V. I.

Lenin

Original Variant of the Preface to the Pamphlet Workers on the Split in the Party [1]

COVER: The Voice of the Workers and the Split in the Party

Publishedby the Central Committee of the R.S.D.L.P.

I. Preface by the Editorial Board of Proletary .

II. Letter from an Odessa Worker.

III. Reply to a Letter from a Worker. By Abramov .

IV. Open Letter from the Central Committee of the R.S.D.L.P. to the Organising
Committee.

PREFACE

In No. 8 of Proletary we mentioned the forthcoming publication of a
letter from an Odessa worker, who, in our opinion, has expressed the temper of a
fairly large number of workers. In reply to this letter we are publishing, in
the first place, an article by Comrade Abramov of the Proletary staff
“Reply to a Letter from a Worker”, and in the second place,
“An Open Letter to the Organising Committee” from the Central
Committee of the R.S.D.L.P., [2] which was recently released in Russia and
featured in No. 10 of Proletary .

Asfor us, we would emphasise only one thing—unification is
essential. “Worker” is quite right in insisting on this. However,
insistence is not sufficient; what is needed is the ability to bring about
unification, the strength to achieve unification. It is not hard to stand aside
and form a third party or neutral group. That will not bring unification closer, but will only
defer it; it will not simplify the present confused state of affairs, but
will only make it more con fused. The decisions made at the Conference of
the Minority or new-Iskrists give no direct or clear answer to the
question of precisely how unification can and should be
achieved. The decisions of the Third Congress of the R.S.D.L.P. provide that
answer in the shape of the Party Rules, which fully guarantee the Minority’s
rights. It would be ridiculous to consider that answer infallible or
ideal. But anyone who would not merely talk of unification but really work
for its achievement through effective measures and proposals should not
limit himself to reproaches and reproofs, should not in crease the split by
forming a third party, but should set about preparing his answer to the
question of the conditions and forms of unification. That is a far more
difficult matter than the preaching of peace and love, but then it is far
more useful.

Editorial Board of “Proletary”