Introduction——LeoTolstoyFromTheSlaveryofOurTimesbyLeoTolstoyPreface/Introduction\"Theythattaketheswordshallperishbythesword。\"
NEARLYfifteenyearsagothecensusinMoscowevokedinmeaseriesofthoughtsandfeelingswhichIexpressedasbestIcouldinabookcalled’WhatMustWeDoThen。’Towardstheendoflastyear（1899）
Ioncemorereconsideredthesamequestions，andtheconclusionstowhichIcamewerethesameasinthatbook。ButasIthinkthatduringthesetenyearsIhavereflectedonthequestionsdiscussedinWhatMustWeDoThenmorequietlyandminutelyinrelationtotheteachingsatpresentexistinganddiffusedamongus，I
nowofferthereadernewconsiderations，leadingtothesamerepliesasbefore。Ithinktheseconsiderationsmaybeofusetopeoplewhoarehonestlytryingtoelucidatetheirpositioninsocietyandclearlytodefinethemoralobligationsflowingfromthatposition。I，therefore，publishthem。
Thefundamentalthoughtbothofthatbookandofthisarticleistherepudiationofviolence。ThatrepudiationIlearntandunderstoodfromtheGospels，whereitismostclearlyexpressedinthewords：Itwassaidtoyou，AnEyeforanEye，……—thatis，youhavebeentaughttoopposeviolencebyviolence，butIteachyou：turntheothercheekwhenyouarestruck—thatis，sufferviolence，butdonotemployit。Iknowthattheuseofthosegreatwords—inconsequenceoftheunreflectinglypervertedinterpretationsalikeofLiberalsandofChurchmen，whoonthismatteragree—willbeareasonformostso—calledculturedpeoplenottoreadthisarticle，ortobebiassedagainstit；but，nevertheless，Iplacethosewordsastheepigraphofthiswork。
IcannotpreventpeoplewhoconsiderthemselvesenlightenedfromconsideringtheGospelteachingtobeanobsoleteguidetolife—aguidelongoutlivedbyhumanity。
ButIcanindicatethesourcefromwhichIdrewmyconsciousnessofatruthwhichpeopleareasyetfarfromrecognising，andwhichalonecansavemenfromtheirsufferings。
AndthisIdo。
11July，1900。
THESLAVERYOFOURTIMES
\"Yehaveheardthatitwassaid，AnEyeforanEye，andaToothforaTooth\"（Matt。v。38；Ex。xxi。24）。
\"ButIsayuntoyou，Resistnothimthatisevil；butwhosoeversmiteththeeonthyrightcheek，turntohimtheotheralso\"（Matt。v。39）。\"Andifanymanwouldgotolawwiththee，andtakeawaythycoat，lethimhavethycloakalso\"（Matt。v。40）。\"Givetoeveryonethataskeththee；andofhimthattakethawaythygoodsaskthemnotagain\"（Lukevi。30）。\"Andasyewouldthatmenshoulddotoyou，doyealsotothemlikewise\"（Lukevi。31）。
\"Andallthatbelievedweretogether，andhadallthingscommon\"（Actsii。44）。\"\"AndJesussaid，Whenitisevening，yesay，itwillbefairweather，fortheheavenisred\"（Matt。xvi。2）。\"Andinthemorning，Itwillbefoulweatherto—day：fortheheavenisredandlowering。Yehypocrites，yeknowhowtodiscernthefaceoftheheaven；butyecannotdiscernthesignsofthetimes\"
（Matt。xvi。3）。
\"Thesystemonwhichallthenationsoftheworldareactingisfoundedingrossdeception，inthedeepestignorance，oramixtureofboth；sothatundernopossi—
blemodificationoftheprinciplesonwhichitisbasedcaniteverproducegoodtoman；onthecontrary，itspracticalresultsmusteverbetoproduceevilcontinually。\"
—RobertOwen。
\"Wehavemuchstudiedandmuchperfectedoflatethegreatcivilisedinventionofthedivisionoflabor，onlywegiveitafalsename。Itisnot，trulyspeaking，thelaborthatisdivided，butthemen—dividedintomeresegmentsofmen，brokenintosmallfragmentsandcrumbsoflife；
sothatallthelittlepieceofintelligencethatisleftinamanisnotenoughtomakeapinoranail，butexhaustsitselfinmakingthepointofapinortheheadofanail。
Now，itisagoodanddesirablething，truly，tomakemanypinsaday；butifwecouldonlyseewithwhatcrystalsandtheirpointswerepolished—sandofhumansouls—
weshouldthinktheremightbesomelossinitalso。
\"Menmaybebeaten，chained，tormented，yokedlikecattle，slaughteredlikesummerflies，andyetremaininonesense，andthebestsense，free。Buttosmothertheirsoulswithinthem，toblightandhewintorottingpollardsthesucklingbranchesoftheirhumanintelligence，tomakethefleshandskin……intoleathernthongstoyokemachinerywith—thisistobeslave—mastersindeed……
Itisverilythisdegradationoftheoperativeintoamachinewhichisleadingthemassofthenationsintovain，incoherent，destructivestrugglingforafreedomofwhichtheycannotexplainthenaturetothemselves。Theiruniversaloutcryagainstwealthandagainstnobilityisnotforcedfromthemeitherbythepressureoffamineorthestingofmortifiedpride。Thesedomuchandhavedonemuchinallages；butthefoundationsofsocietywereneveryetshakenastheyareatthisday。
\"Itisnotthatmenareill—fed，butthattheyhavenopleasureintheworkbywhichtheymaketheirbread，and，therefore，looktowealthastheonlymeansofpleasure。
\"Itisnotthatmenarepainedbythescornoftheupperclasses，buttheycannotenduretheirown；fortheyfeelthatthekindoflabortowhichtheyarecondemnedisverilyadegradingone，andmakesthemlessthanmen。
Neverhadtheupperclassessomuchsympathywiththelower，orcharityforthem，astheyhaveatthisday，andyetneverweretheysomuchhatedbythem。\"—From\"TheStonesofVenice，\"byJohnRuskin，Vol。II，Chap。
VI。，Ё13—16。
TheSlaveryofOurTimes——Ch13——LeoTolstoyFromTheSlaveryofOurTimesbyLeoTolstoyCHAPTERI。
GOODS—PORTERSWHOWORKTHIRTY—SEVENHOURS
CHAPTERI
ANacquaintanceofminewhoworksontheMoscow—KurskRailwayasaweigher，inthecourseofconversationmentionedtomethatthemenwholoadthegoodsontohisscalesworkforthirty—sevenhoursonend。
ThoughIhadfullconfidenceinthespeaker’struthfulnessIwasunabletobelievehim。Ithoughthewasmakingamistake，orexaggerating，orthatImisunderstoodsomething。
Buttheweighernarratedtheconditionsunderwhichthisworkisdonesoexactlythattherewasnoroomleftfordoubt。Hetoldmethattherearetwohundredandfiftysuchgoods—portersattheKurskstationinMoscow。
Theywerealldividedintogangsoffivemen，andwereonpiece—work，receivingfromoneroubletoiR。15（saytwoshillingstotwoandfourpence，orforty—eightcentstofifty—sixcents）foronethousandpoods（oversixteentons）ofgoodsreceivedordespatched。
Theycomeinthemorning，workforadayandanightatunloadingthetrucks，andinthemorning，assoonasthenightisended，theybegintoreload，andworkonforanotherday。Sothatintwodaystheygetonenight’ssleep。
Theirworkconsistsofunloadingandmovingbalesofseven，eight，anduptotenpoods（say252，280anduptonearly364pounds）。Twomenplacethebalesonthebacksoftheotherthreewhocarrythem。Bysuchworktheyearnlessthanaruble（twoshillings，orforty—eightcents）aday。Theyworkcontinuallywithoutholiday。
Theaccountgivenbytheweigherwassocircumstantialthatitwasimpossibletodoubtit，but，nevertheless，I
decidedtoverifyitwithmyowneyes，andIwenttothegoods—station。
Findingmyacquaintanceatthegoods—station，ItoldhimthatIhadcometoseewhathehadtoldmeabout。
\"NooneImentionittobelievesit，\"saidI。
Withoutreplyingtome，theweighercalledtosomeoneinashed。\"Nikita，comehere。\"
Fromthedoorappearedatall，leanworkmaninatorncoat。
\"Whendidyoubeginwork？\"
\"When？Yesterdaymorning。\"
\"Andwherewereyoulastnight？\"
\"Iwasunloading，ofcourse。\"
\"Didyouworkduringthenight？\"askedI。
\"Ofcourseweworked。\"
\"Andwhendidyoubeginworkto—day？\"
\"Webeganinthemorning—whenelseshouldwebegin？\"
\"Andwhenwillyoufinishworking？\"
\"Whentheyletusgo；thenweshallfinish!\"
ThefourotherWorkmenofhisgangcameuptous。
Theyallworetorncoatsandwerewithoutovercoats，thoughtherewereabout—2OReaumurofcold（13
belowzero，Fahrenheit）。
Ibegantoaskthemabouttheconditionsoftheirwork，andevidentlysurprisedthembytakinganinterestinsuchasimpleandnaturalthing（asitseemedtothem）astheirthirty—sixhourwork。
Theywereallvillagers；forthemostpartfellow—
countrymenofmyown—fromTula；some，however，werefromArIa’，andsomefromVoro6nezh。TheylivedinMoscowinlodgings，someofthemwiththeirfamilies，butmostofthemwithout。Thosewhohavecomeherealonesendtheirearningshometothevillage。
Theyboardwithcontractors。Theirfoodcoststhemtenrubles（say？Is。，orfivedollarspermonth）。Theyalwayseatmeat，disregardingthefasts。
Theirworkalwayskeepsthemoccupiedmorethanhoursrunning，becauseittakesmorethanhalfanhourtogettotheirlodgingsandfromtheirlodgings，and，besides，theyareoftenkeptatworkbeyondthetimefixed。
Payingfortheirownfood，theyearn，bysuchthirty—
seven—hour—on—endwork，abouttwenty—fiverublesamonth。
Tomyquestion，whytheydidsuchconvictwork，theyreplied：
\"Whereisonetogoto？\"
\"Butwhyworkthirty—sixhoursonend？Cannottheworkbearrangedinshifts？\"
\"Wedowhatwe’retoldto。\"
\"Yes；butwhydoyouagreetoit？\"
\"Weagreebecausewehavetofeedourselves。’Ifyoudon’tlikeit—beoff!’Ifone’sevenanhourlate，onehasone’sticketshiedatone，andistoldtomarch；andtherearetenmenreadytotaketheplace。\"
Themenwereallyoung，onlyonewassomewhatolder，perhapsaboutforty。Alltheirfaceswerelean，andhadexhausted，wearyeyes，asifthemenweredrunk。
TheleanworkmantowhomIfirstspokestruckmeespeciallybythestrangewearinessofhislook。Iaskedhimwhetherhehadnotbeendrinkingto—day。
\"Idon’tdrink，\"answeredhe，inthedecidedwayinwhichmenwhoreallydonotdrinkalwaysreplytothatquestion。
\"AndIdonotsmoke，\"addedhe。
\"Dotheothersdrink？\"askedI。
\"Yes；itisbroughthere。\"
\"Theworkisnotlight，andadrinkalwaysaddstoone’sstrength，\"saidtheolderworkman。
Thisworkmanhadbeendrinkingthatday，butitwasnotintheleastnoticeable。
AftersomemoretalkwiththeworkmenIwenttowatchthework。
Passinglongrowsofallsortsofgoods，Icametosomeworkmenslowlypushingaloadedtruck。Ilearnedafterwardsthatthemenhavetoshuntthetrucksthem—
selvesandtokeeptheplatformdearofsnow，withoutbeingpaidforthework。Itissostatedinthe\"Condi—
tionsofPay。\"TheseworkmenwerejustastatteredandemaciatedasthosewithwhomIhadbeentalking。WhentheyhadmovedthetrucktoitsplaceIwentuptothemandaskedwhentheyhadbegunwork，andwhentheyhaddined。
Iwastoldthattheyhadstartedworkatseveno’dock，andhadonlyjustdined。Theworkhadpreventedtheirbeingletoffsooner。
\"Andwhendoyougetaway？\"
\"Asithappens；sometimesnottillteno’clock，\"repliedthemen，asifboastingoftheirendurance。Seeingmyinterestintheirposition，theysurroundedme，and，prob—
ablytakingmeforaninspector，severalofthemspeakingatonce，informedmeofwhatwasevidentlytheirchiefsubjectofcomplaint—namely，thattheapartmentinwhichtheycouldsometimeswarmthemselvesandsnatchanhour’ssleepbetweentheday—workandthenight—workwascrowded。Allofthemexpressedgreatdissatisfactionatthiscrowding。
\"Theremaybeonehundredmen，andnowheretoliedown；evenundertheshelvesitiscrowded，\"saiddis—
satisfiedvoices。\"Havealookatityourself。Itisclosehere。\"
Theroomwascertainlynotlargeenough。Inthethirty—six—footroomaboutfortymenmightfindplacetoliedownontheshelves。
Someofthemenenteredtheroomwithme，andtheyviedwitheachotherincomplainingofthescantinessoftheaccommodation。
\"Evenundertheshelvesthereisnowheretoliedown，\"
saldthey。
Thesemen，whointwentydegreesoffrost，withoutovercoats，carryontheirbacks240poundloadsduringthirty—sixhours；whodineandsupnotwhentheyneedfood，butwhentheiroverseerallowsthemtoeat；livingaltogetherinconditionsfarworsethanthoseofdray—
horses，itseemedstrangethatthesepeopleonlycom—
plainedofinsufficientaccommodationintheroomwheretheywarmthemselves。Butthoughthisseemedtomestrangeatfirst，yet，enteringfurtherintotheirposition，Iunderstoodwhatafeelingoftorturethesemen，whonevergetenoughsleep，andwhoarehalf—frozen，mustexperiencewhen，insteadofrestingandbeingwarmed，theyhavetocreeponthedirtyfloorundertheshelves，andthere，inthestuffyandvitiatedair，becomestillweakerandmorebrokendown。
Only，perhaps，inthatmiserablehourofvainattempttogetrestandsleepdotheypainfullyrealiseallthehorroroftheirlife—destroyingthirty—seven—hourwork，andthatiswhytheyarespeciallyagitatedbysuchanapparentlyinsignificantcircumstanceastheovercrowdingoftheirroom。
Havingwatchedseveralgangsatwork，andhavingtalkedwithsomemoreofthemenandheardthesamestoryfromthemall，Idrovehome，havingconvincedmyselfthatwhatmyacquaintancehadtoldmewastrue。
Itwastruethatformoney，onlyenoughtosubsiston，peopleconsideringthemselvesfreementhoughtitneces—
sarytogivethemselvesuptoworksuchas，inthedaysofserfdom，notoneslave—owner，howevercruel，wouldhavesenthisslavesto。Letaloneslave—owners，notonecab—
proprietorwouldsendhishorsestosuchwork，forhorsescostmoney，anditwouldbewasteful，byexcessive，thirty—seven—hourwork，toshortenthelifeofananimalofvalue。
TheSlaveryofOurTimes——Ch2——LeoTolstoyFromTheSlaveryofOurTimesbyLeoTolstoyCHAPTERII。
SOCIETY’SINDIFFERENCEWHILEMENPERISH
Toobligementoworkforthirty—sevenhourscontinuouslywithoutsleep，besidesbeingcruelisalsouneconomical。Andyetsuchuneconomicalexpenditureofhumanlivescontinuallygoesonaroundus。
OppositethehouseinwhichIlive1isafactoryofsilkgoods，builtwiththelatesttechnicalimprovements。
Aboutthreethousandwomenandsevenhundredmenworkandlivethere。AsIsitinmyroomnowIheartheunceasingdinofthemachinery，andknow—forIhavebeenthere—whatthatdinmeans。Threethousandwomenstand，fortwelvehoursaday，attheloomsamidadeafeningroar；winding，unwinding，arrangingthesilkthreadstomakesilkstuffs。Allthewomen（exceptthosewhohavejustcomefromthevillages）haveanunhealthyappearance。Mostofthemleadamostintemperateandimnnorallife。Almostall，whethermarriedorunmarried，assoonasachildisborntothemsenditoffeithertothevillageortotheFoundlings’Hospital，whereeightypercent。ofthesechildrenperish。Forfearoflosingtheirplacesthemothersresumeworkthenextday，oronthethirddayaftertheirconfinement。
Sothatduringtwentyyears，tomyknowledge，tensofthousandsofyoung，healthywomen—mothers—haveruinedandarenowruiningtheirlivesandthelivesoftheirchildreninordertoproducevelvetsandsilkstuffs。
Imetabeggaryesterday，ayoungmanoncrutches，sturdilybuilt，butcrippled。Heusedtoworkasanavvy，withawheelbarrow，butslippedandinjuredhimselfinternally。Hespentallhehadonpeasant—womenhealersandondoctors，andhasnowforeightyearsbeenhome—
less，begginghisbread，andcomplainingthatGoddoesnotsendhimdeath。
Howmanysuchsacrificesoflifetherearethatweeitherknownothingof，orknowof，buthardlynotice，consideringtheminevitable!
Iknowmenworkingattheblast—furnacesoftheTulaIronFoundrywho，tohaveoneSundayfreeeachfort—
night，willworkfortwenty—fourhours—thatis，afterworkingalldaytheywillgoonworkingallnight。Ihaveseenthesemen。Theyalldrinkvodkatokeepuptheirenergy，andobviously，likethosegoods—portersontherailway，theyquicklyexpendnottheinterest，butthecapitaloftheirlives。
Andwhatofthewasteoflivesamongthosewhoareemployedonadmittedlyharmfulwork—inlooking—glass，cartridge，match，sugar，tobacco，andglassfactories；inminesorasgilders？
ThereareEnglishstatisticsshowingthattheaveragelengthoflifeamongpeopleoftheupperclassesisfifty—
fiveyears，andtheaverageoflifeamongworkingpeopleinunhealthyoccupationsistwenty—nineyears。
Knowingthis（andwecannothelpknowingit），wewhotakeadvantageoflaborthatcostshumanlivesshould，onewouldthink（unlesswearebeasts），notbeabletoenjoyamoment’speace。Butthefactisthatwewell—to—dopeople，liberalsandhumanitarians，verysensitivetothesufferingsnotofpeopleonly，butalsoofanimals，unceasinglymakeuseofsuchlabor，andtrytobecomemoreandmorerich—thatis，totakemoreandmoreadvantageofsuchwork。Andweremainperfectlytranquil。
Forinstance，havinglearnedofthethirty—seven—hourlaborofthegoods—porters，andoftheirbadroom，weatoncesendthereaninspector，whoreceivesagoodsalary，andweforbidpeopletoworkmorethantwelvehours，leavingtheworkmen（whoarethusdeprivedofone—thirdoftheirearnings）tofeedthemselvesasbesttheycan；
andwecompeltherailwaycompanytoerectalargeandconvenientroomfortheworkmen。Thenwithperfectlyquietconscienceswecontinuetoreceiveanddespatchgoodsbythatrailway，andweourselvescontinuetoreceivesalaries，dividends，rentsfromhousesorfromland，etc。Havinglearnedthatthewomenandgirlsatthesilkfactory，livingfarfromtheirfamilies，ruintheirownlivesandthoseoftheirchildren，andthatalargehalfofthewasherwomenwhoironourstarchedshirts，andofthetypesetterswhoprintthebooksandpapersthatwhileawayourtime，getconsumption，weonlyshrugourshouldersandsaythatweareverysorrythingsshouldbeso，butthatwecandonothingtoalterit，andwecontinuewithtranquilconsciencestobuysilkstuffs，towearstarchedshirtsandtoreadourmorningpaper。Wearemuchconcernedaboutthehoursoftheshopassistants，andstillmoreaboutthelonghoursofourownchildrenatschool；westrictlyforbidcarterstomaketheirhorsesdragheavyloads，andweevenorganisethekillingofcattleinslaughter—houses，sothattheanimalsmayfeelitaslittleaspossible。Buthowwonderfullyblindwebecomeassoonasthequestionconcernsthosemiflionsofworkerswhoperishslowly，andoftenpainfully，allaroundus，atlaborsthefruitsofwhichweuseforourconvenienceandpleasure!
TheSlaveryofOurTimes——Ch3——LeoTolstoyFromTheSlaveryofOurTimesbyLeoTolstoyCHAPTERIII。
JUSTIFICATIONOFTHEEXISTINGPOSITIONBYSCIENCETHISwonderfulblindnesswhichbefallspeopleofourcirclecanonlybeexplainedbythefactthatwhenpeoplebehavebadlytheyalwaysinventaphilosophyoflifewhichrepresentstheirbadactionstobenotbadactionsatall，butmerelyresultsofunalterablelawsbeyondtheircontrol。InformertimessuchaviewoflifewasfoundinthetheorythataninscrutableandunalterablewillofGodexistedwhichforeordainedtosomemenahumblepositionandhardworkandtoothersanexaltedpositionandtheenjoymentofthegoodthingsoflife。
Onthisthemeanenormousquantityofbookswerewrittenandaninnumerablequantityofsermonspreached。Thethemewasworkedupfromeverypossibleside。ItwasdemonstratedthatGodcreateddifferentsortsofpeople—slavesandmasters；andthatbothshouldbesatisfiedwiththeirposition。Itwasfurtherdemon—stratedthatitwouldbebetterfortheslavesinthenextworld；andafterwardsitwasshownthatalthoughtheslaveswereslavesandoughttoremainsuch，yettheirconditionwouldnotbebadifthemasterswouldbekindtothem。Thentheverylastexplanation，aftertheemancipationoftheslaves，wasthatwealthisentrustedbyGodtosomepeopleinorderthattheymayusepartofitingoodworks，andsothereisnoharminsomepeople’sbeingrichandotherspoor。
Theseexplanationssatisfiedtherichandthepoor（especiallytherich）foralongtime。Butthedaycamewhentheseexplanationsbecameunsatisfactory，especiallytothepoor，whobegantounderstandtheirposition。Thenfreshexplanationswereneeded。Andjustatthepropertimetheywereproduced。Thesenewexplana—tionscameintheformofscience——politicaleconomy：whichdeclaredthatithaddiscoveredthelawswhichregulatedivisionoflaborandofthedistributionoftheproductsoflaboramongmen。Theselaws，accordingtothatscience，arethatthedivisionoflaborandtheenjoymentofitsproductsdependonsupplyanddemand，andcapital，rent，wagesoflabor，values，profits，etc。；ingeneral，onunalterablelawsgoverningman’seconomicactivities。
Soon，onthisthemeasmanybooksandpamphletswerewrittenandlecturesdeliveredastherehadbeentreatiseswrittenandreligioussermonspreachedontheformertheme，andstillunceasinglymountainsofpamphletsandbooksarebeingwrittenandlecturesarebeingdelivered；andallthesebooksandlecturesareascloudyandunintelligibleasthetheologicaltreatisesandthesermons，andthey，too，likethetheologicaltreatises，fullyachievetheirappointedpurpose—thatis，theygivesuchanexplanationoftheexistingorderofthingsasjustifiessomepeopleintranquillyrefrainingfromlaborandinutilisingthelaborofothers。
Thefactthat，fortheinvestigationsofthispseudo—
science，nottheconditionofthepeopleinthewholeworldthroughallhistorictimewastakentoshowthegeneralorderofthings，butonlytheconditionofpeopleinasmallcountry，inmostexceptionalcircumstances—
EnglandattheendoftheEighteenthandthebeginningoftheNineteenthCenturies—thisfactdidnotintheleasthindertheacceptanceasvalidoftheresulttowhichtheinvestigatorsarrived；anymorethanasimilaracceptanceisnowhinderedbytheendlessdisputesanddisagreementsamongthosewhostudythatscienceandarequiteunabletoagreeastothemeaningofrent，surplusvalue，profits，etc。Onlytheonefundamentalpositionofthatscienceisacknowledgedbyall—namely，thattherelationsamongmenareconditioned，notbywhatpeopleconsiderrightorwrong，butbywhatisadvantageousforthosewhooccupyanadvantageousposition。
Itisadmittedasanundoubtedtruththatifinsocietymanythievesandrobbershavesprungupwhotakefromthelaborersthefruitsoftheirlabor，thishappensnotbecausethethievesandrobbershaveactedbadly，butbecausesucharetheinevitableeconomiclaws，whichcanonlybealteredslowlybyanevolutionaryprocessindicatedbyscience；
andtherefore，accordingtotheguidanceofscience，peoplebelongingtotheclassofrobbers，thievesorreceiversofstolengoodsmayquietlycontinuetoutilisethethingsobtainedbytheftsandrobbery。
Thoughthemajorityofpeopleinourworlddonotknowthedetailsofthesetranquilisingscientificexplanationsanymorethantheyformerlyknewthedetailsofthetheologicalexplanationswhichjustifiedtheirposition，yettheyallknowthatanexplanationexists；
thatscientificmen，wisemen，haveprovedconvincingly，andcontinuetoprove，thattheexistingorderofthingsiswhatitoughttobe，andthat，therefore，wemaylivequietlyinthisorderofthingswithoutourselves’
tryingtoalterit。
OnlyinthiswaycanIexplaintheamazingblindnessofgoodpeopleinoursocietywhosincerelydesirethewelfareofanimals，butyetwithquietconsciencesdevourthelivesoftheirbrothermen。TheSlaveryofOurTimes——Ch4——LeoTolstoyFromTheSlaveryofOurTimesbyLeoTolstoyCHAPTERIV。
THEASSERTIONOFECONOMICSCIENCETHATRURAL
LABORERSMUSTENTERTHEFACTORYSYSTEM
THEtheorythatitisGod’swillthatsomepeopleshouldownotherssatisfiedpeopleforaverylongtime。
Butthattheory，byjustifyingcruelty，causedsuchcrueltyasevokedresistance，andproduceddoubtsastothetruthofthetheory。
Sonowwiththetheorythataneconomicevolutionisprogressing，guidedbyinevitablelaws，inconsequenceofwhichsomepeoplemustcollectcapital，andothersmustlaboralltheirlivestoincreasethosecapitals，preparingthemselvesmeanwhileforthepromisedcommunalisationofthemeansofproduction；thistheory，causingsomepeopletobeyetmorecrueltoothers，alsobegins（especiallyamongcommonpeoplenotstupefiedbyscience）toevokecertaindoubts。
Forinstance，youseegoods—portersdestroyingtheirlivesbythirty—sevenhours’labor，orwomeninfactories，orlaundresses，ortypesetters，orallthosemillionsofpeoplewholiveinhard，unnaturalconditionsofmonotonous，stupefying，slavishtoil，andyounaturallyask，Whathasbroughtthesepeopletosuchastate？Andhowaretheytobedeliveredfromit？Andsciencerepliesthatthesepeopleareinthisconditionbecausetherailwaybelongstothiscompany，thesilkfactorytothatgentle—
man，andallthefoundries，factories，typographies，andlaundriestocapitalists，andthatthisstateofthingswillcomerightbywork—peopleformingunions，co—operativesocieties，strikes，andtakingpartingovernment，andmoreandmoreswayingthemastersandthegovernmenttilltheworkersfirstobtainshorterhoursandincreasedwages，andfinallyallthemeansofproductionwillpassintotheirhands，andthenallwillbewell。
Meanwhile，allisgoingonasitshouldgo，andthereisnoneedtoalteranything。
Thisanswermustseemtoanunlearnedman，andparticularlytoourRussianfolk，verysurprising。Inthefirstplace，neitherinrelationtothegoods—porters，northefactorywomen，norallthemillionsofotherlaborerssufferingfromheavy，unhealthy，stupefyinglabordoesthepossessionofthemeansofproductionbycapitalistsexplainanything。Theagriculturalmeansofproductionofthosemenwhoarenowworkingattherailwayhavenotbeenseizedbycapitalists：theyhaveland，andhorses，andplows，andharrows，andallthatisnecessarytotilltheground；alsothesewomenworkingatthefactoryarenotonlynotforcedtoitbybeingdeprivedoftheirimplementsofproduction，but，onthecontrary，theyhave（forthemostpartagainstthewishoftheeldermembersoftheirfamilies）leftthehomeswheretheirworkwasmuchwanted，andwheretheyhadimplementsofproduction。
Millionsofwork—peopleinRussiaandinothercountriesareinlikecase。Sothatthecauseofthemiserablepositionoftheworkerscannotbefoundintheseizureofthemeansofproductionbycapitalists。Thecausemustlieinthatwhichdrivesthemfromthevillages。That，inthefirstplace。Secondly，theemancipationoftheworkersfromthisstateofthings（eveninthatdistantfutureinwhichsciencepromisesthemliberty）canbeaccomplishedneitherbyshorteningthehoursoflabor，norbyincreasingwages，norbythepromisedcommunalisationofthemeansofproduction。
Allthatcannotimprovetheirposition，forthemiseryofthelaborer’sposition—alikeontherailway，inthesilkfactoryandineveryotherfactoryorworkshopconsistsnotinthelongerorshorterhoursofwork（agriculturistssometimesworkeighteenhoursaday，andasmuchasthirty—sixhoursonend，andconsidertheirliveshappyones），nordoesitconsistinthelowrateofwages，norinthefactthattherailwayorthefactoryisnottheirs，butitconsistsinthefactthattheyareobligedtoworkinharmful，unnaturalconditionsoftendangerousanddestructivetolife，andtoliveabarrack4ifeintowns—alifefulloftemptationsandimmorality—andtodocompulsorylaboratanother’sbidding。
Latterlythehoursoflaborhavediminishedandtherateofwageshasincreased；butthisdiminutionofthehoursoflaborandthisincreaseinwageshavenotimprovedthepositionoftheworker，ifonetakesintoaccountnottheirmoreluxurioushabits—watcheswithchains，silkkerchiefs，tobacco，vodka，beef，beer，etc。—
buttheirtruewelfare—thatis，theirhealthandmorality，andchieflytheirfreedom。
AtthesilkfactorywithwhichIamacquainted，twentyyearsagotheworkwaschieflydonebymen，whoworkedfourteenhoursaday，earnedonanaveragefifteenrublesamonth，andsentthemoneyforthemostparttotheirfamiliesinthevillages。Nownearlyalltheworkisdonebywomenworkingelevenhours，someofwhomearnasmuchastwenty—fiverublesamonth（overfifteenrublesontheaverage），andforthemostpartnotsendingithome，butspendalltheyearnherechieflyondress，drunkennessandvice。Thediminutionofthehoursofworkmerelyincreasesthetimetheyspendinthetaverns。
Thesamethingishappening，toagreaterorlesserextent，atallthefactoriesandworks。Everywhere，notwithstandingthediminutionofthehoursoflaborandtheincreaseofwages，thehealthoftheoperativesisworsethanthatofcountryworkers，theaveragedurationoflifeisshorter，andmoralityissacrificed，ascannotbutoccurwhenpeoplearetornfromthoseconditionswhichmostconducetomorality—familylife，andfree，healthy，variedandintelligibleagriculturalwork。
Itisverypossiblytruethat，assomeeconomistsassert，withshorterhoursoflabor，morepay，andimprovedsanitaryconditionsinmillsandfactories，thehealthoftheworkersandtheirmoralityimproveincomparisonwiththeformerconditionoffactoryworkers。Itispossiblealsothatlatterly，andinsomeplaces，thepositionofthefactoryhandsisbetterinexternalconditionsthanthepositionofthecountrypopulation。Butthisisso（andonlyinsomeplaces）becausethegovernmentandsociety，influencedbytheaffirmationofscience，doallthatispossibletoimprovethepositionofthefactorypopulationattheexpenseofthecountrypopulation。
Iftheconditionofthefactory—workersinsomeplacesis（thoughonlyinexternals）betterthanthatofcountrypeople，itonlyshowsthatonecan，byallkindsofrestrictions，renderlifemiserableinwhatshouldbethebestexternalconditions，andthatthereisnopositionsounnaturalandbadthatmenmaynotadaptthemselvestoitiftheyremaininitforsomegenerations。
Themiseryofthepositionofafactoryhand，andingeneralofatown—worker，doesnotconsistinhislonghoursandsmallpay，butinthefactthatheisdeprivedofthenaturalconditionsoflifeintouchwithnature，isdeprivedoffreedom，iscompelledtocompulsoryandmonotonoustoilatanotherman’swill。
And，therefore，thereplytothequestions，whyfactoryandtownworkersareinamiserablecondition，andhowtoimprovetheircondition，cannotbethatthisarisesbecausecapitalistshavepossessedthemselvesofthemeansofproduction，andthattheworkers’conditionwillbeimprovedbydiminishingtheirhoursofwork，increasingtheirwages，andcommunalisingthemeansofproduction。
Thereplytothesequestionsmustconsistinindicatingthecauseswhichhavedeprivedtheworkersofthenaturalconditionsoflifeintouchwithnature，andhavedriventhemintofactorybondage，andinindicatingmeanstofreetheworkersfromthenecessityofforegoingafree，countrylife，andgoingintoslaveryatthefactories。
And，therefore，thequestionwhytown—workersareinamiserableconditionincludes，firstofall，thequestion，Whatreasonshavedriventhemfromthevillages，wheretheyandtheirancestorshavelivedandmightlive，where，inRussia，peoplesuchastheydonowlive？and，Whatitisthatdroveandcontinuestodrivethemagainsttheirwilltothefactoriesandworks？
Ifthereareworkmen，asinEngland，Belgium，orGermany，whoforsomegenerationshavelivedbyfactorywork，eventheylivesonotattheirownfreewill，butbecausetheirfathers，grandfathers，andgreat—grandfatherswere，insomeway，compelledtoexchangetheagriculturallifewhichtheylovedforlifewhichseemedtothemhard，intownsandinfactories。First，thecountrypeopleweredeprivedoftheirlandbyviolence，saysKarlMarx，wereevictedandbroughttovagabondage，andthen，bycruellaws，theyweretorturedwithpincers，withred—hotirons，andwerewhipped，tomakethemsubmittotheconditionofbeinghiredlaborers。
ITherefore，thequestionhowtofreetheworkersfromtheirmiserablepositionshould，onewouldthink，naturallyleadtothequestionhowtoremovethosecauseswhichhavealreadydrivensome，andarenowdrivingorthreateningtodrive，therestofthepeasantsfromthepositionwhichtheyconsideredandconsidergood，andhavedrivenandaredrivingthemtoapositionwhichtheyconsiderbad。
Economicscience，althoughitindicatesinpassingthecausesthatdrovethepeasantsfromthevillages，doesnotconcernitselfwiththequestionhowtoremovethesecauses，butdirectsallitsattentiontotheimprovementoftheworker’spositionintheexistingfactoriesandworks，assuming，asitwere，thattheworker’spositionatthesefactoriesandworkshopsissomethingunalterable，some—
thingwhichmustatallcostsbemaintainedforthosewhoarealreadyinthefactories，andmustabsorbthosewhohavenotyetleftthevillagesorabandonedagriculturalwork。
Moreover，economicscienceissosurethatallthepeasantshaveinevitablytobecomefactoryoperativesintowns，thatthoughallthesagesandallthepoetsoftheworldhavealwaysplacedtheidealofhumanhappinessintheconditionsofagriculturalwork；thoughalltheworkerswhosehabitsareunpervertedhavealwayspreferred，andstillprefer，agriculturallabortoanyother；
thoughfactoryworkisalwaysunhealthyandmonotonous，whileagricultureisthemosthealthyandvaried；
thoughagriculturalworkisfree—thatis，thepeasantalternatestoilandrestathisownwill—whilefactorywork，evenifthefactorybelongstotheworkmen，isalwaysenforced，independenceonthemachines；
