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

LETTER TO THE BOLSHEVIK COMRADES187conspiracies against the Russian revolution, the conspiraciesof international imperialism.Only the immediate movement of troops from Finland,and of the Baltic fleet, Revel and Kronstadt against the Korniloviteforces quartered near Petrograd can save the Russianand the world revolution. Such a movement has a hundredto one chance of leading within a few days to the surrenderof a part of the Cossack troops, to the utter defeat of theother part, and to the overthrow of Kerensky, for the workersand the soldiers of both capital cities will support such amovement.In truth, delay would be fatal.The slogan “All Power to the Soviets” is a slogan of insurrection.Whoever uses this slogan without having graspedthis and given thought to it will have only himself to blame.And insurrection must be treated as an art. I insisted onthis during the Democratic Conference and I insist on itnow, because that is what Marxism teaches us, and it iswhat is being taught us by the present situation in Russiaand in the world generally.It is not a question of voting, of attracting the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries,of additional provincial Soviets,or of a congress of these Soviets. It is a question of insurrection,which can and must be decided by Petrograd, Moscow,Helsingfors, Kronstadt, Vyborg and Revel. It is in thevicinity of Petrograd and in Petrograd itself that the insurrectioncan, and must be decided on and effected, as earnestlyas possible, with as much preparation as possible,as quickly as possible and as energetically as possible.The fleet, Kronstadt, Vyborg, and Revel can and mustadvance on Petrograd; they can and must smash the Korniloviteregiments, rouse both the capital cities, start a massagitation for a government which will immediately giveland to the peasants and immediately make proposals forpeace, overthrow Kerensky’s government and establishsuch a government.Delay would be fatal.October 8, 1917.N. LeninFirst published on November 7,Published according1925 in Pravda No. 255 to a type written copy