Letter from Friedrich Engels to Florence Kelley-Wischnewetzky in New York, London, 11 April 1888. Written in English. Text from: F. A. Sorge (ed.), Briefe und Auszüge aus Briefen von Joh. Phil. Becker, Jos. Dietzgen, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx u. A. an F. A. Sorge und Andere (Stuttgart, 1906), pp. 296-297. Sorge prints the letter abridged. The row of dashes is his. Spanish translation

London, April 11th 1888.

Dear Mrs. Wischnewetzky.

Your call for the Ms. comes upon me very suddenly and I am afraid I shall not be able to oblige you. I am allowed to write two hours a day, not more; have a large correspondence to attend to; find that at the end of the two hours, am only just getting warm in harness, and then, just then, must stop. Under these circumstances I am quite unable to do articles de saison to order, especially for a distant market, and do not see my way to having the pamphlet ready in Ms. by May 15th, much less have it ready printed in N. Y. by that time. Still I will set about it at once, after clearing off urgent letters, and do my best. I interrupt an important piece of business on purpose, to clear this matter off.

Still in my opinion you need not fear of losing your opportunity. The Free Trade question will not disappear from the American horizon until settled. I am sure that Protection has done its duty for the U. S. and is now an obstacle, and whatever may be the fate of the Mills bill, the struggle will not end until either Free Trade enables the U. S. manufacturers to take the leading part in the world market to which they are entitled in many branches of trade, or until both Protectionists and Free Traders are shoved aside by those behind them. Economic facts are stronger than politics, especially if the politics are so much mixed up with corruption as in America. I should not wonder if during the next few years one set of American manufacturers after the other . . . . . . over to the Free Traders — if they understand their interests they must.

Thanks for the official publications — I think they will just be what I want.

I am glad of your success against the Ex. as far as it goes — from “Volksz. Weekly” March 31st I see they won't give in yet — there you see what an advantage it is to be on the spot. The non-resisting weakness which went straight against the Avelings because they were absent — that weakness you could rock round to your favor because you were not absent; and thus the hostility to you is reduced to mere local klatsch which with perseverance you are sure to overcome and to live down.

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I return herewith the letters of the Board of Supervision.

In haste.

Yours faithfully

F. Engels.