Page:Emile Vandervelde - Three Aspects of the Russian Revolution - tr. Jean Elmslie Henderson Findlay (1918).djvu/262

 systematically they burned our towns and villages.

We cannot live henceforth in the perpetual dread of such horror happening again, and sleep at nights wondering if we shall waken to the clatter of the Uhlans' horses through our streets. Let them not tell us that the destruction of German Imperialism is the business of the Germans themselves. It could only be so if their Imperialism remained at home. To-day it has outstepped its limits and oppresses us. We are not disposed to let them work their will on us. We mean to break the power of our tyrant. We desire this as legitimately as the Russians for example, who resolved to break the power of their tyrant, and the fact that ours is seated in Berlin is not a sufficient reason to make us change our opinion.

Moreover, what we say of Belgium's decision in this matter applies to all the nations of the Entente.

The suppression of German Imperialism is obviously a world-wide necessity.

There is no Democratic development possible, there is notably no future for the