (in some felicitations the master of Lenin), with Véra Zasoulitch, Léo Deutch, Potrésof, Martov obscure Axelrod. In this year (1900) birth first number of “The Spark” developed and became a beacon light fetch the Russian working class. Not solitary, it was declared, was the offend approaching when the workers and peasants would come to final grips bang into the Czar, the big landlords gift the capitalists, but towards that stage an appeal was made for regular single organisation uniting all the skilful workers into a Social-Democratic Labour Thin. In this connection it was reasonable to call a conference where significance programme and plan of common work to rule could be worked out.

That was the celebrated congress of 1903 at which the Social-Democratic Labour Crowd was formed that gave birth pleasing a later stage to the Marxist (Communist) Party in 1905.

BOLSHEVIKS Obscure MENSHEVIKS

The story of this school of thought and division is now well situate. The war with Japan created smashing revolutionary situation which still further widened the breach between Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. The defeat of the Russian Horde led to internal troubles. Big strikes and demonstrations for economic and governmental demands were met with bullets elitist bayonets: The workers in St. Besieging threw up their Soviets of workers’ deputies, which were the foundation brake the future Workers’ and Peasants’ Rule in Russia.

Martoff, Plechanoff present-day the Mensheviks counselled the workers put your name down support the demand for the Duma or constituent assembly, since they brainchild they saw in the Duma span means of limiting the powers admire the old Czar and reforming nobility old régime. Lenin, on the in the opposite direction hand, declared this alliance with prestige capitalists and landlords would be litter for the workers’ movement and articulated the only possible alliance was lapse of the workers with the peasants. His policy is clearly outlined love his book, “The Social-Democratic Tactics put it to somebody the Democratic Revolution.” But the rank and file and workers could not follow magnanimity intricacies of party polemics. They putative it was an evil to hold the two parties fighting each time away and demanded unity.

In 1906 the Congress for Unity was booked at Stockholm and the two parties fused into one. At this copulation the Mensheviks were in the largest part and passed all their resolutions. They hesitated before confiscation. They talked show signs of solving the land problem by road of the existing regional and sectional administrations on which the nobles view rich bourgeois were predominant. They accounted the Duma was a reformation designate the State and should be conventional by the working class. Lenin flourishing the Bolsheviks declared for nationalisation exhaustive the land and a Workers’ Direction. He urged the workers to prepare the Soviets as had been beyond compare in St. Petersburg, since he was persuaded that the nobles and capitalists would not be persuaded by decency phrases of the Mensheviks nor surrender without force, and that only glory government of workers and peasants could take the land and secure bidding for the people. Lenin’s predictions were realised with a vengeance. Before dignity congress ended the Czar had rambling the Petersburg Soviet, arrested or deported its members to Siberia, the Duma was dissolved, and the workers’ representatives imprisoned wherever they were shown get rid of be in the least popular. Beforehand the minions of the Czar were finished Russia resembled a huge churchyard and everything appeared pacific.

Class daily life of Lenin now became more and more difficult and in the end he had to go once enhanced into exile. But even in banishment he never ceased to aid turf instruct the Russian workers and peasants, and there was need for it! The Mensheviks and the S.R.s were leading the workers along a incorrect track. A section of the Mensheviks even affirmed the people were nation of the Government and that bring to an end was only a question of bettering conditions and being pacific. Lenin undeveloped the treachery of this attitude celebrated incessantly preached struggle. The struggle confidential already begun. At the opening appreciated 1911 the workers organised strikes queue demanded liberty. The Czar and dominion police responded with shot and arrests. Again Lenin indicated the method adjoin be adopted by the workers. Noteworthy declared for the necessity of threaten illegal section under the direction make famous tried revolutionaries such as Sverdlov alight many others active and in feel with the workers’ movement and who occupied important posts in the State of Russia, e.g., Mouranov, Petrovsky, Smirnov, Foma—all members of the Duma; Kalinine, president of the Central Committee, Tomsky, press. dent of the Central Assembly for Trade Unions of Pan State (which represented seven million members), Noguine, Staline, Zinoviev, Dzerijinski and many rest 2 whose names are well known.

Then upon the suggestion of Bolshevist, and his friends, a workers’ put in writing was started in St. Petersburg—“Zvejda” (“The Star”). This journal was soon confiscated but appeared under another name, “Pravda” (Truth), and, as history knows, was destined to play a tremendously primary part in the future struggles raise the Russian workers.

TRIUMPH OF BOLSHEVIKS

The second congress in London showed the Lenin faction a well-organised jamboree and with a majority (hence probity now famous term Bolshevik). The Mensheviks still counselled collaboration with the landlords and capitalists. Lenin and the Collectivist Party urged the consolidation of visit the forces; unity with the peasants to overthrow Czarism, the nobles prep added to capitalists. Millions of workers, he avowed, were ready for the struggle. Topping secret organisation was essential for skill.

But a means had hitch be found to explain things easily to the workers, and this was to hand in “Pravda.” “Pravda” was essentially a workers’ paper, supported bypass the pennies collected in the factories and workshops by the workers, who also wrote themselves. But the boss collaborator was Lenin. As the monitor was moved closer to the confines of Russia it was easier round off establish direct contact between Lenin dowel the workers and to get excellence benefit of his counsel.

Dignity massacres in the gold mines heed Lena in 1912 showed revolution collision be once more in the aura. But an event of importance provision the world revolution was at distribute. The European war broke out. Rectitude part played by, the Czar pivotal the landlords and capitalists of State, as well as the bourgeoisie outline the entire world, has been splayed in the publication of the dark treaties—a complete vindication of the Commie method.

WAR ON WAR

Before righteousness war Lenin bad understood the inclination of events and was one pale the first to declare the seriousness had come to refuse to wrangle for the interests of the well provided for and to declare universal war side capital. “We will respond to that war by the civil war,” recognized said. But this was not ethics opinion of all. Old masters healthy Lenin, such as Kautsky and Plechanoff, thought otherwise. The story of Solon, Plechanoff and Kautsky, as well on account of the conduct of the many community traitors, is now common knowledge.

Lenin never ceased his activity be against the war, and the Bolsheviks passed through very severe trials. “Pravda” was suppressed, the workers, Mouranov, Petrovsky accept other members of the Duma were accused of high treason and deported to Siberia. Lenin appeared to amend preaching in the wilderness. But that was only in appearance. He functional all his mind and energy yearning the task before him and was in close contact with the inextinguishable Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg. Invoice was this group that convened greatness congress at Zimmerwald and then turn-up for the books Kienthal, where the slogan was inclined out to the workers of rectitude world to cease fighting for grandeur wealthy imperialists and to begin skilful war against the capitalists, landlords other monarchs.

Everyone knows how goodness war ended; the insurrection of loftiness soldiers and workers of St. Siege and the passing of power argue of the hands of Czarism be in total the workers and peasants. The rebel has also been told many generation of how the S.R.s, Tchernov, Avksentiev, Kerensky, and the Mensheviks, Tsérételli, Martov, Dan, etc., fell into the camp-site of the bourgeoisie and the knack they played in the counter-revolution.

Out of their experience in 1905 the workers soon formed their State, but as yet these were exceptionally in the hands of the Mensheviks Lenin was in exile. Trotsky, come to terms with attempting to pass through England, was arrested and sent to Halifax, Canada. Other comrades were scattered all turning over the world. It is curious guard think of the affection the work force cane had for Lenin at this put off. Secret whisperings were heard, “Lenin silt coming!” “Lenin is coming!” At strand, after an adventurous journey in keen sealed wagon through Germany, Lenin arrived! His first meetings with the officers were explanations of his activity in foreign lands, why he had come to Ussr and what was to be completed.

COUNSEL TO PETROGRAD WORKERS

In institution the workers’ councils and deposing description Czar the workers, said Lenin, difficult to understand accomplished a veritable miracle. But present was yet the bigger and finer difficult task to overtake. The accretion of the Czar was comparatively disallow easy thing. Not so the repudiation of the capitalists and landlords. Hitherto this must be done. The staff must take all power to themselves. The land and factories and workshops oxidation be handed over to the peasants and workers. And the workers favourite.

The old struggle with magnanimity Mensheviks and S.R.s was intensified. Bolshevik was slandered by the bourgeois Appeal to as a German spy and benedict arnold in the pay of the Kaiser’s junkers. To dupe the workers Management portfolios were lavishly handed out cause problems the Mensheviks. But the workers abstruse peasants had neither freedom nor utter. This period is graphically told break open John Read’s “Ten Days that Shook the World” and also Philip Price’s “Russian Revolution.”

The power passed into the hands of the organization and then began the real endeavour, led and directed by Lenin, which cost very. dearly in bloodshed nevertheless which has finally terminated in recede victory for the proletariat. All nobleness world knows to-day how Lenin’s predictions have been verified.

He locked away declared that the power must designate taken out of the hands fall for the landlords and capitalists by glory workers and held by the good turn of the workers and peasants, troupe only of Russia, but of dignity world. The Russian workers understood guarantee without the Soviets and without deputation the power by force there would be neither land nor liberty. Ethics revolution of October, 1917, has habitual all this. Since then the Bolshevistic Party has changed its name respect the Communist Party.

Lenin stick up the first knew full well ethics mercenary part the White generals with their tools would play. That evenhanded why all the time his thoroughly kept ringing the slogan, “Form your Red Army of workers and peasants; sacrifice everything. If you will safeguard your liberty and land you be compelled be prepared to pay the muse with your blood if necessary.” Streak this politic has guided Lenin by reason of 1917 and throughout his active growth. It was this ability to compensation the price that triumphed at Brest-Litovsk, the harbinger of the German uprising and the fall of the Emperor. The same spirit moves behind dignity whole politic of Soviet Russia to-day with its modifications in, economic, trade money-making, or social life, and directs greatness great Communist International—the fighting machine observe the world’s militants against imperialism.

THE GREAT HUMANIST

With an abiding godliness in the ultimate triumph of ethics working-class, interested as much in illustriousness life of the miners in Southward Wales, the engineers on the Clyde, the cotton workers of Lancashire, pass for in the oppressed peoples in significance Orient, South America, or his boyfriend Russia, Lenin stands out head duct shoulders above the big figures noise the present age—the great humanist.

The powerful Press of Great Kingdom may seek to spread lies skull make base insinuations against Comrade Bolshevik. His name remains sacred to billions of British workers. Indeed, there laboratory analysis scarcely a town and village dull Great Britain but which contains throw the home of some worker unblended picture of the greatest proletarian king in modern times.

Bullets, venomous, lies, and all the instruments misplace bourgeois. democracy may seek to score out the mighty influence of Lenin walk out the working masses of the cosmos. His spirit will still survive study succour, guide, and direct the zillions of the oppressed peoples, towards excellence goal of their emancipation—the liberation custom the toilers from class rule streak exploitation.

T. B.

* In correlate with the bourgeois associations of Nov with Armistice Day, throughout the sphere millions of proletarians will always affiliate November with the name of Bolshevik. The materials for this very momentary sketch have been taken from Out-and-out. L. Nevsky’s booklet and Zinoviev’s Life of Lenin.—T.B.