The Daily Worker Newspaper, July 4, 1925, Page 8

“THE MOSCOW SPIRIT” By LEON TROTSKY. HE Times, the leading newspaper of the English bourgeois, writes that the movement of the Chinese masses reveals a “Moscow spirit.” Well, for once in a way we are pre- pared to agree with the conservative denunciators. The English press in China and in the British Isles brands the strik- ing workers and students as Bolshe- vists. Well, we are prepared to a certain extent to support even this terrible revelation. The fact is the Chinese workers object to being shot down by the Japanese police, so they have declared a protest strike and are proclaiming their indignation in the streets, Is it not evident that here the “Moscow spirit” prevails? The Chinese students, filled with sym- pathy for the workers in their strug- gle, have joined in the strike against the exercise of violence by foreigners. It is evident, as far as the students are concerned, that we have to deal with Bolshevists. of Moscow are prepared to ac- cept all these accusations and revelations. We should like, how- ever to add that the best agents for spreading the “Moscow spirit” in the east are the capitalist politicians and journalists. To the question of the ignorant coolie: “What is a Bolshe- vist?” the English bourgeois press re- plies: “A Bolshevist is a Chinese Some of OLE RR BO —_—— spirit.” If in the streets of his own town, he tries to defond his rgiht to existence and development, he hears cries of: this is Bolshevism! Thus the course of revolutionary education advances step by step un- der the direction of the foreign police and of the journalists, whose attitude of mind is similar to that of the po- lice. And in order to imprint the polit- ical lessons deeply on his memory, the English police, after having shot down dozens and hundreds of Chi- nese workers and students, drags him into the cellars of the English prisons in Shanghai, Thus a short cut to political knowledge is accomplished. From now onwards every Chinaman will know that the “Moscow spirit” 8 the spirit of revolutionary solidarity which unites the oppressed in the fight against the oppressors; and that on the other hand, the atmosphere which pervades the cellars of the Eng- lish prisons of Shanghai incorporates the spirit of “British freedom.” would have concluded at this point, for is there much to add to this eloquent and convincing pro- paganda of the capitalist press on be- half of Moscow? But it occurs to us that liberal labor politicians of the MacDonald type are eagerly listen- ing to our conversation with the con- servatives. “You see,” they say, point- ing didactically at the chief editor aera of the Times, “we have always said that our conservatives work for Bol- shevism.” And this also is true. The conservatives, or rather the reaction- aries—all capitalist parties are now reactionary—represent an enormous historical force which is supported by capital and gives expreseion to its chief interests. MacDonald is right in that there would be no Bolshevism, either in the east or in the west, if the forces of capital did not exist. As long, however, as the force and the yoke of capital does exist, the “Moscow spirit” will make its way thruout the world. For the “adjustment” of events in Shanghai, and in order to counteract the influence of “Moscow,” the liberals and mensheviki suggest the idea of an international conference on the Chinese question, but they are shut- ting their eyes to the fact that at this conference the decision would lie in the hands of the same gentlemen at whose command workers and stu- dents are shot down in Shanghai. b pewscaped MacDonald has a pro- gram ready for this conference. If not, we can submit our own to him. It is very simple. The Chinese house belongs to the Chinese. No one has a right to enter this house without knocking at the door. The owner has the right to admit none but friénds and to refuse entrance to those whom he considers his enemies. This is To the Memory of the Murdered Workers and Students of Shanghai the beginning of our program. You will certainly reject it, because to your nostrils it seems to be thoroly saturated with the explosive “Mos- cow spirit.” But just for this reason it will penetrate into the conscious- ness of the oppressed Chinese and of every honest English worker. This program contains in itself the most powerful innate force. This is the banner under which the workers and students of Shanghai are dying. The blood which has been shed in the streets of Shanghai, will infect the masses with the “Moscow spirit.” This spirit penetrates everywhere and is invincible. It will overcome the whole world by liberating it. Pileiiecks of I. W. W. to Speak this Afternoon James P. Thompson, one of the most noted members of the I, W. W. and an ex-class war prisoner who spent about four years at Leaven- worth, is due to speak in Chicago to- day, the Fourth of July, at an open air meeting to be held at Altheim Park. The meeting is scheduled to open at 1 p. m, and in addition to Thomp- son’s lecture there will be sports, games and refreshments. Madison car to 7800 West or Garfield Park ele- vated. the Delegates to the National Labor Defense Conference 2658 Pall SCRE | These workers attended the epoch-making gathering held in Chciago, June 28. worker who does not wish to be shot by Japanese and English police; a Polshevist is a Chinese student who stretches out a brotherly hand to the Chinese worker who is streaming with blood; a Bolshevist is a Chinese peas- ant who resents the fact that foreign- ers, whose arguments are deeds of violence, behave on this land as tho they were lord and master.” The re- actionary press of both hemispheres gives this excellent description of Bolshevism. Is it possible to carry on im the east a better, more convincing, more stirring propaganda? And to what purpose, may we ask, do we need in the east or, for that matter, in the west either, secret agents with Mos- cow gold in one pocket and with pol- son and dynamite in the other? Would any trained agents be capable of doing a thousandth part of. the educational work which the Times and its companions is carrying on gra- tuitously—this must be acknowledged —thruout the world? If a so-called Moscow agent were to tell the op- pressed Chinese that the policy of Moscow is a policy of the liberatten of the oppressed classes and subjug- ated nations, the Chinese would very likely not believe him—has he not often been deceived by foreigners! But when Moscow’s worst enemy, in the form of the English conservative newspapers, tells him the same about Moscow, he will believe it implicitly. IN the half-naked and halt- starved Chinese worker who is oppressed and degraded, begins to become conscious of his dignity as a human being, he is told: Moscow agents have egged you on! If he al- lies himself with other workers to defend his elementary human rights, THs picture, taken by our special representative in Shanghai, gives an indication of some of the brutalities visited upon Chinese workers and peasants by the French, British, Japanese he is told: this is the “Moscow! and American invaders, thru their specially organized police.