Written: Written prior to February 23, 1903
Published:
First published in 1930.
Sent from London.
Printed from the original.
Source:
Lenin
Collected Works,
Progress Publishers,
1974,
Moscow,
Volume 34,
pages 144-145.
Translated: Clemens Dutt
Transcription\Markup:
D. Moros
Public Domain:
Lenin Internet Archive
(2005).
You may freely copy, distribute,
display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and
commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet
Archive” as your source.
• README
As regards the appeal, I (Lenin) find your decision reasonable [3]—I have not had time yet (nor a chance) to consult my associates.[1] The courage of the Nizhni-Novgorod workers, who asked that their personal well-being should not be taken into account, ought to be mentioned in Iskra; it would be desirable for you to write a letter about this to the editors.
We received via Berlin the “Letter to the Iskra Editorial Board from the Nizhni-Novgorod Committee”, a long letter, about terrorism, with a defence (partial and conditional) of terrorism; the end is missing (apparently). Write immediately:
1) Did the Nizhni-Novgorod Committee send this letter officially?
2) Repeat the end of it (the letter has seven paragraphs and ends with the words: “They clear the atmosphere, which is often too heavy, they teach the government to handle the revolutionaries more carefully”).
3) Let us know whether you allow stylistic corrections (in some places the style is very bad, due perhaps to incorrect, hasty and unclear copying).
We shall probably publish the letter together with our reply.
We earnestly and insistently beg you to inform us in your letters without delay of every official step taken by the Committee (dispatch of a document for travelling warrants..., list of leaflets, answer to another committee or to a group abroad, and so on and so forth). Otherwise there are bound to be misunderstandings,[2] mistakes and bureaucratic delays. Iskrists should pull together and inform Iskra speedily and comprehensively.
All the very best.
[1] I may yet be able to return to this question. —Lenin
[2] For example, we have heard a lot of tittle-tattle and abuse about the Committee’s leaflet again a demonstration on the day of the trial.[4] The leaflet itself we received not long ago by chance; from Berlin, and with delay. Good heavens! This is simply outrageous! Surely it wasn’t difficult for the Committee to write to us about the leaflet and send us a copy of it as soon as it came out. For heaven’s sake, take all the necessary steps to correct these shortcomings. —Lenin
[3] The Nizhni-Novgorod Committee decided not to appeal against the sentence passed on the workers of Sormovo and Nizhni-Novgorod in connection with the May Day demonstration of 1902.
[4] The leaflet “To All Nizhni-Novgorodians” issued by the Nizhni-Novgorod Committee of the R.S.D.L.P. was disseminated in the city two days before the trial of the workers, which was held on October 29-31, 1902.
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