The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-11
u spirit wREsTLERs" OF RUSSIA.
How They Are Persecuted-Tbe;r c
Crime Is That They Disapprove of War
and Refuse to Serve in the ARMY.
(From the London Chronicle.


method of life literally obey the Sermon
on the Mount. They are called tho
Douhobortsy, Russian word which
means Esprit Wrestlers.' - have talked
about the Spirit Wrestlers with a sent,e-
man having close knowledge of them
The reference is to M. Vladimir Tchert-
kotf, one of Tolstoi's friends and CO.
workers, who, Ehaving been practically
expelled from Russia, is now in London.
His efforts on behalf of the Spirit Wrest-
lers and Russian sectarians generally
brought down upon him the heavy hand
OF the Russian government.
1--WE gwere," he told me, COLLECTING
particulars as to the persecution of the
different sectarians which has been going
ON in Russia. We hoped, when this in
formation had been tabulated, to be able
to lay 1t before the czar himself. Well,
the police seized many of our papers, so
as to know who had acted for us in gath
ering the information, and then make
things lively for u.s.
One point I might set down. NJ.
Ichertkoff did not Use a single harsh
word in reference to his own banishment.
True, the room in which I saw him, with
its bare floor and its simple deal chairs
and table, was the atmosphere of Tolstoi.
Yet less manly man, one of smaller
parts and without his sincere ideals,
might well have taken another line AS
we chatted of the Douhobortsy, 1 asked
him incidentally, why don't they Danish
Tolstoi himself?''
The late emperor he replied, sis
reported to have said that he would not
give Tolstoi the satisfaction of Danish
ment. No doubt there are two reasons
Why Tolstol is permitted to remain in
Russia. To prosecute him would only be
to give power to his campaign, and, sec
ondiy, his position is SO great in the civil
lied world that any action against him
might cause very wide feeling But he
Is almost worse than if he were ordered
to leave Russia, for his friends are sent
away
"Now, as to the Spirit Wrestlers-it is
the fact, is it not, that they are being
bitterly prosecuted at this moment?'
Eyes; sad work is going on in the
Caucasus. Over 1000 people-men, women
and chi!dren-are suffering from starva-
ton, disease, persecution. These they
owe to the Russian authorities. But let
us go back for little. A mistake exists
in some quarters to the effect that the
Spirit Wrestlers have arisen as the result
OF the Tolstoi's teaching-that they are
a product of Tolstoism, while in reality
the sect appeared in the middle of the
last century. At the beginning of this
century their doctrine had become clearly
defined and their numbers had largely
increased
perhaps these two facts bring us also
to the persecution of the Spirit Wrest-
lers?"
Yes; the government and the church
started a cruel persecution. Eventually
having still increased 10 number, the
Spirit Wrestlers were banished to the
Caucasus. Why that and why subsequent
persecutionsY Because the faith of the
do certain things hich the government
has demanded. They refuse to perform
duties which mean directly or Indirectly
the killing or hunt of their fellow-men.
they look upon war as un-Christian and
refuse the call to serve in the army.
Their whole teaching rests in the spirit
of love, of brotherhood, and is founded on
tradition. They called this tradition the
book of life, since it lives in their hearts
and models their daily lives.''
Why the term Spirit Wrestlers?''
when they first came into prominence
it was probably used toward them as
meaning that they were wrestling agains
repudiating the church. But the Spiri
Wrestlers themselves explain the derive
ton of the name as indicating that thay
serve in the Spirit of God. Altogether
there are about 90, 900 Spirit Wrestlers,
but they do not all stand in the same
position. One party of 5000 has gone over
TO the side of the government and given
up their religious traditions. A second
party, ofi3000, detached itself on matter
of policy, and not being strong enough
to Withstand pressure has practically
capitulated to the government. That
leaves 12,000 who have conserved their
faith absolutely, who lead a communal
life and who are the Spirit Wrestlers
proper"
81 believe itIis 1000 of the 10 900 who
have been banished to a most inhospitable
part of the Caucasus, and who are now
suffering so much?"
That is it. The endeavor, you see, lis
to break up the Spirit Wrestlers-always
to break them up-and SO destroy them.
The 1000 are not only in the most precari-
Gus state, but they are also reducing the
main settlement in circumstances. In
other words, the main settlement is en-
deayoring to support them, and so you
have double cloud of privation and dis
tress.'
Have you been to the Caucasus to see
these primitive Christians YOURSELF"
NO, have not visited their settle
ments-of course these are all in the eau
casus-but intimate friends OF mine have
done so, and some of the Spirit Westlers
have visited me. They are, 1 can assure
y GU, a most worthy people in every re-
spect-a people who might be of endless
value to any country. Their food is as
simple as, their faith, but far from being
estheticc in appearance, they are remark
ably robust. The men are fine looking
fellows; they are splendid workers, and
indeed the Spirit Wrestlers have been
respected by all manner Of folks, who do
not share their views. Before these
troubles occurred the government relied
upon them in many ways, more than
they relied upon any Of the other commu-
mites in the Caucasus -
Their refusal to take military service
is the great offense against them in the
eyes OF the government"
Yes; and here lies blunder which
has caused all the trouble, and which if
1t were set right by the government
might settle things again You under
stand that the Spirit Wrestlers were ban
lshed to the Caucasus by Nicholas 1. be-
cause they declined to serve in the army
mat was their punishment. Very we'll,
l the CaupoSuc tbayr lixvaJ .yJ