Marx-Engels Correspondence 1871
Marx to Dr Kugelmann
Concerning the Paris Commune
Abstract
Written: April 12-17, 1871;
Transcribed: Zodiac;
HTML Markup: S. Ryan.
[London] April 12, 1871
... If you look at the last chapter of my Eighteenth Brumaire you will
find that I say that the next attempt of the French revolution will be
no longer, as before, to transfer the bureaucratic-military machine from
one hand to another, but to smash it, and this is essential for every
real people's revolution on the Continent. And this is what our
heroic Party comrades in Paris are attempting. What elasticity, what
historical initiative, what a capacity for sacrifice in these Parisians!
After six months of hunger and ruin, caused rather by internal treachery
than by the external enemy, they rise, beneath Prussian bayonets, as if
there had never been a war between France and Germany and the enemy were
not at the gates of Paris. History has no like example of a like
greatness. If they are defeated only their "good nature" will be to
blame. They should have marched at once on Versailles, after first
Vinoy and then the reactionary section of the Paris National Guard had
themselves retreated. The right moment was missed because of
conscientious scruples. They did not want to start the civil war, as
if that mischievous abortion Thiers had not already started the civil
war with his attempt to disarm Paris. Second mistake: The Central
Committee surrendered its power too soon, to make way for the Commune.
Again from a too "honorable" scrupulosity! However that may be, the
present rising in Paris -- even if it be crushed by the wolves, swine
and vile curs of the old society -- is the most glorious deed of our
Party since the June insurrection in Paris. Compare these Parisians,
storming heaven, with the slave to heaven of the German-Prussian Holy
Roman Empire, with it posthumous masquerades reeking of the barracks,
the Church, cabbage-junkerdom and above all, of the philistine.
A propos. In the official publication of the list of those receiving
direct subsidies from Louis Bonaparte's treasury there is a note that
Vogt received 40,000 francs in August 1859. I have informed Liebknecht
of the fait, for further use.
[London] April 17, 1871
... How you can compare petty-bourgeois demonstrations a la 13 June,
1849, etc., with the present struggle in Paris is quite
incomprehensible to me.
World history would indeed be very easy to make, if the struggle were
taken up only on condition of infallibly favorable chances. It would,
on the other hand, be a very mystical nature, if "accidents" played no
part. These accidents themselves fall naturally into the general course
of development and are compensated again by other accidents. But
acceleration and delay are very dependent upon such "accidents", which
included the "accident" of the character of those who at first stand at
the head of the movement.
The decisive, unfavorable "accident" this time is by no means to be
found in the general conditions of French society, but in the presence
of the Prussians in France and their position right before Paris. Of
this the Parisians were well aware. But of this, the bourgeois
canaille of Versailles were also well aware. Precisely for that
reason they presented the Parisians with the alternative of taking up
the fight of succumbing without a struggle. In the latter case, the
demoralization of the working class against the capitalist class and its
state has entered upon a new phase with the struggle in paris. Whatever
the immediate results may be, a new point of departure of world-historic
importance has been gained.