Page:Tolstoy - Christianity and Patriotism.djvu/115

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Christianity and Patriotism

far from daring, as now, to menace men with universal slaughter into which they will plunge men or not plunge them at their caprice, would not even dare to hold their reviews or manœuvres of disciplined murderers before the eyes of peaceful inhabitants; would not dare for their own interests, for the profit of their supporters, to make and unmake tariff agreements; would not dare to take from the people the millions of roubles which they distribute to their supporters and spend on preparations for murder.

And so the change is not only possible, but it is impossible that it should not come about—just as impossible as that a dead tree should not decay and fall, and that a young one should not grow up.

"Peace I leave to you, My peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid," said Christ. And that peace is already amongst us, and it depends upon us to secure it.

If only the hearts of individual men would not be confounded by the temptations which assail them every hour, and would not be frightened by the imaginary terrors which scare them. If only men would know in what lies their almighty conquering power, the peace which men everywhere desire—not that peace which is won by diplomatic negotiations, by the visits of Emperors and Kings from one town to

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