Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-06
ToLsTOI AND GOVERNMENT.

Count Tolstol, though under the ban
OF the Russian church, or perhaps on
account Of thai ban is exciting as much
stir as ever in Europe and America
His religious ana philosophical views
are being analysed and his sayings are
listened to with undated interest,
Recently, in answer to series OF
questions by a representative Of the
New York World. he takes occasion to
criticize the governments OF the world
He says the law systems are all bad
but legal tyranny Is nevertheless
enforced by the most enlightened citi'
zens
To illustrate what he means he sup
poses that a man opposed TO the
churches should refuse to pay taxes In
France for instance, where some OF
the revenues are used for the support
Of Catholic priests. Protestant minis
ters and Jewish rabbs, The conse-
auence would be that he would be i'm
prlsoned. In the United States the
consequence would be the same, should
a man refuse TO pay taxes for military
purposes, Men, he says, attempt 20
live according to their own Ideas and
conscience, but cannot. The Dukho.
borsti were driven from Russia because
Of their desire 10 live In accordance
with scrlptural Injunction.
This is a key to the famous Russians
present position. lie considers all
forms Of government, inasmuch az they
necessarily impose restrictions on in
dlvidual liberty, tyranny, lie evidently
holds that every individual should have
freedom TO conform or not, as his con-
science dictates, TO general rules and
regulations. II should be optional with
all, to obey laws, whether given By
autocrats or agreed upon by a majority
Of the representatives Of the people.
Civil laws should no more be enforced
than the regulations Of club The
paying Of taxes. military service, etc.
should be voluntary as are the con-
trbutlons to a missionary society
This may be an ideal condition, but
would II not, under present conditions,
mean the dissolution Of every govern
ment and the prevalence OF confusion,
and all kinds OF crime? The idea IL
certainly contrary to the Scriptures
which Tolstoi studies with much rev.
erenee, for there the existing author
tiles are recognized as having divine
sanction. and that Notwithstanding the
fact that the government to which the
New Testament writers owed allegiance
was pagan and antl-ChrIstlan. The
followers OF the Nazarene were en-
Joined to offer up prayers even for
Nero. and to be subject to civil enact
ments as 10 the DEGREES Of the AL
mighty. in all things not contrary TO
the divine commandments And they
followed these instructions TO the let
ter So that The Roman emperors final.
~ came to acknowledge that they had
no drawer soldiers, no more trust-
worthy guards and no more loyal citl-
Gems than the Christians, In fact this
trait more than anything else won for
their religion the admiration Of the au.
lhorities, and the subsequent influence.
Had they acted on Tolstol's views and
refused 10 pay taxes and TO take their
place In the leglons Of the army. the
probability Is that they would have
been eStermnated before they could
have made known their mission as fol.
lowers Of The Master.
Human governments are. Of course.
not infallible They are not IDEAL Nor
do they deal with an ideal condition OF
mankind. Their mission is education.
al And they are slowly fulfilling that
mission and as years roll by condl.
ton VIII be created In which the high.
est government OF ALL that Of the Son
OF God, will be possible among all the
nations Of the earth. Then there will
he no tyranny no oppression o. the in
diyldual But so far the world has
been passing through the preliminary
stages, ever drawing nearer to the per-
feet Ideal. IL Tols'ol sees only the i'm
projections Of human government, and
fails 10 perceive what Is being accom-.
pllshed notwithstanding all imperfcc-
lions through the Supreme Power that
Is ever guiding the destiny Of man TO-
ward perfection. his pessimism is easily
accounted for. Through human phil
osophy this cannot be clearly perceived,
In revelation alone the solution Of the
problems OF life must be sought
Tolstoi has had a most wonderful
career IN his early youth he sought
a rule u moral conduct that could be
applied 10 everyday life. lie tried 1t In
the government OF his estate, but with
little success. lie saw army life and
travelled extensively. but soon lost faith
IN civilization. Thus freed from 'prelu-
dices,' he commenced to write, but
doubts perplexed him on every hand
and his literary creations became be-
roes and heroines struggling with the
problem that raeked his own soul
Through a long search for truth ne
has apparently not yet found the Rock
on which 10 rest his faith. He has sun