Dear Moor,

I return enclosed the letters from Tussy and little Wilhelm. The latter remains true to his principle of showing the greatest contempt for all facts. Whoever considers facts to be of any importance at all, whoever “takes account” of them, is a follower, a worshipper of success, a Bismarckian. Thus, and even if Schweitzer’s “swinish tricks” were as cheap as blackberries, he would still give us no facts about them, for according to the principles of the People’s Party, the only important thing about all these facts is that Wilhelm declares them to be “swinish tricks”. Hence also the result, that to the same extent that Schweitzer’s swinish tricks are colossal, the friction with him dwindles away in the same proportion. The logic of the fellow is just as amusing as the hope with which he still constantly hankers after a proclamation from you, whereby he is to be appointed the angel of light and Schweitzer Satanas.

It is also good that he wants to sell an article of a good 4–5 sheets for 1½ groschen, and expressly assures: without profit. “The representative said: with iron and bread one can go as far as China … He did not speak of shoes.” And Wilhelm did not say who shall bear the loss when one sells things at ⅓ to ¼ of the cost price. I have still not written to Meissner, and cannot expect him to perform the miracles that Liebknecht undertakes. If Wilhelm first consults an expert about the printing costs, fixes a rational price, and has made sure that he can raise the printing costs, I am not disinclined to let him reprint the thing, so tell him that as soon as he can fulfil these conditions, he should write to me and we shall arrange the rest.

Snieuntojown is sun-jown-to-jown Saturday-to-evening. The word has cost me much racking of brains; there are some very hard things in West Frisian altogether. The Bazley agitation for state aid for cotton cultivation has not yet emerged so publicly here that anything substantial about it would be in the papers. I shall, however, shortly send you some extracts about the strike in Preston, directly provoked by the masters, in order to bring about a general stoppage of the factories there. Since they cannot agree among themselves upon short time or complete stoppage, as some would then continue working and the others would be annoyed at this, the only way of establishing common action among them is a strike, for no manufacturer objects to the proposal of a wage reduction. The best of it is, these fellows who, by their own admission, have lost 1 to 2 d. per lb. of yarn or cloth for 2 years, and yet have not wanted to stop or work short time, now declare a 10% wage reduction, i.e. a saving of 1/10 to 1/6 penny per lb., to be a vital question!

Best greetings,
Your F. E.