按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
I found him a scholarly； kindly man； ready to discuss the
business which I brought before him； and showing a wide interest
in public affairs。 There were few； if any； doctrines； either
political or theological； which we held in common； but he seemed
inclined to meet the wishes of our government as fully and fairly
as he could； and thus was begun one of the most interesting
acquaintances I have ever made。
His usual time of receiving his friends was on Sunday evening
between nine and twelve； and very many such evenings I passed in
his study； discussing with him； over glasses of fragrant Russian
tea； every sort of question with the utmost freedom。
I soon found that his reasons for that course of action to which
the world so generally objects are not so superficial as they are
usually thought。 The repressive policy which he has so earnestly
adopted is based not merely upon his views as a theologian； but
upon his convictions as a statesman。 While； as a Russo…Greek
churchman； he regards the established church of the empire as the
form of Christianity most primitive and pure； and while he sees
in its ritual； in its art； and in all the characteristics of its
worship the nearest approach to his ideals； he looks at it also
from the point of view of a statesmanas the greatest cementing
power of the vast empire through which it is spread。
This being the case； he naturally opposes all other religious
bodies in Russia as not merely inflicting injury upon
Christianity； but as tending to the political disintegration of
the empire。 Never； in any of our conversations； did I hear him
speak a harsh word of any other church or of any religious ideas
opposed to his own； but it was clear that he regarded Protestants
and dissident sects generally as but agents in the progress of
disintegration which； in Western Europe； seemed approaching a
crisis； and that he considered the Roman Catholic Church in
Poland as practically a political machine managed by a hierarchy
in deadly hostility to the Russian Empire and to Russian
influence everywhere。
In discussing his own church； he never hesitated to speak plainly
of its evident shortcomings。 Unquestionably； one of the wishes
nearest his heart is to reform the abuses which have grown up
among its clergy； especially in their personal habits。 Here； too；
is a reason for any repressive policy which he may have exercised
against other religious bodies。 Everything that detracts from the
established Russo…Greek Church detracts from the revenues of its
clergy； and； as these are pitifully small； aids to keep the
priests and their families in the low condition from which he is
so earnestly endeavoring to raise them。 As regards the severe
policy inaugurated by Alexander III against the Jews of the
empire； which Pobedonostzeff； more than any other man； is
supposed to have inspired； he seemed to have no harsh feelings
against Israelites as such； but his conduct seemed based upon a
theory which； in various conversations； he presented with much
force： namely； that Russia； having within its borders more Jews
than exist in all the world besides； and having suffered greatly
from these as from an organization really incapable of
assimilation with the body politic； must pursue a repressive
policy toward them and isolate them in order to protect its rural
population。
While he was very civil in his expressions regarding the United
States； he clearly considered all Western civilization a failure。
He seemed to anticipate； before long； a collapse in the systems
and institutions of Western Europe。 To him socialism and
anarchism； with all they imply； were but symptoms of a
wide…spread political and social diseaseindications of an
approaching catastrophe destined to end a civilization which；
having rejected orthodoxy； had cast aside authority； given the
force of law to the whimsies of illiterate majorities； and
accepted； as the voice of God； the voice of unthinking mobs；
blind to their own interests and utterly incapable of working out
their own good。 It was evident that he regarded Russia as
representing among the nations the idea of Heaven…given and
church…anointed authority； as the empire destined to save the
principle of divine right and the rule of the fittest。
Revolutionary efforts in Russia he discussed calmly。 Referring to
Loris…Melikoff； the representative of the principles most
strongly opposed to his own； no word of censure escaped him。 The
only evidence of deep feeling on this subject he ever showed in
my presence was when he referred to the writings of a well…known
Russian refugee in London； and said； 〃He is a murderer。〃
As to public instruction； he evidently held to the idea so
thoroughly carried out in Russia： namely； that the upper class；
which is to conduct the business of the state； should be highly
educated； but that the mass of the people need no education
beyond what will keep them contented in the humble station to
which it has pleased God to call them。 A very curious example of
his conservatism I noted in his remarks regarding the droshkies
of St。 Petersburg。 The droshky…drivers are Russian peasants；
simple and； as a rule； pious； rarely failing to make the sign of
the cross on passing a church or shrine； or at any other moment
which seems to them solemn。 They are possibly picturesque； but
certainly dirty； in their clothing and in all their surroundings。
A conveyance more wretched than the ordinary street…droshky of a
Russian city could hardly be conceived； and measures had been
proposed for improving this system； but he could see no use in
them。 The existing system was thoroughly Russian； and that was
enough。 It appealed to his conservatism。 The droshky…drivers；
with their Russian caps； their long hair and beards； their
picturesque caftans； and their deferential demeanor； satisfied
his esthetic sense。
What seemed to me a clash between his orthodox conservatism on
one side； and his Russian pride on the other； I discovered on my
return from a visit to Moscow； in which I had sundry walks and
talks with Tolstoi。 On my alluding to this； he showed some
interest。 It was clear that he was separated by a whole orb of
thought from the great novelist； yet it was none the less evident
that he took pride in him。 He naturally considered Tolstoi as
hopelessly wrong in all his fundamental ideas； and yet was
himself too much of a man of letters not to recognize in his
brilliant countryman one of the glories of Russia。
But the most curiousindeed； the most amazingrevelation of the
man I found in his love for American literature。 He is a wide
reader； and； in the whole breadth of his reading； American
authors were evidently among those he preferred。 Of these his
favorites were Hawthorne； Lowell； and； above all； Emerson。
Curious； indeed； was it to learn that this 〃arch…persecutor；〃
this 〃Torquemada of the nineteenth century；〃 this man whose hand
is especially heavy upon Catholics and Protestants and dissenters
throughout the empire； whose name is spoken with abhorrence by
millions within the empire and without it； still reads； as his
favorite author； the philosopher of Concord。 He told me that the
first book which he ever translated into Russian was Thomas a
Kempis's 〃Imitation of Christ〃； and of that he gave me the Latin
original from which he made his translation； with a copy of the
translation itself。 But he also told me that the next