that is, of the majority of the population. In modern war, as is well known, economic organisation has a decisive importance. Russia has enough corn, coal, oil and iron; in this respect our situation is better than the other belligerent countries. Now, if the struggle against disorganisation was carried on by the methods shown above—by interesting the masses in the struggle, by improving their conditions, by nationalising the banks and combines—the government would actually utilise the revolution and the achievement of democratic rule and would carry the whole country to a level of economic organisation considerably higher than it possesses now.
If, instead of the "coalition" with the bourgeoisie, who hinder control and sabotage production, the S.R.'s and the Mensheviks had carried out the transference of power to the Soviets and had put forth all their strength, not to share in the ministry and to occupying at the side of the Cadets the posts of ministers, vice-ministers, &c., but to lead the workers and peasants in their control of the capitalists, Russia to-day would be in the midst of a great economic change, where the land would belong to the peasants and the bank would be nationalised, that is to say, it would be considerably in advance of all the other capitalist States.
The capacity for defence and the military strength of a country where the banks are nationalised is greater than that of a country where the banks remain in individual hands. The military power of an agricultural country where the land is in the hands of peasants' committees is greater than that of a country where great landowners rule.
The heroic patriotism and the prodigies of courage of the French in 1792–93 are constantly quoted. But the material historico-economic conditions which made these prodigies possible are forgotten. A ruthless revolutionary struggle against feudalism, the general adoption of better means of production, the free possession of the soil, combined with energy, efficiency and self-denial truly democratic and revolutionary—these were the material and economic conditions which saved France by transforming, by giving new life to its economic foundations.
The example of France proves one thing and one thing only: to make Russia capable of defence, to arouse "prodigies" of heroism in the masses, it is necessary to sweep away with "Jacobin" ruthlessness everything that has served its purpose and to new
