Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-01-06

-I1 writer and humaultarian, has writ.
AIM 4 ten Q pamphlet entitled, "ThOu
1850 Shalt Not KIl,n says Ella Wheel
,AJXI ~E48E er Wilcox in the Chicago American.
S1[ NIX It was translated into German and
ZSNSS4CA By order Of Emperor William II
0NIfNSS9 was seized and suppressed.
EA,gg4AlRd3 One can realize easily that Em
~ ~ perOr William would not enjoy itG
pefnsal fn his quiet hours of meditation and SELF
anAlsys. TOlstOi speaks Of the insane folly Of the
anarchist, who tried to better the condition Of 3
country by killing ruler, whether king or presi
dent and then be proceeds to comment freely on
the education for murder by wholesale, which is be-
slowed upon kings and empeFOrs from their birth,
and TO which presidents and rulers in republics de-
vote themselves as soon as they are given power.
tIi every king, emperor and president would an.
derstand that his work Of organizing armies is moi
an honorable business, g., the preparing for and
the managing Of murder. II only every private in
dividual understood that the pay ment Of taxes
which helps to equip soldiers, and above all militia
~ service, are not immaterial, but highly immoral
actions; by which he not only permits murder, bni
takes part in it himself-then this power of thS
kings and emperOrs which arouses an indignation
and for which they now get killed., would OF itseld
come to an end"
Then this wise and brave old thinker goes on tC
speak OF kings and emperOrs in terms of absolute
truth, as follows:
"Apart from the fact that such men are surround
luxury and its usual accompaniment Of fattery and
servility, the whole Of their education, all their
eupatOns are centered on the one object of murder
the study Of m1rder in the past, the best means o
numbering 10 the present. the best way Of prepar
ing for murder.
"FrOm their earliest years they learn the art o
murder In al possible forms, always carrying abOu
witR them instruments OF murder, dress in diferen
uniforms, attend parades, maneuvers aRd rvieWs
visit each other, present orders and commands o
regiments to each other.
''And yet not only does nobody tell them the rea
name of their actions, not only does nobody tel
them that preparing for murder is revolving anC
words of admiration from all around them for these
actions.
"We can contribute toward stopping people kill
ling kings and each other not by murder-murdel
only strengthens this state-but awakening mer
from it.
tAnd it is this that have tried to do in these
remarks."
Tolstoi's essay is Que Of the educational essays
Of the day essay in step with the march Of prog
ress, which is not going forward in spite Of all the
chaotic conditions about u.s. and in spite Of the iac
that Of the greatest civilized nations earth Il
yet ruled by monarch who cen destroy by a com
mand such Just, NOBLE broad religious bit of lit
erature as this essay OF TolstOi's.
1t is an act like this which makes the most dis
gruntled citizen OF our republic realize that Amercs
is far in advance Of all monarchies amp Kingdoms
in The liberty Of progressive thought.
Whatever our short eOmings In the methods o
successful government, whatever crudity exists II
social conditions we are at least not seris anl
slaves to any ruler, when it comes to our liter
atuFe.
Our thinkers arO free to express themselves ii
print, and the people ere free 20 read and cOmmen
upon these thOnghts.
Intellectual development is not smothered by
royal mantle, and no ruler dare attempt to muzzl
expression.
II our press is often too free in speech, that e
least is not so dangerous for the rupture Of th
country as is gagged and bound press and men
tally manacled public.
When / read Of such narrow prejudice an tyranny
such utter lack Of BREADTH and nobility Of mind an
conduct as this edict 0f the German emperor to de
strOy the work Of ca emperor Of thought, I or
anew; "Thank God, am an American" even /
the midst Of the riotOus conditions which prove m
land 90 far from the ideal one. We are far an
away from being free people, but We are ct al
events free to speak, free 60 read end free to hear.
And that means the pathway to ultimate ireedOE
as time passes
The indianapolis independent reminds us the
live stock s as cheap as h has been at any time dul