Had the “cultural revolution” been directed at the capitalist class, its organisers would have looked to the working class to form the spearhead of the movement. But, of course, the “cultural revolution” is not directed against the capitalist class. It is directed on behalf of the capitalist class and against the working class.
Having won control of the High Command of the People’s Liberation Army and the Central Committee of the Party, having – or so they believed – transformed the army into their obedient tool, the counter-revolutionary faction led by Mao Tse-tung required a mass movement of a fascist character to act as the spearhead of their counter-revolution.
The force upon which they called was what they described as “the masses”.
PUT DARING BEFORE EVERYTHING ELSE AND BOLDLY AROUSE THE MASSES... The outcome of this great cultural revolution will be determined by whether the Party leadership does or does not dare boldly to arouse the masses. (Decision of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party concerning the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution”, August 8, 1966; in “Peking Review”, No. 33, 1966; p. 7).
One is reminded forcefully of the tactics of the trotskyites in the Soviet Union in the last stages of their open struggle against the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, tactics to which Stalin referred as the 15th Congress of the C.P.S.U.(B.) in December 1927:
Lastly, the opposition organised an anti-Party, anti-Soviet demonstration, appealing to the ’street’, appealing to non-proletarian elements. But how can one talk about Bolshevik traditions when one appeals to the ’street’ against one’s own Party, against one’s own Soviet regime? Who has ever heard that Bolshevik traditions permitted such an outrageous act, which borders on downright counterrevolution?.. .
What if the opposition had had a little more strength behind it? Is it not obvious that its appeal to the ’street’ would have turned into an open putsch against the Soviet regime?” (J.V. Stalin: “Reply to the Discussion on the Political Report of the Central Committee, 15th Congress of the C.P.S.U.(B.)” in: “Works”, Vol. 10; Moscow; 1954, p. 375-6).
When the Chinese Marxist-Leninists pointed out that unless the “boldly aroused masses” were led by the organs of the Party at all levels, leadership of them would inevitably fall into the hands of reactionary elements, the counter-revolutionary faction now in control of the Central Committee replied:
LET THE MASSES EDUCATE THEMSELVES IN THE MOVEMENT:
In the great proletarian cultural revolution, the only method is for the masses to liberate themselves... Trust the masses, rely on them and respect their initiative. Cast out fear. Don’t be afraid of disorder. ... Let the masses educate themselves in this great revolutionary movement.” (“Decision of the Central Committee...etc.”; op. cit.; p. 7-8).
Against whom were “the masses” to direct their attacks?
The main target of the present movement is those within the Party who are in authority and are taking the capitalist road. (“Decision of the Central Committee...etc.”; op. cit.; p. 8).
It is essential to hold fast to this main orientation in the struggle. (Lin Piao, cited in: “Hold Fast to the Main Orientation in the Struggle”, editorial in “Hongqi” (Red Flag), No. 12, 1966, in: “Peking Review”, No. 39, 1966; p. 22).
“The masses”, must, of course, identify “those within the Party who are in authority and are taking the capitalist road.”
It is imperative that those within the Party who are in authority and are taking the capitalist road should first be identified, and that the utmost should be done to identify them without error and to ... unmask them completely. (“A Programmatic Document of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution”, editorial in “Hongqi” (Red Flag), No. 10, 1966; in: “Peking Review”, No.. 34; 1966; p. 20).
But how are “the masses” to identify “without error” “those within the Party who are in authority and are ’taking the capitalist road”?
Not of course, by what they say, for they will claim to be revolutionary Marxist-Leninists.
Their specialty is to wave ’red flags’ to oppose the red flag. (“Oppose Economism and Smash the Latest Counter-Attack by the Bourgeois Reactionary Line”, editorial in “Renmin Ribao”, Jan. 12th, 1967; in: “Peking Review”, No. 4; 1967; p. 13).
The masses” can identify “without error” those within the Party who are in authority and are taking the capitalist road” from the fact that they take their stand on the teachings of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin and oppose the revisionist “thought of Mao Tse-tung”,
The attitude towards Mao Tse-tung’s thought, whether to accept, it or resist it, to support it or oppose it, to love it warmly or be hostile to it, this is the touchstone to test and the watershed between true revolution and sham revolution, between revolution and counter revolution. (Mao Tse-tung’s Thought is the Telescope and Microscope of our Revolutionary Cause”, editorial in “Jiefangjun Bao” (Liberation Army Daily), June 7th, I966; in: “Peking Review”, No. 24, 1966; p. 7).
Under the pretext of learning from Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin, he (i.e., Liu Shao-chi – Ed.) opposed learning from Chairman Mao. Superficially, his agent, Lo Jui-ching issued instructions that high-ranking; cadres should only study the works of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin. This was a complete fraud. ... Mao Tse-tung’s thought is one and identical with Marxism-Leninism; it is Marxism-Leninism at a higher, level of development. In our era, the study of Mao Tse-tung’s thought is the best way to study Marxism-Leninism.(Yang Cheng-wu: “Thoroughly Establish the Absolute Authority of the Great Supreme Commander Chairman Mao...etc”, in: “Peking Review”, No. 46, 1967; p.22)
“The masses” can identify “without error” “those within the Party who are in authority and are taking the capitalist road” from the fact that they resist the “spontaneous” movement of the masses directed at themselves.
Those who have wormed their way into the Party and are taking the capitalist road...are extremely afraid of being exposed by the masses and therefore seek every possible pretext to suppress the mass movement. (Decision of the Central Committee...etc.”; op. cit.; p.7).
“The masses” can identify “those within the Party who are in authority and are taking the capitalist road” from the fact that they present the “cultural revolution” as a counter-revolutionary movement and strive to divert “the masses” against the leadership of the “cultural revolution”. As the counter-revolutionary faction, headed by Mao Tse-tung puts it in their inverted terminology:
They call white black and switch the target of the struggle by turning its spearhead against the proletarian revolutionary line, the proletarian revolutionary headquarters and the revolutionary masses. (“Oppose Economism...etc.”; op. cit.; p. 13.)
Making use of that portion of political power they exercise in those departments and localities under their control, this handful of persons...want to brand as a ’counter-revolutionary’ anyone who rises up and rebels against them and even dismiss or imprison him. (“Proletarian Revolutionaries, Unite”, in “Hongqi”, No. 2, 1967; in: “Peking Review”, No. 4, 1967; p. 16).
But it is the Chinese Marxist-Leninists who take their stand on the teachings of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin and oppose the revisionist “thought of Mao Tse-tung.”
It is the Chinese Marxist-Leninists who fought for the viewpoint that unless the “boldly aroused masses” are led by the organs of the Party at all levels, leadership would inevitably fall into the hands of reactionary elements.
It is the Chinese Marxist-Leninists who are resisting the movement of the “boldly aroused masses” directed at them.
It is the Chinese Marxist-Leninists who are presenting the “cultural revolution” as a counter-revolutionary movement and striving to divert “the masses” against the leadership of the ”cultural revolution”.
The first target of the “cultural revolution” was that of all counter-revolutions in the present era – the Marxist-Leninists.