First Published: Vanguard, Vol. 1, No. 8, September 1964.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba and Sam Richards
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One hundred years ago this month the International Working Men’s Association, the 1st International, was established in London. The inaugural address, which Karl Marx wrote, contained these words:
To conquer political power has therefore become the great duty of the working classes. They seem to have comprehended this, for in England, Germany, Italy and France there have taken place simultaneous revivals, and simultaneous efforts are being made at the political reorganisation of the working men’s party.
One element of success they possess–numbers; but numbers weigh only in the balance, if united by combination and led by knowledge. Past experience has shown how disregard of that bond of brotherhood which ought to exist between the workmen of different countries, and incite them to stand firmly by each other in all their struggles for emancipation, will be chastened by the common discomfort of their incoherent efforts. This thought prompted the working men of different countries assembled on September 28th, 1864, in public meeting at St. Martin’s Hall to found the International Association.
Since that time the working class has fulfilled this “great duty” in many countries. Today, over one-third of the world it has conquered political power, and has begun to construct a Socialist society. An essential task now is to hold on to that political power. The fight against modem Revisionism within the Socialist countries is the fight to maintain the dictatorship of the proletariat against world imperialism, led by United States imperialism, and all its allies and agents.
But in two-thirds of the world the working class has not yet won political power. The fight against Revisionism and against Social-Democracy in all countries within the capitalist world is the fight against those who seek to divert the working class from its great duty, the conquest of political power through the overthrow of the exploiting class.
Today in Britain, as in all the countries of Western Europe, efforts are once again being made to reorganise the party of the working class. For the Communist Party has been captured by those who seek to revise Marxist-Leninist principles out of existence, and has been converted into a party which stands opposed to revolution; stands opposed to the need for unity with the workers of all lands.
It is essential to re-establish a genuine Communist Party in Britain as soon as possible. This party is needed to reunite British workers with the international working class movement It is needed to coordinate and lead the struggles of British workers against all the attacks of the capitalists; against their drive towards unemployment and war. It is needed to prepare for the Socialist revolution, the conquest of political power.
It was to achieve the re-establishment of the Communist Party that the Committee to defeat Revisionism, for Communist Unity was formed in November, 1963. For the Communist Party of Great Britain cannot be reorganised from within. For some while yet struggle against the policies of the revisionist leadership will continue within the C.P.G.B.–and even develop. But because the Revisionists tightly control the organisation of the party this struggle can never win the party for Marxist-Leninist policies. It can only dead, sooner or later, to the expulsion of those who persist in fighting for the basic interests of the working class. It is essential, therefore, to establish, in all the main industrial centres of Britain, Committees which can encourage the struggle within the Revisionist party, whilst themselves advancing the correct Marxist-Leninist line in open challenge to the Revisionist C.P.G.B, and to the Social-Democratic Labour Party. These Committees must gather around them all those, from within and without the C.P.G.B., who are honestly concerned with the need to defeat Revisionism, and re-establish a genuine Communist Party in Britain. They must co-ordinate their efforts around a common line of struggle. They must present a united front to the Revisionists, the Social-Democrats, and to the class enemy.
Marxist-Leninists, unite to defeat Revisionism!
Forward to the re-establishment of the Communist Party, in England, in Scotland, and in Wales!