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the wrong and that the German Communists and Left Independents were quite right.
Ledebour has become the tool of the darkest, vilest and most bloodthirsty elements, which are now taking shelter under the cover of the Right Independent party. His temperament, idiosyncrasies and his senile prejudices make him a most suitable figurehead for the Rights, whom gentlemen like Dissmann can lead on a string.
We have alreday said that Dissmann is potentially another Noske. If Dissmann has not yet shot hundreds of workers, it is only because he has not yet had the opportunity of doing so. But he already scents the smell of workers' blood, and dreams of the moment when he will be one of the ministers, and will be able to put down the "Communist rabble." Dissmann and Co. arc far too cunning openly to take upon themselves the responsibility for the dirty work they are preparing. Ledebour is just the man for it. Ledebour, from the very beginning of the Russian workers' revolution clung to one point: the question of terror. He declared dozens of times that he could not reconcile himself to terror, simply because it was "immoral." He declared dozens of times: he who admits Red terror is a reactionary. The Right Independents by cleverly flattering and praising Ledebour created such an atmosphere that Ledebour now regards himself almost a prophet. Dissmann and Crispien purposely pretend to believe that Ledebour has discovered something great on the question of terror, something which deserves to become a new gospel for the workers of the world.
The question of terror plays quite an important part in Germany. It is not a mere difference of opinion on one of the many points of tactics. It is a question which goes to the very roots of the whole proletarian revolution. As is well known, the German bourgeoisie, during the two years of the German revolution distinguished itself from the bourgeoisie of other countries by the exceptionally cruel and ruthless White terror which it applied to its "workers." Let it suffice to mention the murders of Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg. This has embittered the German workers and naturally made them hate the bourgeoisie. It is imperative that the German
