Letter to Eduard Bernstein, May 28, 1887

Author(s) Friedrich Engels
Written 28 May 1887


First published, in Russian, in Marx-Engels Archives, Vol. I, Moscow, 1924
Published in English for the first time in Marx-Engels Collected Works, Volume 48


ENGELS TO EDUARD BERNSTEIN[1]

IN ZURICH

London, 28 May 1887

For heaven's sake please don't publish Jonas' deplorable translation of my preface[2] in the Sozialdemokrat. Have just done one myself, having with much difficulty finally retrieved the ms. of the English original from America. But I've also offered it to the Baron[3] —the Baron has just been here. He will surrender to you my translation of the preface and is getting a copy done with all speed, as my ms. must go off to America at once to oust the Jonasiad. Singer has been over here; told of C. A. Schramm's latest heroic deed in regard to yourself—what next? Tomorrow's conference of the delegates of the Socialist League will decide its fate.[4] I have still not received a single copy of the English Lage[5] while K. Kautsky has been sent 18, so I'll finally get one tomorrow. Fine goings-on! My eye is improving slowly.

Your

F. E.

  1. ↑ Engels wrote this letter on a postcard. The address, written by him on the back, reads: Herr E. Bernstein, Florstr. 10, Riesbach-Zurich, Switzerland.
  2. ↑ Engels' article 'The Labor Movement in America' opened the American edition of his The Condition of the Working Class in England, published in New York in 1887. That same year the article appeared, in Engels' German translation, under the heading 'Die Arbeiterbewegung in Amerika', in the Sozialdemokrat (10 and 17 June). In July separate prints, in German and English, were distributed in New York. The article was also published as a pamphlet in London (see present edition, Vol. 26) and, in French, in Le Socialiste (9, 16 and 23 July). Even before the publication of the book the article was, without Engels' knowledge, translated into German by Alexander Jonas, editor of the New Yorker Volkszeitung, and published in this paper in April 1887. Engels, displeased with the quality of the translation, lodged an official protest.
  3. ↑ Karl Kautsky. See previous letter.
  4. ↑ On 29 May 1887 the third annual conference of the Socialist League (see note 21) was held in London. Delegates from 24 sections attended. The anarchists gained the upper hand; a resolution was adopted saying: 'This conference endorses the policy of abstention from parliamentary action, hitherto pursued by the League, and sees no sufficient reason for altering it.'
  5. ↑ Engels means the American edition of his The Condition of the Working-Class in England.