Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-11
ToLsToI PHILOSOPHY.

The prominence into which Count
Tolstol has come through the recent
acts Of ecclesiastical and civil authorl-
ties makes his views upon certain topics
OF peculiar interest. No man now liy-
ing, perhaps has had harder strug-
gle for ligat than he has had If he
still remains In darkness on many oil
llfe's greatest problems II is not be-
cause he has not sought earnestly for
the thread Of Arladne that might lead
him out Of the labyrinth; II is rather
because he has searched within him
self for that which can only be found
outside the recesses OF human under
standing.
On the question of property right
Tolstoi has come to the conclusion that
possession Is in Itself sinful. BY what
mental processes he has arrived al
this view, It is difficult to say. Others
before him, have, however, taught
similar doctrine. The example OF the
Master, they have held, condemns not
only the improper use Of wealth. put
wealth itself. Tolstol has carried TINS
10 the extreme. 70 him, a man OF Wo-
man who has large estate is really
transgressor Of Gods laws, to spend
money on the nneries for sale in mod
ern mercantile establishments 10 SIN
Equally glaring are his Views on ex-
listing forms OF government Speaking
in condemnatory language OF the levy
ing Of taxes by states, he says the fact
that in England France, America, ana
all constitutional countries, taxes are
determined by parliaments, that Is, by
assemblies of pretended representa-
tives OF the people" does not affect the
question. because elections ere so or
ganzed that "the members of parlia-
ments do not represent the people, be-
ing nothing but professional politicians
occupied only with their personal am
billions and the interests Of their par
ties. or IL they are not so at hrst' they
become so as soon as they enter paria-
ment." To Count Tolstoi, consequent
ly. ali who are in authority, whether py
virtue OF birth or by the choice OF inc
people, are really usurpers, He can see
no necessity for government ana no
good in those who hold positions OF
power.
1t Is almost pathetic to find master
mind like Tolstols. thus CROPPING IN VAN
for something whereupon to bnild lts
hone for the future OF the human race
He finds fault with everything that
exists but can offer no substitute HOW
dl0erent would the entire world appear
ia him. IL he could view II
through the light that reVela-
tlon sheds upon ~ In that light too
there appears many flaws and imper-
feetlons In the organization OF human
society. But there Is also presented
remedy for all such, and the assurance IL
sivan on the word OF Omnlpotence'
that ali win be restored to perfection In
due time. with the added assurance
that the work OF progression is golns on
daily. That Is what makes believers
in the Gospel optlmists, though they
may discover around them as many
evils as does Tolstoi when he focuses
his mind upon the world In which ne
lives That Is what makes them 60
10 work. with cheerful hearts. for the
hetterment Of mankind. They know
that every little thing done In this d.
rectlon will bear abundant fruit There
Is a great difference between the phil
osophy OF mere human origin and the
philosophy OF the Gospel
The great Russian has still much TO
learn. Among other things, he should
acknowledge that wealth can be used
in the service Of mankind, just as well
AZ lntelect also that governments are
instituted by the Ruler Of the universe
and that there can be no order, no
progress. without proper government
Tolstoi may not In this life. advance
far enough to realize this. but he has
numerous followers, many OF whom
are bright, young, and intelligent. He
has prepared good soil in which The
most precious seeds Of truth should
find nourishment and growth. His lifes
work cannot be in vain