The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-23
The New Russian Refugees.


OF the New World For a century and
nalf al the horrors known to Russian Off
cialdom from the knout of Siberian ban
ishment have been applied TO crush out
the religious beliefs of the Doukhobors, or
Spirit Wrestlers- Holding God in greater
fear than the Cars ninions, and re-
sarding war as an unsuitable evil. these
people, though loyal subjects in all other
respects, have resisted imperial conscrip-
ton laws. Prosecutions have only
strengthened and spread the faith until
the Spirit-Wrestlers now number q, 90
souls. In vain the orthodox church and
the government banished whole villages
The tribe carried their religion with them
10 Siberia, and to this day there are
Doukhobor descendants OF the early ex-
lies living on the border OF Manchuria-
The strict enforcement Of the conscTip-
ton laws during the pas. zen years has
entailed frightful suffering among their
communities in the Caucasian regions. II
seems almost incredible tlAt with the
boasted Hberaiity of the closing century
people whose sole offense Is their refusal
10 violate religious beliefs are being SUB
jected 10 inouisiforlal to-1u-es Since a
revival of the faith four years ago when
some of the conscripts threw aside the
arms whit1 they had uawl4lingiy Iakea
up. Russian persecution has been reIeEt~
less The Cossacks were turned loose
among the Doukhobers. Villages were de-
stf"yed, property confscated, whole tribes
oamshed, and men, women and youths OF
both sexes stripped and logged amid the
)eers OF the riotous soldiery. The people
seemed 10 reach the very limit f human
endurance. A few thousands yielded and
Joined the army. Many died from I'll treat
ment- vows were taken 10 let tribes die
out and 10 bring no more children into
the world rather than perpetuate such
suffering
COMMUNICATION was excited both at
nome and abroad Count EoIstoi and otn-
er philanthropists espoused the cause cf
the martyred sect. The Doukhobers them
selves peuitioned the empress. mother Of
the Car, for either military exemption or
permission 10 leave Russia. Granted leave
to emigrate, they looked to co-religIon-
lists in Great Britain and the United
States for means 10 be transported
Thanks TO the generosity Of the Society
of Friends in both countries ard 10 the
efforts of Count Tolstoi, aid has not been
withheld, and 1000 of the DOukhobors are
already in western Canada, while 4o00
more are preparing to sail. The 5000 in
the army viii complete their term of ser
vice and then join the communities n
the Northwest
Neither fiction nor the drama could por-
tray greater pathos and heroism than
characterized the simple, humole lives
of these Russian peasants. On one occa-
sion the thunder of gauoping horses and
the clanking Of armor announced the swift
approach of a band of Cossacks towards
a DOubhobor village. a moment later tie
place was surrounded. Without warning
old and young were dragged from iher
homes, huddled together, and driven Ike
sheep along the road towards another vii
lage, where they were TO appear before
a magistrate. The presence of husbands
and fathers did not protect the wives and
daughters from the insults of the soldiers.
One would naturally picture sad pro-
cession of confused, trembling. terrified
people; but not so. Though they had left
all earthly possessions, and might, tor
aught they knew, be on the eve CT life
long Punishment, the prisoners sang as
they marched:
For the sake of Thee, Lord, I loved the
narrow gate;
I left the material life; I left father and
mother;
I left brother and sister; left my whole
race and tribe;
I bear hardness and persecution; I bear
scorn and Islander;
1 am hungry and thirsty; I am walking
naked;
For the sake Of Thee 0 Lordl'
At the singing, the COssacks grew
rougher and tried 10 terrorIze their cap
tives Failing this. the soldiers shouted
and drowned the voices Of the
Christians with obscene songs. Remanded
back to their homes. the people enjoyed
but a momentary feeling of relief. for the
Cossacks were quartered on the village
with unlimited liberty TO make their VIC
tins miserable.
Another occurrence in the same village
gives some idea Of what the Doukhobore
have endured. Four women walking on
the road were overtaken by band OF Cos
sacks, captured and carried back to the
soldiers quarters. They had committed
no offense, except that they belonged to
the christians of the Universal Brother
hood" as the Spirit wrestlers call them
selves. notwithstanding their innocence,
the women were imprisoned in a stable,
then dragged out one by one, stripped,
held by two Cossacks and logged by four
men All about was the hootlng rabble
Of soldiers and loafers. applauding every
stripe. Towards the end OF the torture
the f1endish cruelty of the tormenters
seemed to overlap all bounds, and the
last poor creature was dragged about the
stable yard.
These instances show what the Doukho-
bOrs have suffered and yet suffer rather
than violate their faith, knowledge of
their distress is sufficient 10 arouse the
active sympathy Of the civilized world.
English sympathiZers have collected So
coo. American friends an amount slightly
smaller, and Count Leo TOistoi has con-
tributed $500. Besides this donation, the
novelist is now engaged on what may
prove his last great work OF fiction, IN
order that the DOukhobors may be aided
with the entire financial proceeds from
the book. The novel deals with the rnflu-
ence Of love on mans life from youth
to old age. Il IS 10 appear seriaHy in the
Cosmopolitan before being issued IN book
form. and is entitled The Resurrection
As four thousand people are TO he taken
from Russia this spring and 20 be provi-
ded with what will afford them a begin
ming in the new world. the Society Of
Friends in Great Britain and the United
States Is still working for the DoUKhO-
5ors.
one is not surprised At the deep emo
ton ard Overfowng gratitude Of those
peasants on hearing of ne
relief which had come 20 them through
the efforts Of unknown friends. On New
Years Day money collected from foreign
friends. letters from sympathizeTs IN
Great Britain and the United States. and
2 greeting from Coun: Toistoi we're car
ried to an sssemblage OF Doukhobors.
After the message OF cheer had been given
10 the eager listeners, one OF the men n
the audience Of one hundred and fifty,
p hich had gathered. asked that bis people
might express their gratitude u their Own
wav A. once the whole azseu5.age
swayed forward and amid stiHed soos and
signs and nurmurs a gratitude bowed
OK. almost 70 the ground. Cries q Save
hem. I0rdr' Grant t1em eternal lfet'
Help them. L,ord.' broke from the sway
.nE -rrong.
From the tine they eft Russia an1 cur
~ -rafr Quincy across the ocean ard
,~-ozs the continent - their rev home II
~ fa- west the firs:-cornerE = advance
80 Of the Doukho5ors have beer per-
gaded By suppressed ard almost devotion