The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-06-29
ROOSEVELT ASSAILS
COUNT TOLSTOY

In a recent number of the outlook
is an article by eX-President Roose- ,
welt on "Tolstoy" in which some de-
cisive judgments are expressed con- |
corning the character, achievements
and teachings of the distinguished
Russian author and philosopher. Mr..
Roosevelt at the outset describes as
zone of the comic features of the po-
litica campaign of last fall" County
Tolstoy's letter supporting Mr. Bryan
as the representative of the party of
peace and anti-mlitarism. He cites
the Japanese exclusion plank in the
Democratic platform, and says that
the only menace TO peace which was
contained in any possible action by
the American Republic was that con-
tanned in the election of Mr.. Bryan
and the attempt TO put into effect his
platform. The eX President adds
that Count Tolstoy did not see this
affords curious illustration of his
complete inability TO face facts; of
| his readiness 10 turn aside from the
truth in the pursuit of any phantom,
however foolish, and of the utter tat
iity OF those who treat him as a phi
losopher, whose philosophy should be,
or could be, translated into action.
County Tolstoy is a man of genius,
great novelist,'' Mr.. Roosevelt CONT
nues WAR and Peace Anna ka-
renina. The Cossacks, Sebastopol,
are great books. AS a novelist he
production of his generation. As a
professional philosopher ana moral
list, ! doubt if his Influence has really
been very extensive among men OF
action. OF course, II has certain
weight among men who live only in
the closet, in the library, and among
the high minded men of this type
who, because of their sheltered lives
naturally reject what is immoral anO
do not have to deal with what is fan.
tastic in TOlstoy's teachings, it is pro.
bable that the really lofty side of these
teachings gives them a certain SENSE
of spiritual eXaltation. But l have
no question that whatever little in
fluence Tolstoy has exerted amoni
men of action has told on the whole
for evil. | do not think his intiuenc,
over men of action has been great
for ! think he has swayed or domi
mated only the feeble folk and thu
fantastic folk No man who possesses
both robust common sense and hgl
ideals, and who strives to apply botl
in actual living, is affected by Tolls
toys teachings, save as he is affected
by the teachings of hundreds of 9th
er men in whose writings there ar
occasional truths mixed with masse
of what is commonplace or errone
GUS
After quoting from and DISCUSSING
some of the deductions of Tolstoy'
American disciples on the subject 0
militarism and Mandism, Mr.. Roose
welt turns to the influence OF Tolstoy
a great novelist Mr. Roosevelt cont
nues:
"As to the effect in Russia itself
! am not competent to speak. Blu
the history Of the Douma proved II
the most emphatic way that the great
est danger to liberalism in Russi
sprang from the fact that the Liber
als~were saturated with just such foil
as he teaches. These is a NANTES
contradiction between his theory am
practice in such matters as his preach
ing concerning the relations OF tn
sexes, and also concerning private pro
perty-for of course it is an unlovel
thing to profit by the private pro
perty of ones wife and children