The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-09-23

London. Sept. 2s.-Count Leo Tolstoi has
arraigned Russia and the Russian people
more scathingly for their mania TO MUIR
der than ever before.
In the sOth year OF his life and the 55th
year OF his literary activity. by way OF
an introduction to his jubilee. he breaches
again the doctrine of the literal interpre-
tation OF the Christian commandments
In pamphlet, entitled, Thou Shalt XIII
No One" he charges churchmen with
teaching the nations that the law Thou
shall not kill" means there are cases
when they not only may. but must, Kill
people.
Tolstoi's new pamphlet is an interesting
coroliary upon his famous former publi-
cation Issued seven years ago under the
title, Thou Shalt Not Kill"
At the outset the author notes that last
July a man was imprisoned in st. Peters
burg for circulating the pamphlet written
seven years ago. He says:
"One would expect that government
which has struggled so long and unsuc-
cessfully with the mania for murder that
dominates the Russian people would ever
try 10 do more and more 20 encourage
those who circulate thoughts discourag1ng
murder; but. strange to say, the govern
ment, on the contrary. Furnishes them
1t Is pointed out by the London Tribuhe,
that IN excellent Illustration or The stu
pidity and debility OF the Russian gov
ernment Is afforded by the fact tasst while
the censorship banned the two essays. the
censor's superiors do not dare to touch
the person OF brave old Tolstoi.
The keynote OF Tolstois latest message
Is indicated by the following extracts:
CHURCHMEN AID.
The governments of Christian nations
-
nations they rule that the law Thou shalt
not kill does not mean that people must
refrain from killing their fellowmen with
out any exception, but that there are
cases when we not only may. but must.
kill people.
THE people believed their governments
and concurred in the killing of those
whom the governments determined to
murder; but when the time came for the
belief In the infallfbility OF governments TO
break down. the people began TO act to-
ward those who formed the governments
5ust as the governments acted toward
those whose death seemed to them desira-
ble-only with this difference. that the
governments considered IL right to kill In
time Of war and after certain delibera-
tions called trials, whereas the people de-
cided II right to kill in time OF revolution
and after delibera tions OF certain people
who call themselves revolutionary COM
mittees,' etc.
"And that came about which we now
see In Russia, namely after Christianity
has been taught 1900 years, people have
taken TO killing one another INCREASINGLY
Tor two whole years already Revolution
lists kill their enemies. and the govern
ment kills It's enemies-men. women. chill
dren, all. IN fact, whose death they con-
slider desirable. And, what is the strangest
OF all. while acting thus. they all feel full
ly assured that they are not infringing
any moral or religious law.
GOVERNMENT STUPID.
1T comes to this. that were the possi-
bility given TO everyone 10 kill all whom
they consider harmful TO themselves, al.
most the whole Russian population woulC
be slain. The Revolutionists would xii
all the rulers and capitalists. the rulers
and capitalists would XII All the Re+eltt
tionists. the peasants all the landlords
the landlords all the peasants. etc.
This Is not joke. IL really Is so, an'
this terrible condition has already con
tinued for a couple OF years. and becomes
worse and worse each year, and cacl
month, and each day. The position be
comes worse and worse because the gov
eminent, feeling itself obliged 20 resls
this state OF things, tries to check IL b.
the only means II considers efficacious.
These stupid. cruel means consist 4
committing the very crimes the govern
ment wishes TO suppress, and. as mus
oecssuarily be the case. especially nov
with the present improved Implement
OF murder--Browning revolvers, bomb
and quick-firing guns, with which lttl
child can kill n hundred strong men