The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-10-23
MISSIONARIES ARE NOT TO Be P|1EO
On the Contrary Residence Among Heather Some
Times Has Refining Influence. Justice Finest Flow
er of Civilization Tolstoy's Ideal

To be sure, simplicity sometimes
wins out over completely. because the
former doesn't see things. But this /.
not usual and very unusual with mis-
sionaries. The latter learn by expe-
rience
In Tolstoy's Resurrection" a vivid
picture Is drawn of the cruelties and
sufferings of human beings under the
present social system and something
to this effect is said
What spectacle is that OF one set
of human beings assuming authority
over another: building prisons In
which to torture and conAne each
other: formulating systems to bind
and cramp and harry one the other:
oattening off each others virtues and
vices; creating. in short, a hell where
a heaven should exist.
This is brought to mind by recent
readings in the newspapers of the
tracking of two wretches. who had
shot an official Of some sort, with
blood-hounds and guns until. run to
cover, they threw themselves into a
river and were drowned in preference
to being caught and tortured by their
cartors
And this is but one of a long list OF
!, similar atrocities in which people are
burned and hung and riddled with shot
for offenses that are. after all, the re-
suit of society as now organised rath-
er than inherent depravity.
Justice is the finest flower of civil.
ization. Or should be-
In strict parlance there IL no such
thing as justice as human activities
now exist. Justice and the modern So
cial fabric are inimical There Is a
semblance of justice to be sure Courts
are organized on this basis. But alb
solute justice is no more to be OBJ
tanned through the courts than through
other social agencies.
! Justice in its purity and as imag-
ined by human beings Is an ideal un-
tenn ever devised.
Tolstoy's philosophy was embodied
in that of Christ. When the principles
enunciated by the holy man called
Jesus" were put into universal human
practice, then, said Tolstoy, would the
peace on earth good will to men"
epoch have arrived.
| And this could never be until all ma
tional lines were merged.
The sentiment called patriotism"
was, according to this great Russian,
responsible for all social Ills. Abolish
national political distinctions, crush
out the thing called patriotism" per
NIT individual adoption of the pre-
cepts of Christ-and the universal bro
therhood of man would be with US.
1t was simple enough to Tolstoy.
And yet what did he accomplish by
adopting the dress and manner of lv.
ing of the peasants of his own coun-
try?
In way-nothing.
| He was accounted crazy" insane"
an eccentric.
| No one followed his example.
He was revered by his countrymen
as a great and wonderful man. He
was recognized by the downtrodden
among the former as their friend. But
in actual results his personal propa-
ganda ended with his death. Tolstoy
was not constructive.
Perhaps, however, the world has no
more pathetic figure. A solitary pro-
test. in his day. against the universal
social order. A light pointing the way
to freedom-through Christ.
And a splendid examplar of SINGER
ity.
But. it is one Of the ironies that pur-
sue us that Tolstoy will probably 60
down the ages as one of the greatest
novelists who ever lived. For it was
his literary gift that he least regarded.
The passion of his soul. recognition
of universal brotherhood, famed to the
very end. His final action was q last,
II feeble protest, against that false sys-
TEN which he SO long and so passion
ately sought to annul.
Small In 4 Double 8enoe.
after ALL" remarked Smithers,
| yawning. ''js il a small world"
ut has to be-" snapped SmutheFs,
ITO match some OF the people in it,
| Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.