Page:Nikolai Lenin - On the Road to Insurrection (1926).pdf/116

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108
ON THE ROAD TO INSURRECTION

the Petrograd soviet) as the government. At Moscow victory is assured and there is no one to oppose us. At Petrograd we can wait. The government is in a position where it is impossible to do anything. It is in a blind alley. It will yield.

By seizing power—by taking the banks, the factories and the (newspaper) Rouskoie Slovo, the Moscow soviet obtains at one blow a base and a colossal force for its agitation throughout all Russia to which it puts the question thus:—We propose immediate peace from to-morrow even, if Kerensky yields (and if he does not yield we shall overthrow him); the land to the peasants; and immediate concessions to the railwaymen and postal workers, &c.

It is not compulsory to "begin" at Petrograd. If Moscow "begins" without bloodshed, it will certainly be supported (i) by the sympathy of the army at the front; (ii) by the peasants, everywhere; (iii) by the fleet and the troops from Finland which are marching on Petrograd.

Even if Kerensky has one or two cavalry corps at Petrograd he must give in. The Petrograd soviet can wait, meanwhile carrying on the agitation for the soviet government of Moscow. Let our slogan be: Power to the soviets, the land to the peasants, peace to the nations, bread for the hungry.

Victory is assured, and there are nine chances in ten that we shall obtain it without bloodshed.

To wait is a crime against the Revolution.

Greetings.

N. Lenin.