Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1905-02-22

E(z%E5N NJ OF the war the famous philosophers
y hTN and authors views are be-
S9HI EHlT ing frequently quoted in our papers
~ = and magazines aud widely endorsed
CScSzo japanese. 4s an ssS' increasing """0s'
Tolstoy has been known to the people Of Japan
or more than fifteen years.
He did not at first appeal to Us as great literary
genius. As far as | remember Miniana was the
first to publish in the Japanese language the biOg-
raph of Count TOstoy as he had previously publish
ed the biographies of Carlyle Emerson and Victor
Hugo.
Nearly all OF Tolstoy's literary works are now
known to the Japanese reading public, and every
new translation is always greeted with great enthu
sasm The translation Of his latest novel, Resure
recton," appeared last year in one OF our leading
magazines.
But his literary influence is not nearly as great as
his influence as a religious philosopher.
cannot say that the number Of Japanese who
openly declare themselves his decpes is very large,
but his indirect influence upon the Japanese people
is enormous.
During the last two years number Of his Teligi-
Gus works have been published here, and 'What ls
Nv Faith, Confession" has preached the new gOs-
pei to thousands who read neither Russian nor Eng
lish.
The prophetic austerty Of his teachings does not
convert many men to be his true diciples, because
1t is exceedingly difficult for men Of feeble energy to
carry out his theories in practical life But there
followers Of TolstOi, and their example is beginning
to be felt.
The japanese press, or at least great part OF it,
heartily endorces the teachings of the great Russian
philosopher because it believes that it eOunteracts
in most powerful manner the depressing influence
of modern civilization.
Tolstov's literary and religious influence are, how
ever not to be compared with bis influence as the
sworn enemy of militarism. He appears in the eyes
OF the Japanese people as the powerful embodiment
of the humane principle of persistence. He ad--
vOcates his principles with the utmost iearessness
regardless of time and place.
According to his belief there exist no reasons
why there should be any misunderstandin, far less
any war, between the Russians and the Japanese,
and he is equally severe in his denunciatOn OF the
desire to shed blood in both nations.
i His book, 'sThe Kingdom of God in Man" is
mastery as a work against the evils Of militarism
and it is the sincere desire of many Japanese who
have read il in French English that it may soon
be translated into our language
Russia has to be proud Of being the birth
place of so great TOstOy although in q
sense he belongs to the whole world
4 The orthodox Russian church dare not perseeute
him. the authorities dare not Danish him from Rus
sic. Like an imense rock he remains immOvable,
towering high above Russian society, and it would
mean far less to Russia to lose Manchura than to
see TolstOy banished from the country.
The fact that the Russian government allows Toll
stOy to say aud write all he wishes indirectly infu-
ences the Japanese Socialists, who have always pro-
tested against the war. II a government like that
of the czar tolerates Tostoy, Why should then not
the mikadOs government which considers itself lib
era and constitutional, be magnanimous toward the
Soeiastsi
TOlstOy is an absolutely inOfEensve man, and If he
is considered dangerous to Russian society, it is
society and not he which is to be blamed.
The government which persecntes men because
they preach against militarism thereby gives absO-
Lutte proof Of its own weakness.
In our war with Spain in 1898 we lost 255 officers
and men, who we're killed or who died from wounds
received in battle, and 1862 of al ranks who died
from disease. That is to say, for every man who
was killed ten died Of sickness, says an exchange.
In the Philippine insurrectiou the deaths in battle
and from wounds in battle reached 1895. while the
deaths from dlsease were 25S2 In Camn Thomas