V. I.

Lenin

Concerning Demonstrations [1]

Itseems to us that the writer of the letter raises the question rather
too bluntly and underestimates the significance of organised
demonstrations. We have as yet done little in this important matter, and
our efforts must be concentrated mainly and primarily on organisation. As
long as we

Lack

solidly united revolutionary organisations capable of mustering several
detachments of picked people to direct all aspects of a demonstration, so
long will failures be inevitable. Once an organisation like that takes
shape and gains strength in the process of work, through a number of
experiences, then it (and it alone) will be able to decide the question as
to when and how it is necessary to arm, and when and how arms should be
used. This organisation will also have to give serious attention to the
question of raising “the speed of mobilisation” (a very
important circumstance quite rightfully emphasised by the writer of the
letter), of increasing the number of active demonstrators, training
marshals for demonstrations, extending agitation among the masses, drawing
“the crowd of onlookers” “into the work,” and of “corrupting” the troops. Precisely because a step like the
transition to armed street fighting is a “tough” one and
because it is “inevitable, sooner or later,” it can and should be
taken only by a strong revolutionary organisation which directly
leads the movement.

---
Notes:
[1]
“Concerning Demonstrations” is Lenin’s reply to a letter from a St. Petersburg University student about the editorial
article, “What Is to Be Done?” printed on September 15, 1902, in
Iskra , No. 25. The manuscript has no heading. The present
heading has been provided by the Institute of Marxism-Leninism of the
Central Committee of the C.P.S.U.