The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-15
Gar Worse Than Execuioner,
Declaration Of Count ToLstoy

hated. and he is afraid OF men; and I
think this consciousness and this fear
before men atone for at least a part
OF his guilt
But you all-from tire secretary OF
the court to the premier and the Gar
YOU indirect participators in the iniqui-
ties perpetrated every day-do not seem
TO feel your guilt nor the shame your
evoke.
Therefore I think that. low as that
unfortunate Waterman has fallen. he
STANDS morally UNNECESSARILY higher
than you, participatOrs In and part au-
thors of these awful crimes
l have long struggled agahis- the
feeling that was and * aroused IN me
by those responsible for these awful
crimes, and aroused the more The y Eh-
er they stand on the social ladder. But
neither can nor will struggle against
that feeling any longer
Everything now Being done in Russia
is done in the name OF the general well
fare, in the name If the protection and
tranquility Of the inhabitants Of Russia
And II this be so, then il is also all
done for me. who live ~ Russia.
He Is Also Criminal.
For me, therefore exists ire restitution
Of the people. deprived Of the first, most
natural right OF man-the right 20 use the
land on which he is born; for me the
half million men torn away from whole
some peasant life and dressed IN uni
forms and taught 20 kill: for ne that
false so-caHed priesthood, whose chief
duty IL IS TO pervert and conceal true
Christianity; for me all these trans
portations of men from place to place;
for me these hundreds OF Thousands
OF hungry worknen wandering about
Russia; for me these hundreds OF thou
sands Of unfortunates dying OF typhus
and scurvy in the fortresses and pris-
ons which do not suffice for such a
multitude. for me the mothers, wives.
and fathers of the exiles. the prisoners
and those who arc hung. are suffering;
for me are these spies and this bribery,
for me the interment Of these dozens
and hundreds Of men who have been
shot for me the horrible work goes
on OF these hangmen. At first enlisted
with difficulty but now no longer so
lOatbing their work. for me exist these
gaIlovs with Well-sOd3ed cOrJs from
which hang women, children and peas
ants: for me exists this terrible en-
bitterment OF man against mis- felow
man.
Cannot Endure It.
And. being conscious Of this, can no
longer endure #. but must free myself
from this intolerable position!
It is impossible 10 live so. !, at any
rate. cannot and will not live so.
That is why 1 write this and viii cir
cuIate it by all means in my 'Ter'
both in Russia and abroad; = one
OF two things may happen-eit-er mat
these inhuman deeds may be stopped or
that nv connection with them may be
snapped and I put f. prison, where /
NAV be clearly conscious that these
horrors are not committed on my be-
half; OF, still better $50 good that 1
dare not even dream Of such happinessl-
they may put on me, as On those twenty
or twelve peasants, a shrOud and cap.
and may push me also OF a bench, so
that by my own weight ] may tighten
the weIl-soaped moose around my Old
throat.
Yes. consider IL, all Of you, from the
highest to the lowest acCOmplices in
murder: consider who you are and
cease 10 do what you are doing Cease,
not for your own sake. rot for the sake
OF your own personality, not for the
SAKE Of men. .fot that You may cease
to be blamed. but for your souls sake
and for the God who lives within you.