It is said that this majestic edifice has certain defects—that the
plastering is not what it should be, that here and there the wallpaper
is peeling off, that in some corners there is litter that has not yet
been swept up, and so on. All that is true. But is that the point, is
that the chief thing? Is the majestic edifice of a new industry being
erected, or is it not? Yes, it is. And is this edifice being built with
our own resources, or is it not? Yes, with our own resources. Is it not
clear that in the matter of economic construction, in the matter of
industrialisation, we are already achieving the chief and principal
things? That is the basis of our achievements.
Some comrades are inclined to ascribe these successes exclusively to our
Party. That, in fact, explains why some comrades praise our Party out
of all proportion. It is to this, too, that must be attributed the fact
that some Communists are disposed to brag and to become conceited—a
weakness to which, unfortunately, our comrades are still given. Of
course, the basically correct policy of our Party has played a very
great part in achieving these successes. But the policy of our Party
would not be worth a farthing, were it not for the truly friendly
support it receives from the vast masses of non-Party workers. Indeed,
our Party is strong precisely because it has the support of the masses
of non-Party workers. That, comrades, should never be forgotten. 