St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-08-10
PHILIPPE BY TOLSTOl.
Russian Count Arraigns the Gear
and Nation.
SEES MooKERY IN USE OF ICONS.


Are Declo red to Come Only From
the Lips-Czar Said to BE Swept On
His Feet by Red Lust of Conquest
and Continually Deceived.
"Again war. Again sufferings neces-
sary to nobody, utterly uncalled for
Again fraud. Again the universal stu
pefaction and EQUALIZATION Of men,"
are the opening words of the powerful
Indictment of the Russo-Japanese war
by Count Leo Tolstoi, occupying ten
columns Of the London Times. He
fearlessly impeaches the car, saying
contemptuously:
''This unfortunate, entangled young
man, recognized as the leader Of $780,
100000 people, is continually deceived
and compelled to contradict himself.
He confidently thanks and blesses the
troops, whom he calls his own, for
murder in defense of lands which with
yet less right he also calls his own.
All present to each other hideous icons,
in which not only no one among the
educated believes, but which the un-
learned peasants are beginning to
abandon. All bow down to the ground
before these icons, kiss them, pro-
nounce pompous and deceitful speeches
in which no one really believes.
''Wealthy people contribute insig
nifcant portions of their immorally &C
quired riches for this cause of murder
or in the organization of help in con-
nection with the work of murder, While
the poor, from whom the government
annually collects two millards, deem
it necessary to do likewise, giving their
mites ALSO The government incites
and encourages crowds of idlers who
walk about the streets with the cars
portrait singing and shouting sHurrah!
and who under the pretext of patriot
ism are licensed in all kinds Of ex-
cesses.
Cali over Russia, from the palace to
the remotest village, the pastors Of
churches calling themselves Christians
appeal to that God who has enjoined
love to ones enemies, to the God Of
love himself, to help the work Of the
devil, to further the slaughter Of men.
"Even the car, Notwithstanding his
professions of peace, is swept off his
feet by the red lust of conquest and
the plea that while the abolition Of
war is desirable it is impossible. Like
the soldier, he will be astonished at the
question whether war is now neces-
sary. He does not even admit the idea
that the war might yet be arrested.
He will say he cannot refrain from
fulfilling that which is demanded Of
him by the whole nation; that, al
though he does recognize war as a
great evil, he has used and is ready to
use all possible means for it's abolition,
but in the present case he could not
help declaring war and cannot help
continuing it. It is necessary for the
welfare and glory Of Russia.
"The frightful work commenced is
continued. Loot, violence, murder. by
pocrisy, theft, above all, the most fear
full fraud and distortion of religious
teachings, both Christian and Buddhis
tic, continue. The czar, the chief re
sponsible person, continues to ret-iev
the troops. to thank and reward and en-
courage them. He issues an edict fol
calling out reserves. His faithful sub
jects again and again lay down their
property and their lives at the feet Of
him they call only with their lips their
adored monarch.
'Not to mention the military, who in
| the way Of their profession prepare for
| murder, crowds of SO called enlighten-
| ed people, such as professors, social
| reformers, students, mobiles and mer-
chants, without being forced thereto
| by anything or any one, express the
most bitter contemptuous feeling to-
ward the japanese, English Or Amer
leans, toward whom but yesterday they
| were either well disposed or indiffer-
| ent, while without the least compulsion
| they express the most abject, servile
| feelings toward the czar-to whom, to
say the least, they are completely in
| misunderstanding him of their I'M
| limited love and readiness to sacrifice
| their lives in his interest"
This indignant outpouring is treated
by the militarist press in London with
| derision as 1.-THE counsel of perfection"
Pennf1ess London.
| Mr. Cpdp ir, q