Communism -- Soviet Union; Soviet Union -- History -- Revolution, 1917-1921
The Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies calls upon the
workers and the peasants of Russia to support with all their energy and
all their devotion the Proletarian Revolution. The Soviet expresses its
conviction that the city workers, allies of the poor peasants, will
assure complete revolutionary order, indispensable to the victory of
Socialism. The Soviet is convinced that the proletariat of the
countries of Western Europe will aid us in conducting the cause of
Socialism to a real and lasting victory.
“You consider it won then?”
He lifted his shoulders. “There is much to do. Horribly much. It is
just beginning….”
On the landing I met Riazanov, vice-president of the Trade Unions,
looking black and biting his grey beard. “It’s insane! Insane!” he
shouted. “The European working-class won’t move! All Russia—” He waved
his hand distractedly and ran off. Riazanov and Kameniev had both
opposed the insurrection, and felt the lash of Lenin’s terrible
tongue….
It had been a momentous session. In the name of the Military
Revolutionary Committee Trotzky had declared that the Provisional
Government no longer existed.
“The characteristic of bourgeois governments,” he said, “is to deceive
the people. We, the Soviets of Workers’, Soldiers’ and Peasants’
Deputies, are going to try an experiment unique in history; we are
going to found a power which will have no other aim but to satisfy the
needs of the soldiers, workers, and peasants.”
Lenin had appeared, welcomed with a mighty ovation, prophesying
world-wide Social Revolution…. And Zinoviev, crying, “This day we have
paid our debt to the international proletariat, and struck a terrible
blow at the war, a terrible body-blow at all the imperialists and
particularly at Wilhelm the Executioner….”
Then Trotzky, that telegrams had been sent to the front announcing the
victorious insurrection, but no reply had come. Troops were said to be
marching against Petrograd—a delegation must be sent to tell them the
truth.
Cries, “You are anticipating the will of the All-Russian Congress of
Soviets!”
Trotzky, coldly, “The will of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets has
been anticipated by the rising of the Petrograd workers and soldiers!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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