>Charles: Right after this section they say:
>
>" The Communists, therefore, are on the one hand, practically, the most advanced
>and resolute section of the working class parties of every country, that section
>which pushes forward all others; on the other had, theoretically, they have over
>the great mass of the proletariat the advantage of clearly understanding the
>line of march, the conditions, and the ultimate
>general results of the proletariat movement. "
Note that in the original publication for the German Communist League, it has entschiedenste = most resolute. This was changed in later translations to "most advanced and resolute." In any case, we on this list may be described as the most advanced or resolute section with a greater theoretical understanding. But this hardly justifies our self- appointment as leaders to others.
>This is a direct statement of their conception of the Party which is similar to
>Lenin's, contra yours, on this thread. The party is "theoretically" or
>intellectually the leadership of the class as a whole.
Except that neither Marx nor Engels wrote about the Party leading the working class. This would have contradicted their often repeated claim that the working class must emancipate itself. Of course this does not rule out the need for some kind of party organisation, but it does specifically rule out a Leninist type of organisation because that sets up "sectarian principles of their own, by which to shape and mould the proletarian movement." -- Lew