07.05.1998

The wish father to the thought

From The Call, paper of the British Socialist Party, May 9 1918

The past week or two has witnessed the circulation of persistent rumours of a counterrevolution in Petrograd. These stories went into detailed description of what was supposed to have happened and, in view of the absence of any denials from Russia, many friends were becoming alarmed.

These stories however are complete fabrications. Recent messages from Russia give a complete denial of anything in the nature of a counterrevolution taking place. The rumours were circulated for some obscure political reasons and, although they are presumed to have originated in Germany, they no doubt express the ardent wishes of the reactionaries in all quarters. It is a clear case of the wish being father to the thought.

As a matter of fact all the evidences go to show that the soviet government is increasing its influence and power in Russia. Internally the Revolution has nothing to fear. There is not a force that can seriously threaten it. This is admitted by friends and enemies alike. But the danger from without is a very real one. There is nothing so galling to the capitalist class as the existence of a socialist republic. They would prefer anything else rather than that.

In the Ukraine the bourgeoisie have placed themselves under the protection of the Germans, under whose wing a Cadet government has been set up, whose business it will be to give back the land to the landlords and protect private property generally. We shall see how far they can succeed. In Finland too the bourgeoisie, with the help of the Germans, have temporarily defeated the forces of the Revolution.

Both cases have been victories for German armies, but, in so far as they have been at the expense of the workers, they have been victories for the bourgeoisie of all countries. Thus is vindicated the international interest of the capitalist class. It is high time the workers looked at events from the same viewpoint.