THOMAS MANN
9
ply the trade of revolution; reactionaries pose as liberals; liberals have
become the attorneys for Stalin. Peace, progress, and freedom have
become the universal gospel of our time, while double dealing and
chicanery are reaching almost inconceivable proportions. We are asked
to believe that the "democratic" nations which led us to one imperial–
ist war and are now preparing another will save the world for peace
and democracy ... those part-time socialists who have already ex–
ceeded their quota of betrayals still proclaim the hope of socialism ...
the Stalinist bureaucracy, clipping the coupons of October, institutes
a regime of terror and lies, and works feverishly to stifle revolution
and promote war . . . intellectuals express bewilderment and flock to
the largest propaganda machines. . ..
The irony of Thomas Mann's position is that while he does not
concern himself with history, history concern itself with him. For his
high-minded humanism is exploited by those very agencies that are
most indifferent to the fate of humanity. "Humanism" has long been
the official uniform of the bourgeoisie; and in these times of stress,
when it can maintain its existence only through ever greater oppres–
sion of other classes, the bourgeoisie appropriates the full rhetoric of
idealism. Our parliamentary demagogues find -little difficulty in iden–
tifying themselves with abstract programs of truth and freedom which
conceal history behind a facade of morality.
Even more cynical are the leaders of the Communist party, who
present daily the most monstrous lies and slanders in the lyrical dic–
tion of humanism. Not content with having baptized themselves as
the saviours of humanity, they dismiss every one of their critics as an
"enemy of humanity." While the Communist press pays homage to
to the nobility of Thomas Mann, the police-state of Moscow trans–
forms its artists into robots of servility. While the cult of infallibility is
built around the person of Stalin, Communists still profess the ideals
of liberalism--of arriving at truth through scientific method and
democratic opinion. The Moscow Trials which made a mockery out
of the October Revolution, are celebrated as a great stride toward
truth and progress.
Of what use is the most intransigent program of measure and
value, if we do not name its despoilers?
Can we demand of Thomas Mann that he trace the debasement
of culture to its material roots? Or shall we be content to say of him,
as Andre Gide has: "Our world is not yet lost. It cannot be, as long
as a voice like yours is raised in warning.
As
long as consciences like
