Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-08
EXILE OF ToLsToI.

stoi. It is said, has been followed by the
banishment Of that Russian philosopher
from his native country. News from
Russia Is difficult to obtain, and there
seems to be some doubt as to the au-
thentlcity Of the report, but few days
ago Il was stated in a private letter
from wilma that the count passed
through that city, escorted by gem
darmes. on his way to the German
frontier. The reason for this is said to
be the attempted assassination Of the
chief procurator Of the holy synod
which attempt was supposed to be the
reply Of Tols,oi's friends to his excom-
munlcatlon
Count Tolstol, It Is acknowledged,
had no direct responsibility for the
riots OF the students. He teaches
the doctrine Of non resistance, He does
not counsel violence in any form. And
yet II IS more than probable that the
Russian ecclesiastical authorities see in
him danger to the church and the
state and that they, therefore, would
urge his expatriatlon The very humility
with which he accepts the dicta Of the
church inspires sympathy in his fol-
lowers, very few Of whom are az pa
tient as he IS.
Should It prove true that the count
has been banished, the Russian govern
ment will be severely censured by an
enlightened world. But II may be well
TO remember that that country is In
many respects centuries behind the
time, Luther advocated the killing OF
"heretics," and many Anabaptists were
put to death In Saxony Zuingli taught
that II was the duty Of the authorities
TO "do what they can" to prevent BIAS
phemy from getting abroad TO the In
iury Of Christianity" Calvin was IN
strumental in the burning at the stake
NJ seryetls. and Melanchton himself
the most gentle Of the reformers sane
toned that cruel act, and SAID the
church would always own It's gratitude
TO Calvin therefor Even in our coun-
try tho peaceful Quakers were at one
time banished. II they escaped worse
treatment ana even in later times an
entire religious body in this land OF
liberty he's been driven from the CON
fines Of civilization, to perish in the
wilderness except for divine inter-
position IN their behalf.
With such facts Of history before u.s.
It cannot be deemed strange If the
Russian authorities resort to Danish
ment, to rid the country Of one whom
they regard as a hereto and a menace
Ia the country. Russia Is ecclesiasti-
cally about where the rest Of the world
was at the great awakening that took
place at the time OF the Reformation
Liberty cannot be advanced without
sacrifices. The persecution Of Tolstoi
win undoubtedly be victory for free
dom II win not hurt him personally,
for wherever he goes in this wide world,
he Is at home Tolstol is a cosmopoli-
tan. The earth Is his country and
mankind his brothers and sisters. It
will only lnjure the institution that
closed liz gates to him, while the
country at large will he benefited, 1t
is poor policy Tor any church to give to
it's opponents the glory Of martyrdom.
That only Increases the sympathy for
them both at home and abroad.
Tolstol Is one Of the peculiar charac-
tiers Of the age. He has received much
light upon the questions that are agl-
tating the world, and he has always
had the courage OF acting in accordance
with the light he has received. His
words have at times fallen like bomb
shells in the midst Of careless and
carousing multitude. He has appeared
Ike an Elijah before Ahab. He Is now
nearing his grave. But as long as he
lives, he win be a factor In the recon-
structlon Of Russia and when he is
gone, his words and works will still
live. and they cannot be exlled from the
homes and hearts Of his admirers. Toll
stoi In exile 'vlll WELD a greater infu-
ence than Tostol ignored.