2 VIL. An observant liberal TR. 1904

AN OBSERVANT LIBERAL.

An example of such incorrect defense can be found in the numerous recent articles in Iskra and the recent publication of N. Trotsky's pamphlet: Our Political Tasks. (Tactical and Organizational Issues.) Geneva, 1904. Page 107.
Price: 75 cents. Although it is full of empty talk in many places, it is quite right to take under its protection certain ideas that those interested in social-democratic literature are already familiar with from the writings of Akimov, Martynov, Krichevsky, and other so-called "economists." It is a pity that in some places the author reduces the latter to a caricature."
 How much there is of gloating over the bod of our party! But a liberal, by his political nature, cannot treat the weakening («ослабление») and decay (пер. «разложение») of social democracy without gloating (перевод «злорадство»).
How much deep-thoughted and felt sympathy there is for the essence (существо) of Akimov's minority views! But, in fact, is not the only hope for the vitality (жизненность, жизнеспособность), the ideological vitality of Russian liberalism, in the vitality of social-democratic opportunism?
The new Iskra is not lucky with its supporters (сторонники). Remember Plekhanov's famous, remarkable, epoch-making "What Not to Do." («чего не делать?) How cleverly (тонко) this policy of cunning and personal  (личные) concessions (уступки) was conceived, and how awkwardly our diplomat got into trouble. How accurately the consistent opportunist, Mr. Struve, captured the "significant turn" in the new Iskra. The "gap" between the old and the new Iskra is now acknowledged by the leaders of the latter. Remember Plekhanov's statement in No. 65 of Iskra that "Akimov is no threat (страшный) to anyone, and you can't even scare (испугать) the sparrows in the garden with him."

Plekhanov said these words (which did not particularly reveal his softness and concessions to the workers), while at the same time claiming that at our party congress "only Akimov spoke against orthodox Marxism."