Page:René Marchand - Why I Side with the Social Revolution (1920).pdf/34

 final attempt at resistance with his formula of „neither peace nor war“ to sign the Treaty of Brest, the only means which remained to him for saving the Russian people from destruction!!…

In all the acts and in all the words of the Bolsheviks at that time I saw only knavery intrigues, comedies and German plots! Beyond and outside of Bolshevism, as I have already stated, there was  I did not wish to admit however that „all was finished“ an irresistible instinct restrained me from so doing, and not for one moment did it enter my mind that there was nothing further to do than to pack one's baggage and make way for the diplomats and agents of Wilhelm. All the conversations and relations with the Bolsheviks could not, according to my mind, have any other character than a business deal; that nothing politically could ever result from them. On the other hand, was there not some living force, as yet still latent, which was capable of giving the signal for a reawakening of Russia?

Evidently it was not to be expected from commercial and industrial circles, where the lust for profit remained more than ever the only guiding principal, nor from the bourgeoisie who while waiting for their „German saviours” had given proof of their implacable and hateful selfishness. As for the revolutionary elements, the young Russian Republic, they appeared to have become definitely bankrupt. For one moment I imagined that I saw this force in the orthodox Church. I had been greatly interested for several months past in the crisis through which this church was passing, and I was present at its reorganization. Monopolized and