Self-respect and Socialism
Book Review: Bolshevism and the West
by Bertrand Russell and Scott Nearing, published by George. Allen and Unwin, price 2sh.
This is an account of a debate between two of the leading thinkers of the world on the subject “Is the Soviet form of government applicable to Western civilization?” Mr. Scott Nearing presents the affirmative of the proposition in three stages. Firstly, he maintains that the form of any government corresponds with the stage in social development attained by the people concerned. For instance, under the agricultural civilization of the feudal ages when one part of the population owned the land and another part worked upon the land, that part of the population which owned the land ran the political Government. With the development of commerce and industry and the exploitation of the coal and iron, the oil and timber, the old division of society based on ownership of land gave way to the new division of capitalist and labourer and the modern bourgeoise state is formed which is run entirely in the interest of the business magnates. When the capitalist state breaks, as it is bound to sometime or other, socialism is bound to follow and the Russian Soviet is a transition stage bridging capitalism and socialism.
The second stage in Mr. Nearing’s argument is a description of the Soviet form of Government. Bolshevism is dictatorship under the control of the industrial workers but dominated by the communist party. Three outstanding characteristics of the Soviet system should be noted. Firstly electoral constituencies are not territorial. They are economic or occupational. The Nehru committee and their supporters will do well to digest the fact that modern Russia considers “joint electorates” as an anachronism and a survival of medieval feudalism. Representatives to the Soviet are elected by “Separate electorates”. The second feature of the Soviet system is the organization of the economic life of the people, altogether eliminating private profiteering in industry. The third characteristic of the Soviet is contained in the motto: “No work. No vote.” The political rights of the country are restricted to those who perform productive and useful service.
The third stage in Mr. Nearing’s argument is his contention that the Soviet system is bound to overtake every part of the world at some time or other. International war, class war, civil war and hard times are destroying Western civilization. When capitalism breaks, as it must sooner or later, there will be the dictatorship of a group of industrial workers functioning under a sternly disciplined party like the communist party in Russia.
Mr. Bertrand Russell then delivers his negative presentation address. He begins by drawing an analogy between the Soviet system and the form of government established in England by Cromwell in the seventeenth century: government by a party, not elected by the people but chosen for opinions held, in a country with a feudal system of land tenure, with an illiterate population and with a rising middle class. The conditions of seventeenth century England were the same as those obtaining in the Russia of 1921 and produced the Cromwell form of government in modern Russia. But England has advanced since Cromwell’s days. So have the other Nations of the West which have assimilated the technique of present day industrialism. Hence when the capitalist government breaks, and Mr. Russell agrees with Mr. Nearing that it may break, it is not the Soviet form but some other that will step in.
Next, Mr. Russell controverts Mr. Nearing’s contention that economic cause alone determines the form of a society. Religious, ethnic and cultural conditions also count for a great deal. Comparing the civilizations of Russia and China, Mr. Russell finds that identical economic conditions are capable of producing the most profound difference in the organizations of Society. The Russians are religious, persecuting, centralized, the Chinese are free thinking, decentralized and unpersecuting. The difference in civilisation is due to difference in tradition and temperament. The Russian tradition is still the tradition of seventeenth century Europe. But the Western countries have since experienced the skepticism of the eighteenth century and the optimism of the nineteenth century. These experiences have altered the outlook of the West which will no longer tolerate the imposition of the primitive Soviet from of government.
The Marxian idea of the economic determination of history is far too simple to hold good of the vast complexity of human affairs. It did not hold good even in the case of Russia where they had the revolution which they wanted. Instead of introducing Communism with its benefits they brought about a government extraordinarily like the old government of the Czar, centralized, depending upon secret police, secret arrests, imprisonments and executions without trial, concerned to prevent insurrections and assassinations, and opposed by the bulk of the population. Russia had therefore to drop her ambitious project and go back to the New Economic Policy involving only parts of Socialism accepted by the most moderate socialists.
Mr. Russell attributes to the Bolsheviks one great discovery, and that is how to take the next step in countries with a large illiterate and apathetic population and a small group of intellectuals. As the next step from autocracy or from any ancient evil in a country of that sort, as a transition in a uneducated country, the Bolsheviks have found the best way. But in a country where the people are accustomed to participate in politics it is an impossible method. Employment of the Russian method by a Western country would result, as it did in Italy, in the dictatorship of the aristocracy. A terrible cataclysm in a lightly organized industrial country will bring about a return to barbarism and will not usher in communism. It is easy to destroy what we have. But it is difficult to make sure that such destruction will be succeeded by what we want. The days for the spectacular are past. We must undertake solid work and build up bit by bit.
Mr. Nearing replies to Mr. Russell and quotes Mr. Ramsay MacDonald who said that if England underwent a revolution “a committee of public safety might well step into Whitehall and make up its mind to impose a new order upon an old chaos”. Mr. Nearing challenges Mr. Russell to suggest an alternative scheme which may be employed during the crises of a breakdown of the existing order which is bound to happen at some time or other.
Mr. Russell in winding up the debate denies that he ever said that the present civilization is bound to break down. It is the duty of the western nations to prevent the occurrence of a cataclysm that would destroy industrial plants, power stations and other features of a technically organized society. The populations of the western world ought to be persuaded during times of peace and prosperity that the existing economic system is bad and that methods of socialism should be adopted. It is a slow task. But there is no short and quick road to the millennium. Sudden revolutions merely change the name of things. They cannot change the habits of people and the old things come back with the new names. Real and enduring change has to be brought about by peaceful propaganda in stages of gradual evolution.
A perusal of this book furnishes food for thought on the part of every intelligent Indian. There is no difference as to the nature of the ultimate ideal between the two participants in the debate. Both are socialists. Mr. Nearing advocates violence as a temporary stage, as a means. But Mr. Russell is a stern believer in nonviolence, a Gandhiite. These two are familiar types in our country. But there is one disconcerting fact about which both these thinkers agree. They both recommend the Soviet system for an agricultural and rural civilization like that of India. Nonviolence is necessary only for the technically organized peoples. The charka is the harbinger of a militarist dictatorship. This conclusion may startle the Saint of Sabarmati but may afford some consolation to those wordy warriors who are declaring Independence at Calcutta
– Revolt, 2 January 1929
Soviet Regime
A message dated 4th January, from Bombay says:-
Speaking at a public meeting on the 3rd instant, Mr. M. J. Ryan of Sydney, who is visiting India to study labour conditions in India, gave an eye-witness’s account of Soviet Russia. Confining his observations to large towns, Mr. Rayan declared he thought they were not yet a paradise for workers, Russia was far better, compared with other countries. There were still a lot of difficulties for Russian workmen, such as the army of unemployed; with this difference, however, that while everyone realized that the bulk of the unemployed in England would never get a job under capitalists, unemployment in Russia was temporary. Russia, on the whole, had made wonderful progress, despite virtual international ostracism. He had no doubt preparations were being made for an attack on her by the other Powers, who he prophesied, would get the shock of their lives from the Red Army. When such an attack was made, it was up to workers in other countries to be allies with their brother-workers in Russia.
Tales Repudiated
Describing Russian conditions, Mr. Ryan repudiated as untrue stories of half-starved, ill clad people slinking about in perpetual fear of police, who were ever ready to pounce on them. That description, he thought would apply better to Bombay or Calcutta than Moscow or any other Soviet city. The Police in Russia were dressed as ordinary workers, mingled freely with them, called them comrades, and arrested them only on the extremist provocation, but a private trader was not treated with anything like such consideration.
One amusing form of propaganda on behalf of the workers, he noticed was shooting galleries wherein targets were provided by images of prominent imperialists, of whom he particularly noted Sir Austen Chamberlain.
– Revolt, 9 January 1929
Retrogressive Internationalism (By Mr. G. E. S. of U.S.A.)
The Hearst Newspaper syndicate being unable to involve the United States of America and Mexico in war is stressing British resentment at America’s successful invasion into world commerce. Americans should realize that England is the Chief loser from the World War besides being game enough not to repudiate its indebtedness to this country. Conditions previous to the World War and the after effects prevent a solution of a serious siege of unemployment of long duration. Past methods of building its world wide trade depended mainly on an arbitrary attitude toward weaker nations, even to preventing the raising and manufacturing of products that would compete with goods from Great Britain. All European nations have exploited the natives of Asia and Africa in a similar manner leaving them barren of profit in contact with Christain nations. Nature has blessed bees with better sense than that. The contrast between the Phillipine Islands and India is also an irritant to economic ills from exploitation and not competition. America’s attitude toward China does not aim to make a drug friend of Asia but it speeds the day of a great economic upheaval in the world.
If extremes meet there is much in common between India and United States of America, except that in India the sacred cow is milked thoroughly by the practical Briton but not the “Bull” and Bear venerated by the white collar faddists of the cult of synthetic efficiency. India and Afghanistan because of their excess in population, social and economic errors and disease being promoted by religious beliefs are probably the source of world wide epidemics. America may become an economic pest to other nations and ultimately destroy its world markets by creating a serious unemployment problem. If the Yankee wants to commit economic suicide the act should not threaten in advance the existence of other nations. India and America seek a Nirvana that tends to decadence and anarchy under a smoke screen of their respective nomenclatures and system for one process methods and mass propositions. The Priestly efficiency experts use caste divisions, substitute reincarnation for rotation as a reward of merit for repetition of the error in choice of parents, ignoring a fundamental principle that each generation should require its people to be rational, versatile, talented citizens to perpetuate democratic forms of government and not myths that create parasitical elements among mankind.
The Orient confers a halo on that which develops a latent talent by stunting normal facilities; hence occultism is a destructive process of specialization that cannot deceive a camera, although it fascinates by its abnormal blind spots as do freaks and monstrosities. Outwardly it has its parallel in children warped and disfigured by beggar padrones. America is in its era of synthetic efficiency starting from wooden nutmegs and retrograding to wooden heads, a counter motion and inverse ratio that deceives and charms by the misuse of the blessing of Science, in learning to do but one simple task well and creating a nation of industrial and professional morons besides making existence more favourable for semi-wits under a hierarchy that has closed shop to general experience for college graduates. Science and invention used as a scaffold to correct humanity’s imperfections can create a race that can outdo the stunted oriental mystics that term machinery black magic and the work of devils. Machinery like psychology can be used to good or bad ends but nature and the Law of compensation reward according to the choice made.
Some perverse streak persists to capitalise herd instincts and prejudices besides refining sabotage into respected professions Ecclesiastical laws termed Blue laws do not comprehend the mission and purpose of Law. Its advocates use it as a magic wand and then again as a camouflage in terming as blasphemy that which may be rant, ridicule or else criticism of superstition and hypocrisy shielded by Caesar. It diverts from the blasphemy that asserts divine guidance an aid in violating human rights, and aspirations for “peace on earth and good will to all men”. One day in 365 is set aside to understand some thing that requires thought. The herd would rather fight than reason out a remedy for social and economic ills. Dr. Mar’s remedy of bleeding the patient proves the patient is infantile in thought, hence incapable to rightly use the blessing of science. That the majority are ruled by propaganda and misleading slogans proves the thoroughness of their training by a parasitical element experienced in sabotage and exploitation. This element does not educate, it trains to accept by the world, a definition for patriotism that, which in its true relation, blasphemes human progress and the divine spark in humanity it seeks to extinguish.
Europe does not need to go to war with America as a remedy for its social and economic ills. Germany as a republic could have avoided the destructive war caused by an enforced abnormal reverential respect for a class moronised by inter-breeding. Capitalism is blinded by an
overvaluation of divine and property rights as well as by a mistaken or false conception of efficiency. War is not a remedy for lack of rational thought and progress. European nations can establish a co-operative common-wealth and be concerned over capitalistic America being stewed in its own juice by its synthetic chiefs. America at present is diverted from its increasing economic and social ills by the issues arising from the eighteenth amendment to its basic law. When it is not that, it is base ball or some shadow chasing or boxing stunt that ignores the cause. United States of America will be unable to meet its own problems, so will Europe if they would rather fight than use common sense. If United States of America would gain the world it will lose in the end. So will any other nation by approved methods of capitalism, because of the blind spot of moral atrophy from a lopsided sales of psychology and incentive.
– Revolt, 1 May 1929
Jatin Das Dead
It is not every one who has the courage to sacrifice his life at the altar of a cherished cause or principle. It may be that life’s full of woes, troubles and tribulations but yet there are not many who, for that reason would wish that it were not protracted. This being the outstanding characteristic of human nature there is reason for all the more admiration when we come across one who treats his very life as of no value whatever by the side of his convictions and flings it away for the sake of an idea or ideal. History speaks in accents of utmost reverence and respect of such high spirited souls who have performed the great sacrifice. We have no doubt but that the same honour and respect will be paid to the heroic soul which passed away in the Lahore Jail on Friday last. Jatin Das subjected himself to the inconceivable agony of absolute starvation for over sixty days and eventually succumbed to the exhaustions born thereof. He fought for a cause which he valued more highly than life and even those amongst us who do not approve of the righteousness of that cause – and their number must be few indeed will not – we are sure have the unchivalrous petty mindedness to withhold from him the tribute usually accorded to all deeds of staggering heroism and self-sacrifice. In the death of Mr. Jatin Das there is promise of life not only for the political prisoners of the country but for the nation itself. And we are not sure that the bureaucracy has not added one more undying blot to its none too clean history by precipitating this tragedy. Jatin Das is dead but his shining heroism and sacrifice lives, and that is an asset ever to be proud of.
– Revolt, 15 September 1929
An Appeal for Convicted S.I.R. Labour Leaders
The South Indian Railway Labour Union, with branches all over the line, was championing the cause of the Railway Labourers. The S. I. Railway, who heard the grievances, received the deputations, and gave interviews to the representatives of the Union and in fact both the Union and the authorities were cordial in their relationship. During 1928, there was a proposal to retrench 3171 labourers in the workshops and the Union raised a strong protest about the same and tried its best to bring an amicable settlement; but at last strike was declared on 20-7-28 which resulted in the arrest of leaders of the S.I.R. Labour Union who were convicted for ten years by the Sessions Judge of Trichinopoly on a charge of conspiracy under section 120 B of the Indian Penal Code to commit offences under section 126 and 128 of the Ry. Act. An appeal has been filed in the High Court of Madras and the leaders were let on bail. It is expected that the case will be taken up in the course of the next month.
The Union had sufficient funds, which was utilized during the strike, for organizing the strike, for supporting the families of the strikers, for defending the cases against the workers and also the conspiracy case launched against the leaders, which continued day to day for nearly 9 months and so the finances of the Union have become slender and the Union authorities are compelled to make this appeal so that, with the contributions, they could be able to fight out the case in the High Court. The appeal in the High Court will cost nearly Rs. 10,000.
The leaders, who were convicted, were all innocent and most of them were Railway servants. The families of the leaders will have to suffer if they were convicted and it is the duty of each and every individual to rise to the occasion.
This appeal is issued expecting a good response and it is requested that each and every individual and societies will help their mite to the cause of the under-mentioned (whose names are omitted here) 15 leaders, who sacrificed their career for the cause of the labourers.
Remittances may be sent direct to Mr.V.P. K. Kayaroganam Pillai, Banker, Negapatam, South India.
T.Govindasamy Chettiar,
President, Defence Committee.
– Revolt, 3rd November 1929
