Evening star., 1915-11-21
D0ST0IBVSKI AND RUSS-TURK WAR

War! war is declared! All feel that
that We are going to
Russia Breaks see, perhaps. the
r1,.4, Mt epilogue Of old ira
dragged along: that we march with events
which will permit us to break with the
past: that Russia Is about to mako q
great stride forward?'
It was by this enthusiastic phrase that
Dostoievski. great Russian litterateur
(born In Moscow. 1920. commenced his
article on the war in April, 1877. in his re-
view 'The Citizen" 1t should be borne
in mind BY the reader that It is a ques-
ton OF 1877 and not 1914 Dostoievski is
q rare magician and his great talent is
confounding. Russia finally in 1877 was
decided to chastise the barbarians, the
assassins Of the unfortunate slavs Of the
Balkans For long time in Russia that
war had been on the minds of all: the
Iurktsh cruelties had rendered It neces-
sary ana inevitable. There was hesita-
tion-war was such an appalling thing,
IN oroer 70 warm up the zeal of the luke
warm Doseoievski for a year had very
oIten expressed his sentiments on the
war. and in one Of his articles entitled
"A Paradoxical Man" he goes to the very
bottom OF his thoughts and furnishes us
an interview with his paradoxical friend
wnicn IN the presence Of the present war
may encourage even the DISCOURAGED.
tt IS to express oneself as q savage 1"
said the paradoxical. Ito afiirm that war
IS scourge for humanity. On the con-
1rsary, II IL what Is most useful to him.
mere IS nut one war which IL really de-
pIofanie-it 10 civil war. It decomposes
the state. lasts always too long and brutal
ICES the people for centuries. But inter-
nafionai war is excellent under all re-
latiens. It is Indispensable
war. according to Dostoievski, Is fn-
the Interests Of the country. Humanity
cannot live without generous ideas;
war generates generosity. Generosity
disappears from our hearts during
long periods Of peace and one sees only
indinerence and ennuf. After war dis
love Of humanity is es-
teemed, but II peace reigns long these
nne sentiments disappear. The rich. the
capitalists. are masters. There is moth
ing but hypocricy. A long peace produces
mildness but also degeneracy of thought,
+
War tends less toward wickedness
than peace. Look at the condition of
things in 1853, when
Lie EuecCS o1pl o m q is seemed
nf wor scarcely aware Of what
they were doing. Did
Russians hate the French and English
during that absurd Crimean war?
(Absurd for all except England) Not
at all. The Russians were fascinated
by the opinions expressed in the Jour-
nails and their praise Of Russian bra
very; the Russians petted the soldiers
they captured. AS for the losses by.
war, they are quickly repaired in peace.
War. Dostoievski confesses here and
there. fs all the same a calamity. The
wise, 'our voice." he calls pacifsts.
preach love and humanity and shed
tears over the blood that has been shed
and will be shed in the war and groan
that war will render humanity more
fnhuman. Dostoievski believes that
sacrifice Of life for that which the SOL
der believes Is a holy cause" Is a holy
cause far above the pale sermons Of the
bourgeois catechism."
Ask the soldier why he fights? He
will reply that he lights for Christ,
to liberate their oppressed brothers"
Not soldier thinks Of possible ter
ritorial annexation.
What can Europe do against this un-
suspected force Of the Russian mind.
In June, 1875. writing on the question
of the orient after the massacre of the
by the Turks. Dostoievski
said that Europe, notwithstanding all
her sympathies for the Turks, will not
1ecide to act and that the chimerical
,ear that Russia would prevent the ma
tons or civilized occidental Europe
from accomplishing their work in the
orient will be finally dissipated.
Yes rejotned Dostoievski. Europe is
l00llt to witness aCanfa Tho
ion Of the orient grows. overfiows. in
rades and submerges all else. No wisdom
40 prudence can bar the current. That
which is most grave is the state Of mind
Ind spirit OF all Europe. These nations
1ave DESTROYED slavery and abolished the
slave trade. struck down despotism, pro-
claimed the rights Of man, lent progress
o science, enlarged and embellished the
'ouls OF men by science and art, promise
loon IN the near future the reign Of JUS
o interest themselves in behalf Of the
Christians who are being
like SO many wild beasts
Christian Europe" continued Dos
oievski, looks ON at the massacre, and,
tfter all, declares: All that is the fault
# Russia. Russia in the eyes Of Eurone
will become too great. She will seize
IN orient from Constantinople and ports
II commerce in the Mediterranean. After
hat Russia will fall upon Europe as a
,arbaric horde and will destroy civiliza-
ion-that same civilization that permits
10 many atrocities. 1t is the refrain of
10Th England and Germany. neither Of
whom believes word of their song. For
inally is there a single sane, educated
nan in Europe who believes that Russia !
will destroy civilization? That they NAV
lot believe in our disinterestedness and
lssign thousand wicked Intentions
hat is comprehensive. But cannot ad- |
nit that Europe believes us stronger than
IL civilized Europe. Russia Is not i'm
1enseiy strong except in Russia when |
ne defends her territory; but Russia |
,hen she attacks outside her frontiers
VII be four times more weak than her !
ssailants."
Dostoievski confesses the necessity for |
he giant Russia to get out of the cham
Der in which she has been |
Veeds OF interned by Europe, and |
Russi. that she must breathe the !
free air Of the seas and |
ceans The Specification Of constantinople
8 an economical center and of the straits
8 communicating route interests Dos
oievski but little. But very interesting in
eed Is his treatment of the Question of
le Orient
After Peter the Great the first act
our role should naturally have been
.orld under the wing Of Russia. That
iliance should not come by force, for
'ussia's object was not to destroy the
atonal Slav nationalities for the profit
{ Russia. but. to put them on their
set Tor the greatest good of Europe