Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-17
A WORD ABOUT G0RKY.

Maxim Gorky, In announcing his In.
tentlon Of leaving this country, said he
could be OF more use in Russia than
here. He has been long time IN fnd-
ing this out, but the fact being once
established. other distinguished Rus
SLAMS may profit by II, as well as Cor
ky.
The Russian reyolutionist came 10
this country for the purpose Of enlight-
ening us about Russian conditions. and,
IN exchange for this service, to accept a
reasonable amount of American dollars
for the benefit OF the great cause OF
liberty. A thrill OF JOY permeated his
poetic soul when he first saw the IA
nous statue OF liberty, and breathed
the freedom perfumed air of this coun-
try. He was received cordially and
everything promised well for the sue
cess of the enterprise Of the Russian
agitator. But somebody told the pub
lie that the woman accompanying the
distinguished foreigner as his wife, is
not his wife. and that broke the magic
spell. As soon as 1t was discovered
that his domestic relations We're con-
trary to American moral standards. he
was ostrasized by sdclety and unable to
draw an audience. As a consequence
he soured on our liberty and spent con-
siderable time in bospattering American
Ideals. customs and institutions with
bitter criticism. He has gone princl-
pally among his own people, where as
sembled in large numbers. and by his
exaggerated pictures OF their condition
has done much TO make them believe
that the government Is responsible Tor
conditions which they themselves make
Gorky should. perhaps, not be judged
by American moral standards, but by
Russian. In his country, we UNDER
stand, II Is very difficult to gG legal
divorce and many couples separate
by mutual agreement. Often the par
ties to such a separation seek their own
''affnities" without state, or church
sanction. The probability is that the
Gorkys are IN that position, and that
the improperly OF It never struck him
as serious. Whether his transgressIon
Of the moral code Is worse than hum
drcds Of cases Of divorce and remar-
rage in the most exclusive social cir
cles of this country, Is an open question.
Matters of moral import can not be
treated as merely technical Such points
must not be decided on technlcalities;
nor are they matter Of form, merely.
Forms and outward manifestations of
moral principles may differ in differ
ent nations, just AZ do the customs In
dress, etc, but principles are the same
! from eternity to eternity All genera
tons can therefore not be judged BY the
! standards that may be but temporary
| Nor are all individuals In the same gen.
Grafton to be judged by the same STAN
dards. This. we think, will be readily
| admitted.
II Is possible that Gorky viii do mors
! good In Russia than he can do here.
BY his Trades against government in
general he has, Internationally. opened
the eyes OF many here to the fact that
/ perhaps all the evils IN Russian condi-
tons are not to be charged to one side.
Where ignorant. exciteable people are
Inspired by agltators who know how to
! play on prejudlces and set. fanatlcism
In flames. riots aud bloodshed are In
eyitable. II he succeed, whether unln-
tentionally or otherwise. TO create the
same impression in Russia, reconcile
alton between the contesting parties
might be somewhat nearer the domain
OF proba bllities. What other service he
can render the cause OF liberty Is dIfi-
cult to see. after his attempts at agl-
tatIon among Slavic settlers OF this Re-
| public.