Russia was at war with Japan, and Japan was soundly
defeating the Russians. Even though the Russians were badly losing, their tsar
Nicholas II refused to end the war. Many soldiers were needlessly dying. On top
of that, the working class of Russians were being treated very poorly.
Lenin blames the rich capitalists for every ill of society.
Without regard to anything else, he piles hate on top of them, blaming them for
“rivers of blood”, exploitation, and making “the government and army their servants….” Blood is strongly alluded to in this piece. Being engaged in
a war, the people of Russia would have very tangible ideas associated with
blood. Lenin refers to the capitalistic, rich owners of capital as “blood-suckers.”
Imagine having an enemy shed the blood of your son or brother, how would you
feel about being oppressed under a “blood-sucker”?
