New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-09
TOLSTOY ON THE WAR.
.SC4THING DENUNCI1TION
The Gear and the Mikado Alwaigned
for Sending Men to Murder.

Again war. Again sufferngs, necessary to no
uniyersai stupefactioi and brutalizatiCn OF men.
Men who are separated from each other by thou
ton the one hand-Buddhists. whose law forbids the
killing, not only OF men, but Of animals; on the
other hand-ChristlanS, processing me law OF
brotherhood and love- like Wild beasts on land and
on sea are seeking OUT eJcL Stlef; II oieI 70 Ai
way. What can this be? Is it a dream or a real
cannot be; enc longs TO believe that it is a dream
But no. it is not dream: it is a dreadful reality
One could yet understand now a poor u4euu j
taught that buddhism consists not In compassion
to all that Ives but in sacrifices TO Idols, and
borhood of Ioua or Mini Novgorod, who has been
taught that Christianity consists IN worshlpPlng
could understand how these unfortunate men.
recognize the greatest crime the world, the muir
der of ones brethren. as yirtuous act can com
seve snes ass bein@ Suty in so doing.
But how can so-caled enlightened men preach
war support it, participate in it, and. worst CT ALL
without suffering the dangers OF war thensei'ts'
Something is taking place lncomprehensIbie and
impossible in its cruelty. faisehood and stupidity;
The Russian Car the same man who exhGrted an
the nations In the fSus9 or peace b efdIs to
maintain the peace so dear TO his heart efforts
peoples lands and in the Strengthening of armies
for the defence OF these stolen lands), he, OWNS
10 the attack Of the japanese, commands that Jhe
SIT sitl SoiTg 70 the RussIans~ . that they
TO murder he mentions God. asking the Divine
blessing on the most dreadful crime in the world
The Japanese Emperor has proclaimed the same
thing in relation TO the Russians, ,,of.ey an,
Men of science ana OF law tNM Nuravle1 anu
Martens} strenuously Try to prove tn1t In [G he
present lnclteInet 10 war. because OF tne
of other peoples lands. there IS no contradiction
publish and send Out circulars, in which they cir
Cunstantially and diligently prove (thouSh they
after All 10 i effor 70 deceive other couHtriesi the
recourse TO the only means for q rational solution
of the question:. e, to the murder of men The
thing is written by japanese diploma lists
Scientists historians and philosophers. on thelr
from these comparisC MS profound conclusions and
argue intermInaoiy about the laws ot tns move We
nent OF nations. about the Teiltlon between th9
yellow and white races. or about Buddhism and
and arguments ustifg the sIaushter Of those be-
longing to the yellow race by Christians; while in
race Journalists WITHOUT conceaIing their 10Y try
TO Guido each other, and. not hesItatinE at any
falsehood however impudent and transparent,
prove in all possible ways that the Russians only
and that all the Japanese are wrong and weak and
bad who are inimical may become inimicaI
towatd the ftuSsltIs-tne f-ngilsh the AI2eIlcshs'
and the same Is proved likewise ny the Japanese
and their supporters N relation 10 the Russians
their profession prepare for murder, crowds of So
called enlightened people such as professors, social
being forced thereto by anything or any One. eX-
toward the Ia6anese The Frrisb ar rha 4In4rff
cans toward whom but yesterday they were either
least comPgsion thty Express |' the most a5iect
servile feelings toward the Car (to whom. TO say
ing him Of their unlimited love and readiness to
sacrifice their lives in his interests
This unfortunate. entanEled young man. recog-
nzed as the leader OF 100000 Of people. continu-
confidently thanks and blesses the troops whom he
calls his own for murder in defence OF lands which
with Yet less right he also calls his own. All pre-
no one among The eITcted believe but which n
al
bow down TO the ground before these ikons. kiss
sPeeches in which no one really. believes.
OF their immoraIy acquired riches for this cause
OF murder or the organization of help in connection
whom the government annually collects two mill
iards, deem il necessary to DO likewise, giving
courages crowds Of oilers. who walk about the
streets with the Cars portrait. singing shouting
licensed in all kinds OF excess. All over Russia.
from the palace TO the remotest village the pas
tors OF churches. calling themselves Christians.
appeal 10 that God who has enloined love 10 ones
work Of the devil to further the slaughter Of men.
stupened by prayers, sermons. eXhoTtatlons Gy
professions, pictures and newspapers, the cannon
fash. hundreds of thousands of men, uniformly
their parents. wives. children. with hearts Of az,
ony but with artificial sprghthnesS, go where
W. knnvy and w. ~ dnrs tpeT, No harm A.
they followed by doctors and nurses, vino
somehow imagine that at home they cannot serve
serve those who are engaged in slaughtering each
| other. Those who remain at home gladdened
by news OF the murder Of men, and when they
learn that many Japanese have been killed they
thank some one whom they can Cog. -,..-.
tion of elevated feeling but those who refrain
abuse men, deemed traitors and betrayers. and
are in danger Of being abused and beaten by q
and cruelty, can possess no other weapon than
WHY DO THEY DO IT.
Ask a soldier. private, cogporai no ION .
ents. his wife. his children, why he IS preparing
frsf be astonished at Your question. He is a sol
der he has taken the oath, and it IS his duty &c
| fulfil the orders of his commanders If you tel
! him that war;. E.. the slaughter OF men-does
| not conform 10 the command; Thou shalt not
| For the King-For the orthodox faith" zone OF
be attacEs n that whch is saGre what do vor
| mean" l asked. Why" said he. the banner
that Gods Commandment Is more important not
| only than the banner but than anything else il
angry and report you to the authorities.
! H. viii I'll [ou mar he il - mfitar, man "nr
that the military Indispensable for the defenC,
| to the spirit OF the Christian law this does no
/ trouble him. either he does not believe in this
that explanation which has been given TO this law
| personal question what should ne do himself al
| ways puts the general question about the state OF
! the FatherIand is in danger, one should act. ant
not argue" he will say.
pare wars. why they do It. They will tell you tina
the object OF their activity Is the establishment
peace between nations, and that this object is at
| tanned by ideal, uurealzabe theories, but 10y
| diplomatic action and readiness for And Jus
the military. instead of the question concerning
ones own action, place the general question. s.
! Russia, about the unscrupulousness of other pow
| erS about the balance of power in Europe. hut no
! about their position and its activities
Ask the journalists why, by their writings. the!
/ incite men to war. they will say that in gen
are necessary and useful. especially the pres
ent war; and they will confirm this opinion OF their
mil