Page:Leo Tolstoy - The Russian Revolution (1907).djvu/89

 72 Therefore, labouring Christian people: now that the Tsar's Government calls on you to fight against your brothers, and the Revolutionists call on you to do the same, you evidently, not for your own benefit alone, but before God and your consciences, must and should join neither the old nor the new Government, and take no part in the unchristian doings either of the one or the other.

And not to take part in the doings of the old Government means not to serve as soldiers, guards, constables, town or country police; not to serve in any Government institutions and offices, County-Councils (Zémstvos), Assemblies, or Dumas, Not to take part in the doings of Revolutionists means: not to form meetings or unions, or take part in strikes; not to burn or wreck other people's houses, and not to join any armed rebellion.

Two Governments hostile to one another now rule you, and they both summon you to take part in cruel, unchristian deeds. What can you do but reject all Government?

People say that it is difficult and even impossible to live without a Government, but you Russian workmen—especially agriculturists—know that when you live a peaceful, laborious country life in the villages, cultivating the land on terms of equality, and deciding your public affairs in the Commune (Mir), you have no need at all of a Government.

The Government needs you, but you—Russian agriculturists—do not need a Government. And, therefore, in the present difficult circumstances, when it is equally bad to join either Government, it is reasonable and beneficial for you, agricultural Russians, not to obey any Government.

But if this is so for the agricultural folk, what should the factory-hands and foundry-workers do, of whom there are more in many lands than there are agriculturists, and whose lives are quite in the power of the Government?

They should do the same as the village workers: not obey any Government, and with all their strength try to return to agricultural life.

Only let the town workmen, as well as the villagers cease to