Page:Emile Vandervelde - Three Aspects of the Russian Revolution - tr. Jean Elmslie Henderson Findlay (1918).djvu/162

 enthusiasm of this impressionable public, very hospitably disposed at first sight with regard to strangers, very eager to hear speeches, since they are no longer forbidden, and quite ready, especially when young soldiers are concerned, to manifest loudly for or against any statements that are made.

So we restrained ourselves as well as we could from being carried away by this collective enthusiasm. But there could be no possible doubt as to the veritable feeling of our audience as soon as the speakers delegated by the soldiers began to speak and their speeches were translated to us. They all told us in touching terms how great was their admiration for Belgium and their attachment to the Internationale that we represented. They told us of their readiness to complete the work of the Revolution by an offensive against the last autocracies of Europe. There was only one attempt, timid enough it is true, at contradiction on the part of a Bolcheviki soldier, who, evidently hoping to embarrass us, asked a question concerning the Stockholm Conference. But