Page:The Journal of Leo Tolstoy.djvu/136

 The Journal of Leo Tolstoi [1897

recognition of brotherhood. The recognition of the brotherhood of man and the cruel, brutal, un- brotherly arrangement of life which is justified by people leads inevitably to a recognition of one's own insanity or that of the whole world.

3) I read Nakashidze's 188 letter about the Congress of the Dukhobors, where they dis- cussed social questions. Here is an instance of the possibility of administration without violence. One condition is necessary no, two conditions: the respect of the youth and of the spiritually weak in general, to the resolutions of the elected elders, the spiritually stronger the " little old men " as the Dukhobors call them; and the second condition that these " little old men " be rational and loving. At this Congress the question of uniting property (in common), was discussed and the " little old men " were in favour of it, but con- stantly repeated : " Only let there be no violence, let things be done voluntarily."

Among the people and the Dukhobors this re- spect and recognition of the necessity of fulfilling the resolutions of the old men exist. And all this without forms; the election of the elders and the methods of agreement.

4) No matter how you grind a crystal, how you dissolve it, compress it, it will mould itself again at the first opportunity into the same form. And so the structure of society will be always the

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