I. Writing background
1On March 4th, 883, Karl Marx, the revolutionary mentor of the proletariat all over the world, died in London at the age of 65. Marx devoted his whole life to the proletarian revolutionary cause, and his death caused great sorrow among the proletariat fighting in Europe and America. 1March, 883 17, Marx was buried in Highgate Cemetery in the north of London. Engels and other comrades-in-arms, comrades, relatives and friends of Marx attended the funeral and presented wreaths to Marx's body. Then Engels delivered this immortal speech.
Marx was born in a lawyer's family in Trier, Rhein, Germany, on May 5th 18 18. He studied at Bonn University and Berlin University. 1842, 24-year-old Marx moved to Koren and became the editor-in-chief of Rheinische Zeitung. He deeply studied philosophy, political economy and socialist theory, fully absorbed the outstanding ideological achievements of German classical philosophy, British political economy and French utopian socialism, summed up the practical experience of the workers' movement at that time, and completed the transformation from idealism to materialism and from revolutionary democracy to communism. 1848, Marx and Engels published the program of the Communist League, that is, the * * * declaration. 1864, Marx and Engels led the establishment of the First International in London, thus laying the organizational foundation for the joint struggle of the proletariat. Marx spent his whole life writing Das Kapital, a brilliant scientific masterpiece, which laid a solid foundation for scientific socialism and provided a powerful ideological weapon for the cause of proletarian liberation.
In the practice of revolutionary struggle for more than 40 years, Marx and Engels forged the closest and noblest revolutionary friendship. Lenin once praised this friendship with passion. He said: "There are all kinds of very touching friendship stories in ancient legends. The European proletariat can say that its science was created by these two scholars and soldiers, and their relationship surpassed all the most touching legends of ancient people about human friendship. " (Selected Works of Lenin (Marxism), People's Publishing House, 2009, p. 58) It is this great friendship that determines that only Engels knows Marx and his thoughts best, and is most qualified to evaluate Marx's theory and practice scientifically.
Engels' speech in front of Marx's grave was published in English at that time, and later in German in the Social Democrat newspaper on March 22nd. 1883. The title "Speech at Marx's Tomb" was added by the editor.
Second, the content introduction
Engels spoke highly of Marx's great life as a scientist and revolutionary. He pointed out that as a scientist, Marx attached great importance to every major discovery in science and regarded science as a revolutionary force that played a driving role in history. As a revolutionary, he struggled for the cause of proletarian liberation all his life, full of enthusiasm, perseverance and fruitful results.
1. Two Great Discoveries of Marx
Engels pointed out that historical materialism and surplus value theory are two great discoveries of Marx. It is these two great discoveries that have turned socialism from fantasy into science.
Marx's first great discovery was historical materialism. Marx believes that human social existence determines human social consciousness; The production of a society's direct material means of subsistence is the economic foundation of social development, and national facilities, legal concepts, art and religious concepts are the superstructure based on this foundation; The economic base determines the superstructure, and the superstructure is explained by the economic base, not the other way around. People have formed different relations of production in their production activities. With the development of social productive forces, it will inevitably lead to the difficulty of adapting the production relations to the requirements of the development of productive forces, and it will lead to the changes of production relations sooner or later. With the development and change of social and economic foundation, the whole superstructure will also change. Engels attributed the discovery of this historical law to Marx. Engels wrote: "Just as Darwin discovered the development law of the organic world, Marx discovered the development law of human history, which is a simple fact that has been concealed by complicated ideologies: people must eat, drink, live and wear before they can engage in politics, science, art and religion. ; Therefore, the direct production of material means of subsistence, so that the economy of a nation or an era develops to a certain stage, constitutes the foundation, and people's national facilities, legal concepts, art and even religious concepts are developed on this basis. Therefore, it must also be explained from this basis, rather than doing the opposite as in the past. " (Selected Works of Marxism-Leninism (party member Cadre Reader), Party Construction Reading Press, 201version, p. 132).
Marx's second great discovery is the theory of surplus value. Marx pointed out that in the capitalist mode of production, capital is divided into two parts: the part that buys material means of production and the part that buys labor. The former only changes the form of material means of production in the production process, and its own value does not increase. The latter, that is, the use of labor in the production process, can produce value greater than its own value. So Marx called the former constant capital and the latter variable capital. After the capitalists bought the labor force, they produced more value than the labor force itself in the production process, which Marx called surplus value. Surplus value is the value created by capitalist's free possession of labor force. The discovery of surplus value reveals the secret of capitalist exploitation and the essence of capitalist mode of production. Engels spoke highly of Marx's theory of surplus value, pointing out: "Because of the discovery of surplus value, it suddenly became clear here, and all the research done by bourgeois economists or socialist critics before was just groping in the dark." (Selected Works of Marxism-Leninism (A Reader for Cadres in party member), Party Construction Reading Press, 201edition, p. 132) He also pointed out that the theory of surplus value reveals "the modern capitalist mode of production and the special movement law of bourgeois society produced by it". (Selected Works of Marxism-Leninism (party member Cadre Reader), Party Construction Reading Press, 201version, p. 132).
Step 2 Create International Working Men’s Association
International Working Men’s Association, later called the First International, was the first international proletarian revolutionary united organization. On September 28th, 1864, the inaugural meeting of International Working Men’s Association was held. The General Assembly adopted a resolution on the establishment of International Working Men’s Association and elected an interim Central Committee. Marx was elected to the Provisional Central Committee, and at the first meeting of the Provisional Central Committee on June 5, 10, he was elected to the subcommittee responsible for drafting the programmatic document of the Association. The first few meetings of the Subcommittee submitted a document in the absence of Marx. This document was criticized by Marx and other members. Therefore, the Subcommittee entrusted Marx to complete the drafting of the document, so he drafted the declaration and provisional articles of association in English from June 65438 to1October 2654381October to1October 27. These two documents were adopted by the Subcommittee on 27 October, 65438, and unanimously adopted by the Provisional Central Committee on 27 October, the same year, 1 1. According to the Interim Constitution, the Provisional Central Committee was recognized as the leading organ, and was later renamed the International General Committee. Marx is a veritable founder and actual leader of International Working Men’s Association. Engels pointed out that the birth of the great International Working Men’s Association was the peak of various revolutionary activities in Marx's life. "To tell the truth, the founder of the association can be proud of this achievement, if nothing else." . (Selected Works of Marxism-Leninism (party member Cadre Reader), Party Construction Reading Press, 201edition, p. 133).
3. About other contributions of Marx
This speech also listed other revolutionary contributions of Marx. Engels pointed out that Marx not only made two scientific discoveries in theory, but also made unique discoveries in every field he studied, even in the field of mathematics. More importantly, Marx believed that science was a revolutionary force and played an important role in history. Therefore, Marx would be very happy with any major discovery in science, such as his close attention to the progress of various discoveries in electricity. Shortly before his death, Marx was still paying close attention to the report that French physicist Marcel Depreux had successfully conducted long-distance transmission experiments.
This speech listed various revolutionary activities carried out by Marx. Engels pointed out that Marx was first and foremost a revolutionary, and his real mission in life was to participate in the cause of overthrowing capitalist society and its state facilities in one way or another. It was Marx who made the modern proletariat realize its position and needs and its liberation conditions for the first time. Not only that, Marx declared war on the old world with the pen in his hand. 1842, as the editor-in-chief of Rheinische Zeitung, Marx stood up to defend the people's material interests and wrote a lot of argumentative articles, which had a wide influence. From September 65438 to September 0844, Marx began to write for the French newspaper Progress, sharply attacking Prussia's autocratic system and reactionary policies, actively supporting Silesia workers' uprising and propagating scientific socialism. 1847, Marx worked in the German-Brussels newspaper, published many articles, analyzed the situation of various countries on the eve of the European bourgeois revolution in 1848, put forward a series of important thoughts on ethnic issues, and publicized the principle of proletarian internationalism. 1848 In April, Marx and Engels came to Cologne, Germany from Paris, France, and founded the political daily New Rheinische Zeitung. In fact, the newspaper became the organ of the Communist League, which had an important influence on the workers' movement in Germany and even Europe during the 1848 revolution. American Tribune Daily is the newspaper for which Marx has written for the longest time. He published a lot of articles, publicized scientific socialism, guided the international workers' movement, and supported the national liberation movements in eastern countries including China and India.
Third, theoretical value and practical significance
The speech spoke highly of Marx's great life, scientific contribution and noble character, and became an important document for people to study Marx's life, career and historical contribution, inspiring people to make unremitting efforts for the communist ideal.
After the speech was published, it was translated into various languages, widely circulated and had a great influence. The speeches have been translated into Chinese many times, including the Chinese version of Zhiping published in the 3rd issue of Shanghai Germination Monthly, the Chinese version of 1 volume 1930 in March, the Chinese version of Lin Feng published in the 36th issue of World Trends, and the supplement of Ta Kung Pao 1933 on May 4th. Since the 1960s, this speech has been included in the Chinese textbooks for senior high schools in China and has become a compulsory reading material for middle school students. This speech inspired generations of young people to embark on a new journey in life. Today, we can still gain wisdom and strength from rereading this speech.
The speech fully affirmed the historical position of Marxism and showed its great vitality. Engels pointed out in his speech that without Marxism, today's human beings could not reach the present level as a whole, even if they were not "groping in the dark". Marxism is a science because it is strictly based on facts and profoundly reveals the development law of human society. The birth of Marxism has provided a powerful ideological weapon for the proletariat and working people to understand and transform the world, turned socialism from fantasy to science and from theory to reality, broke the world pattern in which capitalism dominates the world and opened up a new era in the development of human history. The distinctive feature of Marxism lies in its practicality, as Marx said: "Philosophers only explain the world in different ways, and the problem lies in changing the world." (The Complete Works of Marx and Engels, vol. 1, People's Publishing House, 2009, p. 502) Marx devoted his life to establishing scientific theory, not to put it on the shelf and hide it in famous mountains, but to guide social practice and make it a guide to action to transform the world and promote historical progress. The theoretical character of Marxism keeps pace with the times. Although it was born in19th century, it did not stay in19th century. Although it originated in Europe, it has spread all over the world. No matter the attack and slander of opponents, the questioning and censure of misunderstood people, or the castration and distortion of dogmatists, it can't stop its progress. Practice has proved that 160 years, no theory or doctrine has always maintained a strong vitality like Marxism, which has played such a huge role in promoting social progress and caused such a far-reaching impact. To learn to speak, we must strengthen our belief in Marxism, persist in combining the basic principles of Marxism with the concrete reality of China, persist in arming the whole party and educating the people with Socialism with Chinese characteristics Theory, and constantly inject strong impetus into the development of our cause.
The Speech spoke highly of Marx's brilliant style of perseverance and unremitting struggle for the lofty cause of human liberation as a great proletarian revolutionary. When the * * * Declaration came out, Marx was only 30 years old and Engels was 28 years old. Two warm-blooded youths have set a lofty ambition to transform the old world and liberate all mankind. In the later revolutionary practice, in order to realize this great revolutionary ideal, they spared no effort to conduct in-depth theoretical research and risked their lives to fight for the proletariat. This lofty belief in communism has awakened people's consciousness, inspired people to forge ahead, inspired millions of proletarian revolutionary fighters, and become the clarion call for generations to struggle. In the history of our Party and China Revolution, there are also groups of people with lofty ideals. Encouraged by the communist spirit, they gave their lives and shed blood for the liberation of the Chinese nation. Their names will never go down in history. Facing the gallows, revolutionary pioneer Li Dazhao issued a heroic oath that communism must win brilliant victories in the world and China. Before Fang Zhimin's heroic sacrifice, he made a generous statement: "The enemy can only cut off our heads and never shake our faith! Because the doctrine we believe in is the truth of the universe! " The revolutionary martyrs are unyielding in the face of the test of life and death because of their unswerving and unswerving commitment to the communist ideal. In the socialist construction and reform, many communist party member like Lei Feng, Jiao, and so on can devote their lives to the cause of the party and the people, also because they have lofty ideals and firm beliefs. To learn to speak, we should learn from the iron will, perseverance and heroic spirit of the older generation of revolutionary instructors and revolutionaries, strengthen Socialism with Chinese characteristics's common ideal and communist belief, and strive for it for life.
The speech pointed out that Marx was first and foremost a revolutionary. Struggle is the essence of his life. Few people struggle with enthusiasm, perseverance and effectiveness like him. Marx devoted his life to the proletarian revolutionary cause. As Engels pointed out in his speech, Marx had many enemies, but he didn't necessarily have a personal enemy. For the lofty cause of human liberation, he showed a fearless revolutionary spirit. In the face of the enemy's slander, curse and expulsion, "he didn't care about all this, brushed it away like spider silk, and only returned it when he had to." (Selected Classic Works of Marxism-Leninism (party member Cadre Reader), Party Building Reading Press, 20 1 1 edition, p. 33). For the proletarian revolutionary cause, he was far-sighted, magnanimous and upright, and won the respect and love of millions of revolutionary comrades. In order to accomplish his historical mission, he enthusiastically paid attention to and studied many fields of human social development and made unique discoveries. The greatness of Marx is still remembered by people. 1999 was named the greatest thinker of the Millennium by BBC. His great character and scientific thought are precious spiritual wealth of mankind. To learn to speak, we should learn from Marx's great character and scientific thought, strengthen the cultivation of party spirit, exercise the quality of will, enhance the spiritual realm, maintain noble moral sentiments, gain true knowledge in practice, increase talents, and make unremitting efforts for the cause of the party and the people.