Page:Tolstoy - Christianity and Patriotism.djvu/39

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

Christianity and Patriotism

affirment une fois de plus avec éclat les sympathies sincères qui unissent nos deux pays. Ils marquent en même temps une foi profonde dans l'influence bienfaisante que peuvent exercer ensemble deux grandes nations devouées à la cause de la paix.

Again, in both telegrams, apropos of nothing, mention is made of peace which has nothing in common with the celebrations in honour of the sailors.

There has not been one speech nor one article in which it has not been stated that the object of all these orgies is the peace of Europe. At the dinner given by the representatives of the Russian Press everyone spoke of peace. Monsieur Zola, who not long ago wrote that war was inevitable and indeed beneficial, and Monsieur de Vogüé, who has more than once said the same thing in print, now say not a word of war, but talk only of peace. The sittings of the Chamber were opened with speeches concerning the late celebrations; the speakers declared that these celebrations were the proclamation of the peace of Europe.

It is as though a man should come into a peaceable company and zealously on every occasion assure those present that he has not the slightest intention of knocking out their teeth, blacking their eyes, or breaking their arms, but simply intends to spend the evening peaceably. "No one doubts it," one feels inclined to say to him. "If you have such

25