The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-08-02

Jaoobins but even the moderate Giron
dists. Had they been put In practice BY
mean Of o referendum, as the latter de
manded during the trial Of Louis XVI.
the French King would never have beer
executed and the chief disgrace of the evo'
luton. the Terror. would never have oc'
CURED.
Rousseau's successor In Russia was par
TALLY and for q time at least Tolstoi, but
almost contemporary with Tolstoi have
been the teachings Of another internationa
thinker. who 10 read more In Russia than In
any other country. namely. Karl Marx,
Tolstoi himself feels so strongly his antag-
onism to Marx that he bears proudly the
title Of MARKS most bitter opponent. the
philosophical anarchist. rather than that OF
Social Democrat. monopolized by the Marx
ian school. To Tolstoi. however. as to
Marx. the struggle between the rich and the
poor. the employer and the employee. Is a
bitter reality. Both recognize the exist
ence Of this 'class struggle In our au-
thor's judgment Tolstoi understands better
the conditions OF the peasant. while Marx
wal q master Of tho questions concerning
most nearly ~workingmen In manufactures
and mines. He deems II the characteristic
Of the present Russian political movement
that 1t Is bent upon solving the social prob
lens by finding a common ground for the
best part Of the doctrine Of Marx and that
OF Henry George. WHICH latter. we should
recall, has the approval Of Tolstoi. Marx
in his communist manifesto spoke Of the
'idiocy Of rural life and according to a
recent interpreter was at the best filled
with compassion for the hopeless case
Of the poor peasant The new Russian
socialism takes no such patronizing view
Of the rural %cultivator. 1t does mo- share
the current suspicion against n or the
other half Of the population. the peasants or
the workingmen. Already even the Russian
Marxians concede that the peasantry OF
Russia may make as good revolutionists and
Democrats, IL not as good Socialists. as the
w~orkingmen. The Socialist Revolutionary
party goes further and feels that the agri-
cultural population will make good Social
lists also. Their chief writer's stake every
thing on the peasants without deserving
the workingmen. They recognize that they
cannot win liberty and socialism without
fighting for them. and they know that they
can hope for nothing unless they can main
tain a unity Of the masses Of the popula-
ton, both in the towns and In the country.
1t is in order to maintain this unity that
they have sought q reconciliation OF the
revolutionary social principles with regard
to the land Chose Of Henry George) and the
revolutionary view Of capitalism chat OF
Mark. In our authors belief 1t is this
unifoation Of all the highest conceptions
Of socialism. whether applicable to
featuring industry Or to agriculture, that
We shall learn from Russia. rather than any
entirely new social ideals.
According 10 Mr.. Walling there are only
two courses open to mankind in the minds
OF most honest and intelligent Russians.
Human beings must either defend their
principles against the universe to the last
drop Of their blood. as tho majority Of the
Socialists demand. or with Tolstoi they
must abandon social az opposed to indi-
vidual progress. surrender all claims to
the exercise Of their physical energy In be-
half Of their principles. and become with
him non-resistant to evil. They u
either devote themselves wholeheartedly
and sggressively to the service OF their con-
oeption Of the welfare Of society, whatever
II may be, and 30 hope also for the best
possible development OF zach Of sooiety's
members; or they must devote themselves
first Of all to their oyn individual perfect
ing. and hope with Toistoi that tho best
social results will follow. The message
Of Russia's revolution 10 that the best re-
suits for the human race will Be attained
by striving In the direction not Of anarchy
but Of socialism. M. w. H.