In my own case, the decision to eliminate me first became known when, in 1909, the Federal authorities went out of their way to disfranchise the man whose name gave me citizenship3. That Washington waited till 1917 was due to the circumstance that the psychologic moment for the finale was lacking. Perhaps I should have [Pg 2]contested my case at that time. With the then-prevalent public opinion, the Courts would probably not have sustained the fraudulent proceedings5 which robbed me of citizenship. But it did not seem credible6 then that America would stoop to the Tsaristic method of deportation7.
Our anti-war agitation8 added fuel to the war hysteria of 1917, and thus furnished the Federal authorities with the desired opportunity to complete the conspiracy9 begun against me in Rochester, N. Y., 1909.
It was on December 5, 1919, while in Chicago lecturing, that I was telegraphically apprised10 of the fact that the order for my deportation was final. The question of my citizenship was then raised in court, but was of course decided11 adversely12. I had intended to take the case to a higher tribunal, but finally I decided to carry the matter no further: Soviet13 Russia was luring14 me.
Ludicrously secretive were the authorities about our deportation. To the very last moment we were kept in ignorance as to the time. Then, unexpectedly, in the wee small hours of December 21st we were spirited away. The scene set for this performance was most thrilling. It was six o'clock Sunday morning, December[Pg 3] 21, 1919, when under heavy military convoy15 we stepped aboard the Buford.
For twenty-eight days we were prisoners. Sentries16 at our cabin doors day and night, sentries on deck during the hour we were daily permitted to breathe the fresh air. Our men comrades were cooped up in dark, damp quarters, wretchedly fed, all of us in complete ignorance of the direction we were to take. Yet our spirits were high—Russia, free, new Russia was before us.
All my life Russia's heroic struggle for freedom was as a beacon17 to me. The revolutionary zeal18 of her martyred men and women, which neither fortress19 nor katorga could suppress, was my inspiration in the darkest hours. When the news of the February Revolution flashed across the world, I longed to hasten to the land which had performed the miracle and had freed her people from the age-old yoke20 of Tsarism. But America held me. The thought of thirty years of struggle for my ideals, of my friends and associates, made it impossible to tear myself away. I would go to Russia later, I thought.
Then came America's entry into the war and the need of remaining true to the American people who were swept into the hurricane against[Pg 4] their will. After all, I owed a great debt, I owed my growth and development to what was finest and best in America, to her fighters for liberty, to the sons and daughters of the revolution to come. I would be true to them. But the frenzied21 militarists soon terminated my work.
At last I was bound for Russia and all else was almost blotted22 out. I would behold23 with mine own eyes matushka Rossiya, the land freed from political and economic masters; the Russian dubinushka, as the peasant was called, raised from the dust; the Russian worker, the modern Samson, who with a sweep of his mighty24 arm had pulled down the pillars of decaying society. The twenty-eight days on our floating prison passed in a sort of trance. I was hardly conscious of my surroundings.
Finally we reached Finland, across which we were forced to journey in sealed cars. On the Russian border we were met by a committee of the Soviet Government, headed by Zorin. They had come to greet the first political refugees driven from America for opinion's sake.
It was a cold day, with the earth a sheet of white, but spring was in our hearts. Soon we were to behold revolutionary Russia. I preferred to be alone when I touched the sacred[Pg 5] soil: my exaltation was too great, and I feared I might not be able to control my emotion. When I reached Belo?strov the first enthusiastic reception tendered the refugees was over, but the place was still surcharged with intensity25 of feeling. I could sense the awe26 and humility27 of our group who, treated like felons28 in the United States, were here received as dear brothers and comrades and welcomed by the Red soldiers, the liberators of Russia.
From Belo?strov we were driven to the village where another reception had been prepared: A dark hall filled to suffocation29, the platform lit up by tallow candles, a huge red flag, on the stage a group of women in black nuns30' attire31. I stood as in a dream in the breathless silence. Suddenly a voice rang out. It beat like metal on my ears and seemed uninspired, but it spoke32 of the great suffering of the Russian people and of the enemies of the Revolution. Others addressed the audience, but I was held by the women in black, their faces ghastly in the yellow light. Were these really nuns? Had the Revolution penetrated33 even the walls of superstition34? Had the Red Dawn broken into the narrow lives of these ascetics35? It all seemed strange, fascinating.
[Pg 6]
Somehow I found myself on the platform. I could only blurt36 out that like my comrades I had not come to Russia to teach: I had come to learn, to draw sustenance37 and hope from her, to lay down my life on the altar of the Revolution.
After the meeting we were escorted to the waiting Petrograd train, the women in the black hood38 intoning the "Internationale," the whole audience joining in. I was in the car with our host, Zorin, who had lived in America and spoke English fluently. He talked enthusiastically about the Soviet Government and its marvellous achievements. His conversation was illuminative39, but one phrase struck me as discordant40. Speaking of the political organization of his Party, he remarked: "Tammany Hall has nothing on us, and as to Boss Murphy, we could teach him a thing or two." I thought the man was jesting. What relation could there be between Tammany Hall, Boss Murphy, and the Soviet Government?
I inquired about our comrades who had hastened from America at the first news of the Revolution. Many of them had died at the front, Zorin informed me, others were working with the Soviet Government. And Shatov? William Shatov, a brilliant speaker and able organizer,[Pg 7] was a well-known figure in America, frequently associated with us in our work. We had sent him a telegram from Finland and were much surprised at his failure to reply. Why did not Shatov come to meet us? "Shatov had to leave for Siberia, where he is to take the post of Minister of Railways," said Zorin.
In Petrograd our group again received an ovation41. Then the deportees were taken to the famous Tauride Palace, where they were to be fed and housed for the night. Zorin asked Alexander Berkman and myself to accept his hospitality. We entered the waiting automobile42. The city was dark and deserted43; not a living soul to be seen anywhere. We had not gone very far when the car was suddenly halted, and an electric light flashed into our eyes. It was the militia44, demanding the password. Petrograd had recently fought back the Yudenitch attack and was still under martial45 law. The process was repeated frequently along the route. Shortly before we reached our destination we passed a well-lighted building. "It is our station house," Zorin explained, "but we have few prisoners there now. Capital punishment is abolished and we have recently proclaimed a general political amnesty."
[Pg 8]
Presently the automobile came to a halt. "The First House of the Soviets," said Zorin, "the living place of the most active members of our Party." Zorin and his wife occupied two rooms, simply but comfortably furnished. Tea and refreshments46 were served, and our hosts entertained us with the absorbing story of the marvellous defence the Petrograd workers had organized against the Yudenitch forces. How heroically the men and women, even the children, had rushed to the defence of the Red City! What wonderful self-discipline and co?peration the proletariat demonstrated. The evening passed in these reminiscences, and I was about to retire to the room secured for me when a young woman arrived who introduced herself as the sister-in-law of "Bill" Shatov. She greeted us warmly and asked us to come up to see her sister who lived on the floor above. When we reached their apartment I found myself embraced by big jovial47 Bill himself. How strange of Zorin to tell me that Shatov had left for Siberia! What did it mean? Shatov explained that he had been ordered not to meet us at the border, to prevent his giving us our first impressions of Soviet Russia. He had fallen into disfavour with the Government and was being sent to[Pg 9] Siberia into virtual exile. His trip had been delayed and therefore we still happened to find him.
We spent much time with Shatov before he left Petrograd. For whole days I listened to his story of the Revolution, with its light and shadows, and the developing tendency of the Bolsheviki toward the right. Shatov, however, insisted that it was necessary for all the revolutionary elements to work with the Bolsheviki Government. Of course, the Communists had made many mistakes, but what they did was inevitable48, imposed upon them by Allied49 interference and the blockade.
A few days after our arrival Zorin asked Alexander Berkman and myself to accompany him to Smolny. Smolny, the erstwhile boarding school for the daughters of the aristocracy, had been the centre of revolutionary events. Almost every stone had played its part. Now it was the seat of the Petrograd Government. I found the place heavily guarded and giving the impression of a beehive of officials and government employees. The Department of the Third International was particularly interesting. It was the domain50 of Zinoviev. I was much impressed by the magnitude of it all.
[Pg 10]
After showing us about, Zorin invited us to the Smolny dining room. The meal consisted of good soup, meat and potatoes, bread and tea—rather a good meal in starving Russia, I thought.
Our group of deportees was quartered in Smolny. I was anxious about my travelling companions, the two girls who had shared my cabin on the Buford. I wished to take them back with me to the First House of the Soviet. Zorin sent for them. They arrived greatly excited and told us that the whole group of deportees had been placed under military guard. The news was startling. The people who had been driven out of America for their political opinions, now in Revolutionary Russia again prisoners—three days after their arrival. What had happened?
We turned to Zorin. He seemed embarrassed. "Some mistake," he said, and immediately began to make inquiries51. It developed that four ordinary criminals had been found among the politicals deported by the United States Government, and therefore a guard was placed over the whole group. The proceeding4 seemed to me unjust and uncalled for. It was my first lesson in Bolshevik methods.
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1
deported
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| v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止 | |
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asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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citizenship
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| n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份) | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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credible
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| adj.可信任的，可靠的 | |
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7
deportation
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| n.驱逐，放逐 | |
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8
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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10
apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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adversely
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| ad.有害地 | |
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Soviet
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| adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃 | |
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luring
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的现在分词形式） | |
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convoy
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| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
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sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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20
yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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21
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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22
blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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23
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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26
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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28
felons
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| n.重罪犯( felon的名词复数 )；瘭疽；甲沟炎；指头脓炎 | |
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29
suffocation
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| n.窒息 | |
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30
nuns
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| n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 ) | |
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31
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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32
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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33
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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34
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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35
ascetics
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| n.苦行者，禁欲者，禁欲主义者( ascetic的名词复数 ) | |
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36
blurt
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| vt.突然说出，脱口说出 | |
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37
sustenance
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| n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计 | |
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38
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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39
illuminative
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| adj.照明的，照亮的，启蒙的 | |
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40
discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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41
ovation
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| n.欢呼，热烈欢迎，热烈鼓掌 | |
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42
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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43
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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44
militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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45
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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46
refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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47
jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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48
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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49
allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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50
domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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51
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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