Leon Trotsky; Translated by Max EastmanBiblio.com
TROTSKY, LeonBiblio.com
Typed address signed "to the Conference of the Young Peoples' Socialist League".
1938167061Coyoacán Mexico: 24 July 1938. A revolutionary party must of necessity base itself on the youth Trotsky writes in English from exile in Mexico to the socialist youth of America stating the importance of young people to a revolutionary party condemning Stalinism and urging them to increase their political experience. From 1937 until his assassination by Stalin's agents in 1940 Trotsky lived in Coyoacán a suburb of Mexico City. He continued a worldwide campaign for his form of Communism remained closely linked to favourable socialist organizations and wrote prolifically. The Young People's Socialist League was the official youth arm of the Socialist Party of America. Unlike the pro-Stalinist Communist Party of America the Socialist Party took a more pro-Trotsky line and the then-leader of the league Ray Sparrow was linked to the American Committee for the defence of Leon Trotsky. Trotsky writes: "the revolutionary character of a party can be judged in the first instance by its capacity to attract to its banner the working class youth. The basic attribute of socialist youth - and I have in mind the genuine youth and not old men at twenty - lies in its readiness to give itself fully and completely to the cause of socialism". While they must give themselves fully to the cause he urges them to avoid doctrinaire stubbornness and the repetition of formulas. This leads to "sectarianism and pedantic phrase-mongering" which impedes fighting the main enemy within the movement: "opportunism especially its most viscous and malignant form - Stalinism that syphilis of the working class movement". He hopes the league's conference "will become an important stage on the road of acquiring political experience on the granite basis of Marxist program". The article was published in Trotsky's Collected Writings 1937-38 in 1970. Trotsky makes an emendation on the typescript removing two words which was not made in the published writings. Two leaves 281 x 215 mm 582 words typed one side only signed in blue ink. Old fold lines a little toned and creased a few nicks at extremities. In very good condition. unknown
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