Asks the new Tsar to pardon his father’s murderers

In the name of Christ’s teachings about loving everyone, including your enemies, and not responding to evil with evil Tolstoy asks the new Tsar to pardon his father’s murderers. “Sire, your father, the emperor of Russia, an old and good man who did much that was good himself and always wished for the welfare of his people, has been cruelly tortured and slain. And he was not killed by personal enemies, but by the enemies of the established order, who destroyed him, so they claim, for the good of mankind. You have succeeded to his place and before you stand the enemies who tormented your father during his lifetime and then murdered him. Now they are your enemies, too, because you have taken your father’s place and because, in order to achieve that good of mankind which they claim to be seeking, they must also wish to do away with you. Toward these men, your father’s murderers, you feel a desire for vengeance, mingled with a sense of horror at the act you are about to commit ... your position is a dreadful one, but the doctrine of Christ is necessary precisely in order to guide us through such moments of dire temptation which befall every man ... Sire, if you called these men before you, gave them some money and sent them away somewhere, to America, and wrote a manifesto beginning with the words, ‘But verily I say unto you, love your enemies’, I do not know what others would feel, but I who have not been a model subject, would become your dog, your slave, I would weep with love – as I am weeping at this moment – every time I heard your name. What did I say: that I do not know how others would feel? I know with what torrential force good and love would pour over Russia at those words” (p423, Tolstoy, Troyat). The six murderers were hang.