Page:Emile Vandervelde - Three Aspects of the Russian Revolution - tr. Jean Elmslie Henderson Findlay (1918).djvu/189

 'No Annexations! No contributions of war! The right for all nations to dispose of themselves!' If they are sincere, they will follow your standard and march with you to Berlin and Vienna to dethrone the Emperor and establish their liberty. But should they fire on you, and insult the red flag, will you let them do so? No, it is you yourself then who will go and plant it in their cities, bringing liberty to your enemies on the point of your bayonets!"

Such words always aroused a storm of applause. At the meeting at Iezierna, the enthusiasm was beyond all bounds; even General Nottbeck was borne shoulder-high in triumph and tossed in the air in the Russian fashion. We were frequently submitted to this treatment ourselves, which is, it seems, the orthodox method of showing enthusiasm. It consists of seizing the object, or rather the victim, of their enthusiasm in twenty pairs of strong arms, which, with a rythmical movement broken by wild cries, fling him into the air as high as possible, as if he were shot