[Classics] In Defence Of Marxism Index [CLASSICS] IN DEFENCE OF MARXISM INTRODUCTION TO 2010 EDITION A LETTER TO JAMES P. CANNON THE USSR IN WAR A LETTER TO SHERMAN STANLEY AGAIN, AND ONCE MORE AGAIN ON THE NATURE OF THE USSR THE REFERENDUM AND DEMOCRATIC CENTRALISM A LETTER TO SHERMAN STANLEY (2) A LETTER TO JAMES P. CANNON (2) A LETTER TO MAX SHACHTMAN A LETTER TO JAMES P. CANNON (3) A PETTY-BOURGEOIS OPPOSITION IN THE SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY A LETTER TO JOHN G. WRIGHT A LETTER TO MAX SHACHTMAN (2) FOUR LETTERS TO THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE MAJORITY A LETTER TO JOSEPH HANSEN AN OPEN LETTER TO COMRADE BURNHAM A LETTER TO JAMES P. CANNON (4) A LETTER TO FARRELL DOBBS A LETTER TO JOHN G. WRIGHT (2) A LETTER TO JAMES P. CANNON (5) A LETTER TO WILLIAM F. WARDE A LETTER TO JOSEPH HANSEN (2) FROM A SCRATCH – TO THE DANGER OF GANGRENE A LETTER TO MARTIN ABERN TWO LETTERS TO ALBERT GOLDMAN BACK TO THE PARTY ‘SCIENCE AND STYLE’ A LETTER TO JAMES P. CANNON (6) A LETTER TO JOSEPH HANSEN (3) THREE LETTERS TO FARRELL DOBBS PETTY-BOURGEOIS MORALISTS AND THE PROLETARIAN PARTY BALANCE SHEET OF THE FINNISH EVENTS A LETTER TO JAMES P. CANNON (7) A LETTER TO ALBERT GOLDMAN ON THE ‘WORKERS’ PARTY ON A PETTY-BOURGEOIS PHILISTINE A LETTER TO CHRIS ANDREWS APPENDIX ALL PAGES Page 38 of 39A Letter to Chris Andrews[1]17 August, 1940Dear Chris:I very much enjoyed your appreciation of the anti-pacifist position accepted by the party. There are two great advantages to this position: first, it is revolutionary in its essence and based upon the whole character of our epoch, when all questions will be decided not only by arms of critics, but by critiques of arms; second, it is completely free of sectarianism. We do not oppose to events and to the feelings of the masses an abstract affirmation of our sanctity.The poor Labor Action of 12 August writes: “In his fight against conscription we are with Lewis 100 per cent.” We are not with Lewis for even a single per cent, because Lewis tries to defend the capitalist fatherland with completely outdated means. The great majority of the workers understand or feel that these means (professional voluntary armament) are outdated from a military point of view and extremely dangerous from a class point of view. That is why the workers are for conscription. It is a very confused and contradictory form of adhering to the ‘arming of the proletariat’. We do not flatly reject this great historical change, as do the sectarians of all kinds. We say “Conscription? Yes. But made by ourselves.” It is an excellent point of departure.With best greetings, I am,Fraternally,Your Old Man [Leon Trotsky]Notes[1] This letter was written by Trotsky in English. Prev Next