The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-11

of emancipation which are really danger
Gus to governmental stability.
| What the governments fear more than
| anything else is the awakening OF indi-
! v-dual worth in their subjects, and sub
| sequently their refusal TO serve in the
army or to pay taxes for the n1ainte-
nance Of the military. They ell never
| openly permit such refusals, and the
guilty ones viii either be punished in sec
| ret or removed from the country.
So long as the powers viii not only seek
to acquire new possessions (the Philip
pines. Port Arthur, etc.), but viii insist
on retaining such as have been acquired
by conquest poland. India, Alsace Al
giers, Egypt, etc.). and so long as these
powers govern their subjects by force,
it is imperious that their armies be con-
stantly increased Private individuals
VIII never be allowed to shift their mill
tary duties; such movements will be sec
reilly suppressed.
Armies will not be diminished or abol-
ished until men viii cease 10 make them
selves willing and unrighteous slaves of
others b. subjecting themselves TO an
animal training called discipline. Not IN
I'll human dignity is awakened in the in
dividual VIII men throw off this CALLING
yoke; and not until the true enHghten-
ment is spread among men Will human
dignity inspire them.
I mean by the true enlightenment not
that which permits the privileged ones,
who have mastered the sciences and have
at their command the uses Of modern in
ventions 70 suppress their less favored
fellow men I mean by the term enlight-
eminent that which enables the individual
70 refuse to give his liberty, which is the
foundation Of true human dignity, into
the hands of others and to be himself
responsible for his own actions. Only
when this true enlightenment has thor
Oughly pe-meated mankind can the
armies be gradually diminished and fin
ally abolished But this change Of con-
dit-0ns VIII not be introduced with the
VIII, but against the will of the powers
II was recently reported that an Ameri-
can regiment refused to go 10 uolio. This
report was received by the world with
gaping surprise. 1t IS more astonishing,
however, that all regiments of Russia,
Germany, France, Italy and America, who
have fought in recent times, did not do
the same thing, instead Of submitting
themselves to the moods OF others, who
sent them TO kill men who were total
strangers to them. For when men nova
days 90 10 war or enter the military to
be enslaved by superiors whom they can
not respect II is only because they are
still enthralled by the most abominabIe
moral barbarian.
In order, therefore, 10 diminish or abol-
isa armies and TO ameIiorate the evils
they cause, it is not necessary to call
together pr0dig1ous International confer
ences. Al that is needed, 1 reiterate. is
true enlightenment Of the citizens, who
are constantly deceived by their rulers,
even through such conference as was
called together by Russia
In order TO diminish or abolish armies.
it Is necessary 10 so educate men that
the reports OF this conference are not
received by them with enthusiastic ap-
prevail, as is now the case, but with scorn
and dLsdain, or, rather, with fear.
On the other hand, the suppressed and
unknown refusaIs OF individuals to render
military service should be proclaimed to
ali the world as examples Of heroism of
men suffering for freedom and progress.
The armies VIII only, then, be abolish
ed when public opinion viii recognize the
worth OF these heroes and the evil they
seek to overcome. Then new era viii
dawn for humanity.
am therefore convinced that the re-
fusals Of individuals to enter the army
are Of extraordinary importance That
they Will free the world from miii.arisn
is true; but your idea that the confer
ence viii contribute toward this is err
roneous. The conference can only throw
sand into the eyes of the world and hide
the only means of rescue
LEO TOLSTOL