Over the whole development of Russia and of Bolshevism since the October revolution there broods a tragic fatality.  In spite of outward success the inner failure has proceeded by inevitable stages—­stages which could, by sufficient acumen, have been foreseen from the first.  By provoking the hostility of the outside world the Bolsheviks were forced to provoke the hostility of the peasants, and finally the hostility or utter apathy of the urban and industrial population.  These various hostilities brought material disaster, and material disaster brought spiritual collapse.  The ultimate source of the whole train of evils lies in the Bolshevik outlook on life:  in its dogmatism of hatred and its belief that human nature can be completely transformed by force.  To injure capitalists is not the ultimate goal of Communism, though among men dominated by hatred it is the part that gives zest to their activities.  To face the hostility of the world may show heroism, but it is a heroism for which the country, not its rulers, has to pay the price.  In the principles of Bolshevism there is more desire to destroy ancient evils than to build up new goods; it is for this reason that success in destruction has been so much greater than in construction.  The desire to destroy is inspired by hatred, which is not a constructive principle.  From this essential characteristic of Bolshevik mentality has sprung the willingness to subject Russia to its present martyrdom.  It is only out of a quite different mentality that a happier world can be created.

And from this follows a further conclusion.  The Bolshevik outlook is the outcome of the cruelty of the Tsarist regime and the ferocity of the years of the Great War, operating upon a ruined and starving nation maddened into universal hatred.  If a different mentality is needed for the establishment of a successful Communism, then a quite different conjuncture must see its inauguration; men must be persuaded to the attempt by hope, not driven to it by despair.  To bring this about should be the aim of every Communist who desires the happiness of mankind more than the punishment of capitalists and their governmental satellites.

VII

CONDITIONS FOR THE SUCCESS OF COMMUNISM

The fundamental ideas of Communism are by no means impracticable, and would, if realized, add immeasurably to the well-being of mankind.  The difficulties which have to be faced are not in regard to the fundamental ideas, but in regard to the transition from capitalism.  It must be assumed that those who profit by the existing system will fight to preserve it, and their fight may be sufficiently severe to destroy all that is best in Communism during the struggle, as well as everything else that has value in modern civilization.  The seriousness of this problem of transition is illustrated by Russia, and cannot be met by the methods of the Third International.  The Soviet Government, at the present moment, is anxious to obtain manufactured goods from capitalist countries, but the Third International is meanwhile endeavouring to promote revolutions which, if they occurred, would paralyse the industries of the countries concerned, and leave them incapable of supplying Russian needs.