Date: 1893
Source: ru:PSS/v46


Source: CW vol 46

Dear friend! From our agreement with Nil, you will, of course, understand the essence of the matter. For heaven's sake, do not rush to make decisions and do not despair. First, be sure to familiarize yourself with my pamphlet* and with the minutes of the Council. Do not be disconcerted by your temporary removal from the work and it is better to refrain from a few votes, but do not leave completely. Believe that you will still be very, very needed and that all friends are counting on your imminent "resurrection." A mass of people in our party still remain bewildered and at a loss, unable to adapt to the new situation, cowardly losing faith in themselves and in the just cause. Meanwhile, it is becoming clearer and clearer to us here that we are gaining from postponements, that the squabbling is subsiding on its own, and the question of the essence of the matter, of principles, is inevitably coming to the fore, and here the new *Iskra* is weak as hell. Do not believe the nonsense about our desire for a split, arm yourself with some patience, and you will soon see that our campaign is excellent and that we will win by the power of persuasion. Be sure to reply to me. It would be best if you managed to get away for a week to come here, - not for

* See "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back" (Collected Works, 5th ed., vol. 8, pp. 185-414). Ed.