Page:Tolstoy - Pamphlets.djvu/113

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16
LETTERS ON WAR

and young, who, owing to the persecution of the gentle, industrious Doukhobors, have begun to have doubts as to the legality of the activities. I know people who have, for the first time, begun to meditate on life and the meaning of Christianity, only after seeing or hearing about the life of these people, and the persecutions to which they have been subjected.

And the Government that is tyrannising over millions of people knows this, and feels that it has been struck to the very heart.

Such is the nature of the second war which is being waged in our times, and such are its consequences. And not to the Russian Government alone are these consequences of importance; every government founded upon violence and upheld by armies is wounded in the same way by this weapon. Christ said, "I have conquered the world." And, indeed, He has conquered the world, if men would but learn to believe in the strength of the weapon given by Him.

And this weapon is the obedience of every man to his own reason and conscience. This, indeed, is so simple, so indubitable, and binding upon every man; "You wish to make me a participator in murder; you demand of me money for the preparation of weapons; and want me to take part in the organised assembly of murderers," says the reasonable man—he who has neither sold nor obscured his conscience. "But I profess that law—that which is also professed by you—