The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-13
-PIRTr wREsTLnRs" OF RUSSIA.
1eir Great Crime Is That They Dis
ApprOve of War and Refuse to

From the London Chronicle.
We have heard now and again of a
tristan sect in Russia who in their
rthod of life literally obey the sermon
olthe mount They are called the Dou-
hoortsy, a Russian word which means
"sirit Wrestlers." 1 have talked about
thspirit wrestlers with gentleman hav-
in a close knowledge of them. The ref
eInce is to NJ. Vladimir Tchertkoff, one
oTolstois friends and co-workers, who,
living been practically expelled from
nssia, is now in London. His efforts on
half of the Spirit Wrestlers and Russian
sctarians generally brought down upon
i'm the heavy hand of the Russian gov
rnment
1--WE WERE" he told me, collecting par
culars as to the persecution of the differ
at sectarians which has been going on
Russia. We hoped. when this Informal
ION had been tabulated to be able to lay
before the car himself. Well the po-
&c seized many of our papers, so got to
now who had acted for us in gathering
al information, and then made things
lSly for US"
ne point might set down. NJ Tchert-
kt did not use a single harsh word in
reerence to his own Punishment. True,
I'd room in which l saw him, with it's
bae floor and its simple deal chairs and
tale was the atmosphere of Tolstoi. Yet
a less manly man, one of smaller parts
al without his sincere ideals, might well
1--we taken another line. AS we chatted
j the Douhobortsy, I asked him incident
,ly, "Why don't they Danish Tolstoi him
idf?"
fNow, as to the Spirit Wrestlers-it is
lie fact is it not that they are being bit
erly prosecuted at this moment?"
Eyes: sad work is going on in the Cau-
asus. Over 1900 people-men, women and
hildren-are suffering from starvation,
disease, persecution. These they owe to
he Russian authorities. But let us go
Jack for a little. A mistake exists in
ONE quarters to the effect that the Spirit
Nrestlers have arisen as the result of the
colstois teaching-that they are a pro-
iuct Of Tolstoism, while in reality the sect
lppeared in the middle of the last century
At the beginning of this century their
doctrine had become clearly defined and
heir numbers had largely increased"
Perhaps these two facts bring us also
o the persecution of the Spirit Wres-
-lers2'
Yes; the government and the church
started cruel persecution. Eventually
having still increased in number, the Spr-
I Wrestlers were banished to the eau
'asus. Why that and why subsequent
prosecutions? Because the faith of the
spirit Wrestlers does not permit them to
10 certain things which the government
las demanded. They refuse to perform
tuties which mean directly or indirectly
ne killing or hunt of their fellow men,
They look upon war as un-Chrstian and
refuse the call to serve in the army Their
Whole teaching rests in the spirit of love,
Of brotherhood and is founded on tradi-
ion. 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
1t was probably used toward them as
meaning that they were wrestling against
che church or the spirit-that they were
repudiating the church. But the Spirit
Wrestlers themselves explain the deriVa-
zion of the name as indicating that they
serve in the spirit of God. Altogether
there are about 10000 Spirit Wrestlers but
they do not all stand in the same posi-
ton. One party of 5000 has gone over to
the side of the government and given
up their religious traditions. A second
party of 5000 detached itself on a matter
of policy, and not being strong enough
TO withstand pressure has practically cap
itulated to the government. That leaves
1900 who have conserved their faith alb
solutely who lead a communal life and
who are the Spirit Wrestlers proper"
81 believe it is 1900 of the 1900 who
have been banshed to a most inhospitable
suffering so much?'
That is it. The endeavor you see is
to break up the Spirit Wrestlers-always
to break them up-and so destroy them
The 1900 are not only in the most preca-
rious state but they are also reducing the
main settlement in circumstances. In other
words, the main settlement is endeavoring
to support them, and so you have double
cloud of privation and Distress
Have you been to the Caucasus to see
these primitive Christians yourself?"
mo / have not visited their settlements
of course, these are all in the Caucasus
but intimate friends of mine have done
so, and some of the Spirit Wrestlers have
visited me. They are, 1 can assure you,
a most worthy people in every respect
a people who might be of endless value to
any country. Their food is as simple as
their faith, but far from being esthetic in
appearance, they are remarkably robust
The men are fine looking fellows; they are
splendid workers, and indeed the Spirit
Wrestlers have been respected by all man
ner of folks, who do not share their views.
Before these troubles occurred the gov
eminent relied upon them in many ways,
more than they relied upon any of The
other communities in the Caucasus"
Their refusal to take military service is
the great offense against them in the eyes
of the government"
Eyes; and here lies a blunder which has
caused all the trouble, and which If it
were set right by the government might
settle things again. You understand that
the Spirit Wrestlers were banished to the
Caucasus by Nicholas because they de-
clined TO serve In his army-that was their
punishment. Very well, in the Cauca sus
they lived and prospered, and little was
heard about them until 1887, when the EN-
peror Alexander called upon them TO ac-
cept military service like his other sub
jects. If they had been left alone-bear-
Ing their punishment to the Caucasus as
punishment-all would have been well,
and TO return TO that position now would,
as l say. be well, once the people were
able to recover themselves But II Is a
very different policy that is being pursued
toward them-a policy of much harsh
ness"
Two summers ago did the main body
of the Spirit Wrestlers not burn all their
arms?"
yes, as an evidence Of their determina-
ton not 10 use violence even for their own
defense. The holocaust was carried out
simultaneously In three places, and was
accompanied by the singing OF psalms At
one pdace IL went off without inteAfor-