New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-11
COUNT TOLST'OI.
HIS ARGUMENT FOR NoN-RESISTANCE.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS w1THIN Yor.
Christianity Not as a Mystic Religion bIt ~
New Theory Of Life Translated from tho Rus
sian Of Count Leo TOstoi by Constance T. Gar
nett. Pp. Y, 36s The Casseil Publishing 60.
This is the dream OF an enthusiast. The author
speaks age OF faith and tho age ~ faith il
dead or In a traneelike slumber. When Tolsto was
quoting the sayings Of Christ. he might well have
repeated the question. DO men gather grapes Il
thorns figs OF thstles?' Can any one expect
the rich frutagc OF primitive Christianity from gen
eratons with whom the goomlest pcsslmsm IL the
favorlte philosophy? when people deem themselves
undeserving their nncIpatons OF reward are small.
and this Is the condition Of humanity at the pres
ent day. Yet doing more for each other
now than they did before. Charity In every
form that can be imagined Is abundant. But II -
not accompanied with that painful care FOR ones
own soul known 10 other centuries. II lacks that
Individual hopcfulness which sweetene1 the mis-
cries OF the Middle Ages In Western Europe ana
which to be the solace OF Russia now as rep
resented in the person OF Count Tolstoi. Slch
book az that under consideration could hardly be
imagined as the work OF other than Russian. II
indicates n state OF society which is long past for
the rest OF ChrstendOrn II Is true that the author
endeavors TO illustrate his criticisms on modern
life by illusions TO the countries Of Western Eu-
rope and TO America; but 1t will be plain TO all Of
those concerned that these illusions have more than
literary vagueness.
While II Is impossible 10 share Tolstors ancI-
pa tons OF a golden age 1t must be agreed that the
method by which he expects II to be brought about
is strictly within the lines laid down in the New
Testament lie looks for violent outbreak
against the world 1t Is. His anarchy would be
a very different thing from that OF the bomb throw
ing miscreants. whose fate. nevertheless. he de-
plores. He does not condemn socialist organlza-
ton, but he does not think II the most efficient
means OF reform. His opinion IL that every man
who thought it wrong to bear arms. to punish
/ IN NIL ~
compulslon. a government which he knew to be
unjust and needless should calmly set his face
against these things. What man did others
would do. ana the force OF this passive resistance
would at last become too strong TO be overcome
The idea Is not fresh with Count Tolstoi. 1t s IA
miliar to the Friends. to the members OF peace So
ciees and TO innumerabe secs of religionists. par
| tcularly In Russia. lie himself gives many cases
OF individual action such as he advocates as might
render his own book superfiuous There Is not
much use In preaching what everybody already
| knows The suffering and annoyance to which
those are subjected who passve!y oppose what they
consider evil-dolng becomes less as the years 80
nv even in Russia. Public opinion has slowly
| formed on the side of these people whose only
fault Is their eccentrcity. The Government which
| used TO punish them severely has found That It,
only gave them the martyrdom which they longed
for Without formally acknowledging that 1t Is in
| the wrong 1t has gradually lessened Its severity.
II endeayors to handle such cases secretly. But In
spite OF every effort. they become known and the
| prlnciple suffered for gains adherents. Ger
| tanly preaching and suffering were among the
| most important factors in the early success OF
| Christianity But as Count Tolstoi observes. the
| mass of mankind have preferences for good or
| evil They fall on the side OF the party which
"a strongest And when his passive opponents OF
wrong become ever slightly preponderant then
the mass will tumble to their side the great ship
of humanity will right herself and begin her voy-
age on prosperous seas. Were there not Just such
| dreams n thousand years ago and two thousand
wears ago in each accompanied by presages
! az the anproaching end OF the world? II Count
ostoi IA more rational than the Anarchists or the
Socialists he is equally silent on the wild visions
OF tho ChIliasts He anticipates no millennium which
men cannot create for themselves. For those OF us
who lack faith waiting costs nothing
| The burden of Tolstois thought Is that injunc-
ton OF Christ RESIST not evil" He translates IL
into a prohibition OF war OF capital punishment.
and OF the support Of government which provides
for war and furnishes criminals. He dwelis long
! on the miserable state OF mankind at the present
day by way of Indicating the possibilities OF uni
| yersal peace His vision Is mat OF the ancient
Hebron ,yho saw all the world turning Its swords
into plouch shares and It's spears into pruning
hooks Neither that ancient prophet nor those who
| follouAd him saw any such thing happen they
| had nresaped But In the matter OF war something
| really has happened which Is important. The In
! tsrval. NJ neace have become longer as time has