New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-13
TOLSTOI'S VIEWS ON PEACE.
WHY HE THINKS THE CONFERENCE
WILL BE FUTILE.
ga uypocRrr1cAr. ARRANGEMENT TO HIDE THE
ONE MEANS OF OBTAINING PEAcE-RE-
rusA1. OF MILITARY SERVICE


ONE MEANS OF OBTAINING PEAcE-RE-
Fr-sAr OF MILITARY SERVICE
From The Independent.
II s said that the easiest and sure.t way to uni,
varsaI disarmament is by individuals refusing 10
L narf in military service This is most just
I am even of opinion that this Is the oniy way ,s 70
from r tine 1eTTos ana But that at the
ference which is about to assemble a, me rheTher
mem wSo refuse military service may not be EN-
ployed on public works instead appears 10 ne qu nn
ference Itself can be nothing bat one OF those
hypocrcal arrangements which aim not a, pear en-
but on the contrary at hiding from men me ,o "ne
means of obtaining universal peace, which the fore-
most men now beginning to discern ;r +, NOT at
disarmament. then at checking the Increase or ar
maments II is supposed that at this coniereh, -
cease Increasing their forces II the question
invounsrily presents itself How will the govern.
Of this meeting happen to be weaker than their
neighbors? Such governments VIII hardy as snr
TO remain in that conGt.on--weaker tnan the
neIghhors or. IL they have such firm belief In the
validity of the spuaons made by the bev nor
be weaker still? Why spend money on an army
at all? ,.,oo ,,r bs
to eaualze the lighting forces OF the various states
and to keep them stationary then even eouaa sdo
fnvoluntarily arises Why need the governments
stop such zane as nSw france and
Russia have. say for instance, 100000 men each.
and not 5000 or why pot I eossb Sr why not
reduce a minimum? And, finally why not N III
stead of arm have according snS
to the results of their combats?
IT Is said that the e. conflicts s from
the fact that the disputes will be settled not oy
atty Of tine Ieope 0a that there is no
guarantee that the decisions will be Just ones.
Tb ho 70 Whose out mS TSa OF the
But the strength of those armies is unequal VINO,
for instance on the rs 10 FOR Ger
many. Russia and France allied together or
ThO at will farry out and
The arbitraors sentence against the military vo.
ence Of States will be carried out by mi, u, ~
checked is TO be the Instrument by which u IS
to be checked To catch a bird put salt on Its
But IT, as appeared from the explanations that
followed the ma rnbS w Te a destrmction
which seem particularly cruel land why, while they
are about not try to prohibit the tb seizure Dr 81 e
and all the terrible meannesses which form an ne-
IN STRIFE Gs ali he sa @
practicable as 1t is to forbid people hghting for
| body. And why is a wound. or death. from an ex.
| posve bullet worse than a wound from the most
ander TRe s%erng in that case also
reaches the utmost limit. and Is followed by just
the same death as results from any other weapon
| lish peace, but TO hide from men the sole means
or escape from the mseries or war Which lies In the
refusal by private individuals Of all participation
| In the murders of And. therefore. the con-
ference can on account accept for discussion the
| question suggested.
| Armies will only be diminished and abolished
| when people to trust governments. and them
selves seek salvation from the miseries that OPP
| press them, and seek safety, not by the compi
Gated and delicate combinations OF diplomats, but
| in the simple fulfment OF that law. binding upon
every man. inscribed in all religious teachings and
present in every heart. not to do to others what
you wish them not to do to you-above all, not to
Stay your neghbors
Armies will first diminish, and then disappear
| only when public opinion brands with contempt
those who, whether from fear or for advantage
sell their liberty and enter the ranks of those MUIR
| derers called soldiers, and when the men now IL.
| nored and even blamed-who. in despite of all the
persecution and suffering they have borne, have
fused to yield the control of their actions into the
| hands Of others. and become the tools of murder
are recognized by public opinion to be the foremos
| champions and benefactors Of mankind Only ther
will armies first diminish and then quite disappear
| and new era in the life of mankind will com
mence And that time Is near.
And that Is why think that the refusas to serve
| In the army are facts OF immense Importance, anc
| that they will emancipate mankind from the mis-
cries OF war But the opinion that the conference
may conduce toward this Is quite an error. The
| conference can only divert peoples eyes from the
| sole path leading to safety and TO liberty