J. V. Stalin
Source : Works, Vol.
3, March - October, 1917
Publisher : Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow,
1954
Transcription/Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2008
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2008).
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Two resolutions. One—that of the Executive Committee of the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. The other—that of the workers (400) of the machine shops of the Russo-Baltic Railway Car Works.
The former is for supporting the so-called "Liberty Loan."
The latter is against.
The former uncritically accepts the "Liberty Loan" at its face value, as a loan in support of liberty.
The latter characterizes the "Liberty Loan" as a loan against liberty, because it is "being floated with the aim of continuing the fratricidal slaughter, which is advantageous only to the imperialist bourgeoisie."
The former is prompted by the misgivings of distraught minds—what about the supply of the army, will not the supply of the army be injured by refusal to support the loan?
The latter has no such misgivings, because it sees a solution: it "recognizes that to supply the needs of the army funds are required, and points out to the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies that these funds should be taken from the pockets of the bourgeoisie, who started and are continuing this war, and who are coining millions out of the slaughter."
The authors of the first resolution should be content, for have they not "done their duty"?
The authors of the second resolution protest, considering that by such an attitude towards the cause of the proletariat the former are "betraying the International."
That hits the nail on the head!
For and against a "Liberty Loan" that is directed against liberty.
Workers, who are right? Decide for yourselves, comrades.
Pravda, No. 29, April 11, 1917