New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-05
NON-RESISTANCE A DUTY.
<~o,,rr rOISTOTS LATEST VIEWS ON A
FAvORITE SUBJECT.

o~u,xc CAN JUSTIFY vIOLENCE-rHE CHRIS
r,Ix MUST ACCEPT THE TEACHINGS OF
JESUS WITHOUT EXCEPTION
OR DISCUSSION.
=, the Editor OF The Tribune.
sr have received the ir ,losed letter from
rount Tols,oi with the request that have IT pub
p.b.d II Is necessary to add word OF explana-
49,, About wear ago / wrote an article for THE
Y,prdorn" Of Minneapolis. taking the ground that
r,yst by His works and actions laid down the moral
nyira.ion OF on-resistance. The Voice. The Pro-
hbitIon organ OF this city. published short SYM
posum on this article. and sent copy Of the
article and the symposium to Count Tolsto and 1t is
these papers which have called forth from the Rus
.sn author the article in the form Of letter. which
,rnv ,,close ERNEST II. CROSBY
New-York, April T. 1896.
COUNT TOLsToTs LETTER.
Dear Mr. Crosby: ! am very glad 10 have news Of
YOUR activity and to hear that your work begins TO
attract attention Fifty years ago Lloyd Garrisons
declaration Of non-resstance only estranged people
from him. and Ballous fifty years labor in the same
direction was constantly met by conspiracy OF
slence now read with great pleasure in THE
Voice" admirable thoughts by American writers on
this question OF non-resistance. / need only demur
at the notion expressed by Mr.. Bemis II Is an old
but unfounded libel upon Christ TO suppose that the
expulsion Of the cattle from the temple indicates
that Jesus beat people with whip and advised MS
disciples TO behave in a like manner.
The opinions expressed by these writers. espe-
caly by Heber Newton and George d. Heron. are
quite correct but unfortunately they DO not reply to
the question Christ put men, but 10 another Ques-
tion which has been substituted for 1t by those
chief and most dangerous opponents OF Christianity
the so-cared orthodox ecclesiastical authorities
Mr.. Higginson says: Il do not believe non-re-
sstancs admissible as universal rule" Heoer
Newton says that peoples opinion as TO the practical
result of the application Of Chriss teaching Will
depend on the extent Of peoples belief in His au-
-fhorsty." Carlos Martyr considers ,ie trensition
stage In which We live not suited for the application
Of the doctrine OF non-resstance. George d. Her
ron holds that obey the law OF nonresistance we
must learn how to apply II 10 life. Mrs Livermore.
thinking that the law Of non-resistance can be fully
pSeyed only in the future. says the same.
All these views refer to the question: What would
happen II people were all obliged TO obey the law
Of non-resistance? But In the first place. II is i'm
possible obge every one 10 accept the law OF non
resistance. Secondly. II 1t were possible 10 do so.
such compulsion would In Itself be direct negaton
Of the very principle set up Obllge all men to re-
irain from violence? Who. then should enforce the
decision? Thirdly-and this is the chief point-the
question az nut by Christ is not at all: Can non
resistance become a general law for humanity?
but How must each man act TO fulhl his allotted
task 10 save his soul and to do the will Of God?'
which are all really and the same thing.
Christian teaching does not lay down laws for
everybody and does not say TO people: you all for
fear Of punishment. must obey such and such rules
snd then YOU will all be happy" but 1t explains 10
each individual his position in relation to the world
and let's him what results. for him INDIVIDUALITY
Inevitably flow from that relation
Christianity says TO man. and 10 each man sepa-
rasely tina, his personal life can have no rational
meaning II he counts II as belonging 10 him. or as
having for its aim worldly happiness for himelf
q fox other people This is SO because the happi-
nas b. seeks Is unattainable: % since all beings
slie after worldly advantages. the gain of one is
IL he Of others and It is most probable that each
INDIVIDUAL will incur much superfuous suffering In
~ course OF his vain effort 20 seize unattainabe
Musings: (D because. even II a man gets worldly ad-
villages the more he obtains the less they satisfy
I'm. and the more ne bankers after fresh ones; 90
and chiefly because the longer man lives the more
inevitable becomes the approach OF old age. SICK
meas and death. destroying all possibility OF worldly
savantages. So that II man considers his life his
own to be spent in seeking worldly happiness for
himself az well as for others then that life can
nave no rational explanation for him.
Aie gets rational meaning on.y when one Under
stands that to consider life own or to see
's aim In worldly happiness for ourselves or FOR
0'her people In q deluson; that a mans .fe does
NOT oeiong to him who received IL. but TO Hin
no mas Riven It, and. therefore its object should be
o' !" the attainment OF worldly haI piness either
s. ~.e SET or Tor other individuals, but only In
'un.'ns the will Of Him who created this life
1"'' conception alone gives life a rational mean
e. anu MAKES us aim. which is to fulfil the VIII OF
oo1' a''alhapie And. most important OF oil. only
~nen enNghtened by this conception does man
s"' 'ne r'ght direction for his activity.
.n Is then no longer destined to suffer and to de-
lfalI1
ton WV
Inc universe and in IT," SAYS such man to
'n' exist By the viii OF God. cannot know
"o'e OF the universe. for In the immensely II
. "us my comprehension. can know my
80 Posiuon in II. but do know with certainty
a., Noo' VINO has sent into this world. inn
.~, ~ 'ime and space and therefore Incompetent
~ 70 me- demands from me- This is revealed 10
-. w by the collective wisdom Of the best men.
nv gone before me, /. O.. by tradition; % by
b,.. 'eason, and CD by my heart. l. e., by the
..ne aspirations Of my nature
A.. "adition. the collective wisdom OF my great
o,s,. 'o'funners. tells me that ! should do unto
r.,..s would that they should DO unto me. My
4. n, SLOWS me that only by all men acting thus
oo,v nignesi happiness for all men attanab!e.
MIA "nen yie.d myself to that intuition OF love
hs... '1hands obedience 10 this law Is my own
Aov ~py and at rest. And not only can know
coo, acI but can and do discern the work TO
,sr.e IN which my activity designed and
fee ss'ea. cannot fathom Gods whole design.
live. ake OF which the universe exists and
plish.. e' the Divine work. which is being accom-
hvn, = this world and In which participate by
"eomprehensible to me-"
ing WORK OF GOD IN THE WORLD
strss. york Is the humiliation OF discord and
the .nong people and among all creatures. and
IA ssohshment of the highest unity, concord
u ~" II Ia the fulnlment Of the promises OF
~ 1872 prophets. VINO foretold a time when all
- 1s~"s'o % taught by truth. when spears should
MO sssplns-hooks. swords b. bsstsn 70