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

357SPEECH DELIVEREDAT THE SECOND ALL-RUSSIA CONGRESSOF SOVIETS OF PEASANTS’ DEPUTIESDECEMBER 2 (15), 1917 137Comrades, at the last Extraordinary Congress of Peasants’Deputies I spoke as a member of the Bolshevik group andnot as a member of the Council of People’s Commissars,I am speaking in the same capacity today, for I considerit important that the opinion of the Party of the Bolsheviksshould be known to this Congress of Peasants’Deputies.When I arrived here I heard part of the speech of the lastspeaker, who, turning to me, told you that I wanted todisperse you at the point of the bayonet. Comrades, Russiahas grown too mature to suffer anyone to rule her. You knowthat from the moment the army turned their weapons towin freedom, from the moment it became possible for thepeasant in uniform to meet and arrange matters with thepeasant not in uniform, from that moment there has been noforce that can break the will of the people, the will of thepeasants and workers.Comrades, I want to tell you how we understand theRevolution of October 25. Comrades, it has been said herethat a new wave of revolution may sweep the Soviets away.I say “No”. I am firmly convinced that the Soviets will neverperish; the Revolution of October 25 proved that. TheSoviets will never perish, for they were formed as far backas the first revolution of 1905; they were formed after theFebruary revolution, and they were not formed on theinitiative of any individual, but from below, by the will of