Best of
Politics

1921

Ethics: Origin and Development


Pyotr Kropotkin - 1921
    Starting with the moral principle in nature, to the moral conceptions of primitive people, Kropotkin traces the development of moral teachings from ancient Greece, Christianity and the Middle Ages through to the 19th century philosophers. In this way Ethics gives answers to two fundamental problems of morality: its origin and historical development, and its goals and standards. Kropotkin is still today one of the most influential moral voices in the quest for universal human happiness. He wanted this book "to inspire the young generation to struggle, to implant in them faith in the justice of social revolution, and to light in their hearts the fire of self-sacrifice." This was Kropotkin's final masterpiece which was left unfinished at his death and is the swan song of this great humanitarian, scientist, and anarchist. It constitutes the crowning work and the resume of all his scientific, philosophical, and sociological views, at which he arrived in the course of his long and unusually rich life.

The Proletarian Revolution and the Renegade Kautsky


Vladimir Lenin - 1921
    The War: 4th Year 1908th. Aided by the garriso'l of Petrograd, the Maximalists under Lenin have deposed the Kerensky Government, and have assumed office. They announce that this was acomplished without bloodshed, that several Ministers have been arrested, and that M. Kerensky is a fugitive. In a proclamation to the Arrny Committees they state that authority of Government has been taken over by the Military Revolutionary Committee until the creation of a Government of Soviets. At the head of their programme is " the offer of an immzdiate democratic peace." They charge their adherents in the Army to arrest officers who do not join the movement imme- diately, and not to allow uncertain military detactments to leave the front for Petrograd. There has been fighting in Petrograd for posses- sion of the Winter Palace, the headquarters of the Kerensky Government, in which a cruiser took part. The Palace is now in possession of the Maximalists. Thq Livonza has been crossed, and the enemy are pursuing the Italians towards the line of tlie Piave. Between the two rivers, the Italian report says, brave covering troops succeeded in detaining the enemy's advance. The larger units retired without molestation. Prisoners, says the German report, now number over 250,000, and captured guns to over 2,300. Part of the large increase is from the battles oni tho Tagliamento line. A large Italian force was cut off in the arm of the upper river between Tolmezzo and Gemona. Part of it is still holding out, but 17,000 men have had to surrender. Mr. Lloyd George, M. Painleve, and Signor Orlando, with their advisers, have concluded their conference in Italy. General Maude has fought another brilliant action up the Tigris.