the people; if the slogans of insurrection (such as "All Power to the Soviets," "The Land to the Peasants," "Immediate Democratic Peace to all Belligerent Nations," "Annulment of Secret Treaties and Secret Diplomacy," &c.)—if these slogans have not acquired the widest diffusion and the greatest popularity; if the advanced workers are not convinced of the desperate situation of the masses and assured of the support of the country workers (a support proved by an important peasant movement or by a widespread insurrection against the landlords and the government which is defending them); finally, if the economic situation seriously allows hope in a favourable solution of the crisis by peaceful methods and the parliamentary way. …
I think that is enough, is it not?
In my pamphlet "Will the Bolsheviks Maintain Power?" (which I hope will appear any time now) I have made a quotation from Marx which has a real connection with the question of insurrection, and fixing the rules of insurrection considered as an "art."
I am willing to bet that if the croakers who are now shouting against the military plot were invited to explain the difference between the "art" of armed insurrection and a military plot to be condemned from every point of view, they would only be able to repeat what has been said above, or else they would disgrace themselves and call down upon themselves the general scorn of the workers. Just try it and see, "Marxists of failure"!
Do sing us a little song against the "military plot"!
POSTSCRIPT
The preceding lines were already written when I received, on Tuesday evening at eight o'clock, the Petersburg Sunday papers, amongst which was the Novaia Zizn, in which I read Bazarov's article. M. Bazarov states that "in the town a manuscript sheet is being circulated in which two noted Bolsheviks pronounce themselves against armed action."
If this be true, I beg the comrades whom this letter cannot reach before Wednesday to have it printed as quickly as possible.
It was not intended for publication; it was only a discussion with the party members with whom I am in correspondence. But if the heroes of the Novaia Zizn (who voted for the Bolsheviks on the day before yesterday, and for the mensheviks yesterday, and
