Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 26 - From Marx to Mao

LETTER TO C.C., MOSCOW AND PETROGRAD COMMITTEES141Delay is criminal. To wait for the Congress of Sovietswould be a childish game of formalities, a disgraceful gameof formalities, and a betrayal of the revolution.If power cannot be achieved without insurrection, we mustresort to insurrection at once. It may very well be that rightnow power can be achieved without insurrection, for example,if the Moscow Soviet were to take power at once, immediately,and proclaim itself (together with the PetrogradSoviet) the government. Victory in Moscow is guaranteed,and there is no need to fight. Petrograd can wait. The governmentcannot do anything to save itself; it will surrender.For, by seizing power and taking over the banks, thefactories and Russkoye Slovo, the Moscow Soviet wouldsecure a tremendous basis and tremendous strength, it wouldbe able to campaign throughout Russia and raise the issuethus: we shall propose peace tomorrow if the BonapartistKerensky surrenders (and if he does not, we shall overthrowhim). We shall hand over the land to the peasants at once,we shall make concessions to the railway and postal employeesat once, and so on.It is not necessary to “begin” with Petrograd. If Moscow“begins” without any blood being shed, it will certainly besupported by (1) the army at the front by its sympathy, (2)the peasants everywhere and (3) the fleet and the troops inFinland, which will proceed to Petrograd.Even if Kerensky has a corps or two of mounted troopsnear Petrograd, he will be obliged to surrender. The PetrogradSoviet can wait and campaign for the Moscow SovietGovernment. The slogan is: Power to the Soviets, Land tothe Peasants, Peace to the Nations, Bread to the Starving!Victory is certain, and the chances are ten to one thatit will be a bloodless victory.To wait would be a crime to the revolution.Greetings, N. LeninWritten October 1 (14), 1917First published in 1921in N. Lenin (V. Ulyanov), Works,Vol. XIV, Part 2Published accordingto a typewritten copy