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

368DRAFT OF A MANIFESTO TO THE PEASANTRYFROM THE SECOND ALL-RUSSIA CONGRESSOF SOVIETS OF PEASANTS’ DEPUTIES 140The Second All-Russia Peasants’ Congress ardentlyappeals to the peasantry of all the nationalities and peoplesof Russia to devote mind and will, and the power of theirnumbers and their energy to arousing the slumberers andencouraging the irresolute, and from every corner of thecountry, from every village and every quarter of the largecities, to utter aloud so that all may hear, their weightyand decisive word at this, perhaps the most serious and mostresponsible, moment of the great Russian revolution.Peasant comrades, we constitute the overwhelming majorityof the population of our country, the vast mass of theworking and exploited people. We are the vast mass thatchampions the lawful and just demands of the workingpeople—first and foremost the demand for land—we fight allforms of oppression and exploitation by the landowners andcapitalists.Peasant comrades, we are the main body of our army,those who have suffered most the inhuman torments of morethan three years of the war instigated by kings and capitalists;it has also fallen to our lot to undertake the difficultbut thankful and honourable role of vanguard fighters—together with the workers—for freedom, land and peace,and for the complete emancipation of the working peoplefrom all oppression and exploitation.Peasant comrades, consider our appeal, this manifestoissued by peasant deputies to the peasants of all nationalitiesin Russia. Make known our appeal in every village andin every cottage; discuss it at every meeting and village