Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 26 - From Marx to Mao

292V. I. LENIN4SPEECH AND RESOLUTION ON THE RESIGNATIONOF A GROUP OF PEOPLE’S COMMISSARS FROMTHE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE’S COMMISSARSComrade Lenin replies to the preceding speakers. He saysno internationalist can use the expression: “The West isdisgracefully silent.” 116 Only the blind fail to see the fermentamong the working masses in Germany and the West.The top sections of the German proletariat and the socialistintelligentsia there, as everywhere else, are mostly defencists.But the lower strata of the proletariat are prepared torespond to our call in defiance of the will of their leaders.The fierce discipline of the German army and navy failed toprevent action by the opposition elements. The revolutionarysailors of the German navy, fully aware that theirattempt was doomed, boldly went to their death in order towaken the spirit of revolt still dormant among the people.The Spartacus group 117 is intensifying its revolutionarypropaganda. The name of Liebknecht, a tireless fighterfor proletarian ideals, is daily gaining in popularity inGermany.We believe in the revolution in the West. We know that itis inevitable, but it cannot, of course, be made to order.Did we know last December what exactly would happen inthe coming February? Did we, in September, know withany certitude at all that within a month the revolutionarydemocrats of Russia would carry out the world’s greatestrevolution? We were aware that the old power was on top ofa volcano. Many signs told us of the great work going ondeep down in people’s minds. We felt that the air wascharged with electricity. We were sure that it wouldinevitably explode in a purifying thunderstorm. But we