Chapter 3 Speech at the Changsha General Assembly of the Xinmin Society[1]

(January 1 and 2, 1921) one There are obviously two schools of thought regarding the solution of social problems in China today: one faction advocates reform, and the other advocates improvement.The former are like Chen Duxiu[2] and others, while the latter are like Liang Qichao and Zhang Dongsun[3]. Improvement is a repair method, and large-scale transformation should be advocated.Instead of using "reform East Asia", it is better to use "reform China and the world".Propose "the world", so we understand that our proposition is international; propose "China", so we understand where we start; "East Asia" means nothing.China's problem is originally a problem of the world, but if the transformation of China does not focus on the transformation of the world, then the transformation must be in a narrow sense and will hinder the world.As for the method, Qimin [4] mainly used the Russian method, and I strongly agree with it.Because all the paths of the Russian system cannot go through the newly invented path, only this method contains more possible properties than other transformation methods.

two There are roughly the following ways to solve social problems in the world: 1. Social policy [5]; 2. Social democracy [6]; 3. Communism of drastic methods (Leninism); 4. Moderate approach to communism (Russell's Doctrine [7]); 5. Anarchism [8]. We can use it as a reference to decide our own method. Social policy is a policy to mend the gaps, and there is no solution.Social democracy uses parliament as a tool for transformation, but in fact the legislation of parliament always protects the propertied classes.Anarchism denies power, and this kind of doctrine will probably never be able to do so.Moderate communism, such as the extreme freedom advocated by Russell, will never be able to achieve capitalists.The drastic method of communism, that is, the so-called Labor Peasantism, uses the method of class dictatorship, and the effect can be predicted, so it is the most appropriate to adopt.

It is published according to "Selected Readings of Mao Zedong's Works" published by People's Publishing House in 1986. -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ note [1] This is a speech marking Mao Zedong's choice of the revolutionary road of Marxism-Leninism.The New Year's meeting of Changsha members of the Xinmin Society was held from January 1 to 3, 1921. It was a lively discussion on the idea of ​​"transforming China and The world" refers to issues such as the policy of the society and the method and purpose of the transformation.The first part of this article is Mao Zedong's speech on January 1st, and the second part is Mao Zedong's speech on January 2nd.

[2] Chen Duxiu (1879-1942), a native of Huaining, Anhui.One of the main leaders of the May Fourth New Culture Movement.After the May Fourth Movement, Marxism was accepted and propagated.In August 1920, he organized the Shanghai Initiation Group of the Communist Party of China to carry out party building activities and was one of the main founders of the Communist Party of China.At that time, he supported the Marxist theory of class struggle and social revolution, and advocated the use of revolutionary means to build a country for the working class. [3] Liang Qichao (1873-1929), a native of Xinhui, Guangdong.An important activist in the Reform Movement of 1898.After the Revolution of 1911, he organized the Progressive Party, which evolved into the Research Department in 1916, and he was the leader.Zhang Dongsun (1886-1973), born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang.A key member of the research department, he was the editor-in-chief of "Shijixinbao" and "Reform" magazines at that time.In November 1920, Zhang Dongsun, Liang Qichao and others provoked a debate on the question of socialism.They believe that China's economy is backward, so they deny that there is a real proletariat in China, oppose the propaganda of socialism in China, advocate the development of industries, and the development of capitalism, and claim that they can be "corrected" through legislation, social supervision, and the development of various "associations" The ills of capitalism.This proposition of theirs was criticized by the Marxists at that time.

[4] Qimin, that is, Chen Qimin, named Chen Shunong (1898-1970), was born in Changsha, Hunan.Member of Xinmin Society, was teaching at Zhounan Girls' School in Changsha. [5] Social policy refers to a kind of social reformism proposed by some German economists in the 1870s, which became popular in Europe, America and Japan, and was introduced to China in the early 20th century.Advocates of social policy advocate class coordination, and the state or other social forces formulate labor laws and regulations, implement social insurance, set up workers' organizations, set up welfare and relief programs, etc., to maintain the capitalist economy.

[6] Social democracy refers to the opportunism of the Second International in the early twentieth century.It opposes the violent revolution of the proletariat and the dictatorship of the proletariat, advocates that the proletariat take the parliamentary road, and advocates bourgeois democracy and class reconciliation.Before and after the May 4th Movement, there were very few people in China who propagated this doctrine. [7] Russell (1872-1970), British philosopher and social activist.He joined the British Fabian Society and the Labor Party in his early years, and later believed in Guild Socialism.After the October Revolution, he visited Russia.From 1920 to 1921, he came to China to give lectures, and gave speeches in Beijing, Changsha and other places.In these speeches, he expressed his belief that "communism is a good theory", advocated the use of "step-by-step methods", disapproved of "class war" and "people's dictatorship", and believed that China's first thing is to establish education and development. industry.Russell's proposition had considerable influence in the Chinese academic and ideological circles at that time.

[8] Anarchism is a petty bourgeois trend of thought that emerged in Europe in the mid-nineteenth century.It denies any country and regime, denies any power and authority, advocates absolute freedom and extreme democracy, and advocates the establishment of an anarchic society with "no orders, no power, no obedience, and no sanctions."Before and after the May 4th Movement, this trend of thought had a great influence on some intellectuals and workers in China.