The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-27
FOR LIBERTY, 81
FOR GOD AND "
EDUCATION&&

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ing the wealthy landlord to the detriment
of the small owner. Furthermore, IT is
necessary TO abolish the rules that make
the worker the slave OF the work-giver.
Next allow the peasants to change their
residence according TO their best interests,
without police interference. Likewise do
away with special taxes on the PEASANTS
hut, his horse and cart and for village
police, and as he has paid already double
and treble for the acre he tills, release
him from further obligations. The COM
mune's liability for the debts of individuals
must also cease.
Last, but not least abolish the shame
full corporal punishment that now threat
ems the most moral, most laborious and
| most numerous portion OF the Russian
people and don't forget that as long as
there are first and second class citizens,
as exemplified by peasants and city dwell
ers. respectively, society cannot attain
| healthy state.
| Second-Let the rule empowering COVER
nors TO declare martial law be abolished
| once and for all. Nowadays, if a state OF
| siege is established in district it means
nothing less than the abandonment OF the
public to the Ill will and absolute power
OF immoral. stupid and cruel administra-
| tors. Wherever a state Of siege is de-
clared, denunciation. espionage and per-
| jury flourish, while work givers are IA
vored to the detriment Of the suppressed
work takers. Though the Russian law
does not know the death penalty, a pun
ishment forbidden by God and by mans
conscience executions are as plentiful as
cherries in July in the districts suffering
| under martial law.
Third-Abolish every law and regulation
| opposed to education, schooling and Gull
ture. To this end it will be we'll to impress
upon the authorities what follows:
/ All classes Of society must have free
access to schools and Institutes for learn
ing of all kinds, and the literature OF the
whole world must be open to tho people
| without reserve.
B-The public schools shall be open to all
persons, of whatever religion or nationality
they may be. There shall be no excep-
tional laws against Jews, who are now ex-
cluded from the public schools.
C-Children OF foreign nationality shall
receive their education in their mothers
tongue If the parents prefer.
| Dali well-intentioned and proper per-
sons shall have license to open private
| examinations.
WHAT EDUCATION WILL DO.
Free education will benefit the state and
make Russia great and prosperous. The
worker having a good fund OF knowledge.
will understand his duties more readily
and will be fit competitor for the for
eigner. now providing him to the wall. AS
to the private schools, they will attract
L he prtlIx ftr1a yhn lie
menace and terror to Russian university
life.
Fourth-Abolish every hindrance and OBJ
stacle to religious liberty. This is the main
thing, gentlemen of the government, and it
includes these subheads:
A-No one shall be punished for deserving
the orthodox church.
BAH sects shall be permitted to worship
after their own fashion, as they do IN
America.
C-Religious propaganda OF any kind
shall be permitted as long as it doesn't
conflict with the moral or other nonrelig-
ious laws of the country.
1 lay particular stress upon religious lib
erty because observation has taught me
that religious persecution results only in
hypocrisy and in spreading discomfort
Believe me, concord was never promoted
by forcing a certain mode of faith upon
the people. IL perfect unity be ever
| achieved it will on the basis of the truth.
not on that of creed. Truth is a great
| unifier; it is human fallacy that keeps men
apart.
This, gentlemen OF the government. is
the modest plea OF the Russian people, as
interpret it. I repeat that it is a modest
A y@Ia 81,
carried out with ease. II you heed my
advice, the revolt and agitation OF and
among the Russian masses will cease, and
both people and government will be spared
those sufferings and crimes that are in
evitable both sides I'm case you persist
in suppressing the present revolutionary
movement without inquiring into its causes
and seeking to remedy them.
I appeal to you. the Gar, to his uncles,
mother cousins to the Imperial Council of
State. the ministers, governors. and to all
persons in authority, save the Russian
people and refuse to infiict further suffer-
ings upon il to goad it on to further
crimes l appeal 10 you, not as to political
J opponents but to my brothers. and. per-
haps, involuntary helpmates and abettors.
Russian society cannot continue as IL does
with 80 per cent. OF the people disfran-
chised. Even the favored minority cannot
exist unless the working masses are con-
tented and happy. Therefore 1 repeat:
: Help the majority, help them by granting
freedom, education and religious liberty to
all Russians without distinction. II you
do. your own life will be happy and
tranquil as that of the people.
Leo Tolstoi wrote this. and again did not
as he did not express his own personal
views alone, but the opinion of many bet
ter, less egotistical and more reasonable
men than himself. LEO TOLSTOI.
London. England. October. 1901
| Mrs Charles Immen have returned 70