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

LETTER TO BOLSHEVIK PARTY MEMBERS219The weakness of the ideological arguments against aninsurrection will become clearer, the more we drag them intothe light of day. I recently sent an article on this subjectto Rabochy Put, and if the editors do not find it possibleto print it, Party members will probably acquaint themselveswith it in the manuscript.*There are basically two so-called “ideological” arguments.First, that it is necessary to “wait” for the ConstituentAssembly. Let us wait, perhaps we can hold on until then—hat is the whole argument. Perhaps, despite famine, despiteeconomic chaos, despite the fact that the patience of thesoldiers is exhausted, despite Rodzyanko’s steps to surrenderPetrograd to the Germans, despite the lockouts, perhaps wecan hold on.Perhaps and maybe—that is the whole point of the argument.The second is noisy pessimism. Everything is fine withthe bourgeoisie and Kerensky; everything is wrong with us.The capitalists have prepared everything wonderfully;everything is wrong with the workers. The “pessimists” areshouting at the top of their voices about the military sideof the matter, but the “optimists” are silent, for to disclosecertain things to Rodzyanko and Kerensky is hardly pleasantto anybody but blacklegs.Difficult times. A hard task. A grave betrayal.Nevertheless, the task will be accomplished; the workerswill consolidate their ranks, the peasant revolt and theextreme impatience of the soldiers at the front will do theirwork! Let us close our ranks—the proletariat must win!N. LeninWritten on October 18 (31), 1917First published in Pravda No. 250,November 1 , 1927Published accordingto the manuscript* See pp. 195-215 of this volume.—Ed.