New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-14
EUROPE.
The yitnI Principle of Russil

DEALANf Iuceuayf juno - ASD--
At the time when the Western States of
Europe were consolidating themselves upon new
basis, the giant power of Russia under the crea-
tive hand of Peter the Great underwent funda-
mental Transformation, and came into the sphere
of European Politics.
Peter made his appearance upon the stage Just
at the epoch when Louis XIV. in France had gwen
regal absdutism its most perfect form and expires
sion and in England the aristocracy had taken adj
vantage ofthe popular tumults to secure in Parla-
Inent it's preponderance over royalty. In France,
royalty had overcome the opposition OF the mobiles;
in England the feudal aristocracy had placed its
supremacy mon a firm basis by means Of the
modern paii anentaIy
= 80 .o.. the Weston states Of Europe owe
n pCculiarities to theirsmdJle-age character,
they being originally feudal States, whether they
have, as in France, brought the absolutism of the
Government and the Ieyelng democratic tenden-
ccs of the nation into conflict with feudalism, or,
as in England, have placed their feudal character
under the protection of Parliamentary Constitu-
ton.
The Western States OfEurope are feu ial States
they either struggle against their middle-age
ture, as in France, or seek, as do the English
aIistocracy, to bring it into harmony with modern
IDEAS
Russia. on the other hand is a patrarchal
/ State, and this character it carefully preserved
| during the revolution which Peter wrought, and
which. in the foundation of st. Petersburg, found
| it, local expression.
The family is the mcrocosm Of the Russian ma
| ton. In the Russian family, rights are equal
The head--the father or after his death, the ed-
est irother-has the sole disposition OF the prop
erty, and gives according to his own Judgment, to
| each member of the family his own, that is, an
| equal share in the common family property.
| The Russian Commune is nothing mere than
| tbeextended family; to it belongs the land aad the
| soil the individual enjoys but its temporary use.
| One member of the community has as good
| share in the common property as anotheri all
| have in it an equal right. the land and soil are
| Therefore equally divided among all the members
| of the community. The children do not inherit
from the father, but receive their share from the
| community as members Of it. The "Starost
is the Gother of the community to whom all rem
der unconditional obedience.
Russia, as a whole, belongs to the aggregate of
the communes, and forms one family, which has
the Car as the father, who OF course has The
uncontrolled disposal Of the common property.
In Russia, then, that social system which
French theory has given the world, Is IN fact car
| ried into operation. Precisely in st. Simon's
s, stem, for instance, is property in Russia the
possession of society the individual is. only the
usufructuary; and, as steward of that portion
the common property entrusted to him, is liable
| and answerable.
The opposite to the Aiomi:ing RecOluti0n-to
the German principle Of indyidualism-thls oppo-
site which the Socialists seek to bring into power
and actual existence-It is really existent in Rus
STA it is there an actual operating living prin-
ciple it is there the existing form of society.
Ii is an historical principle in England to re-
strain the division of the soil to the utmost posi-
blitv. This sy stem has made possible the sys-
tcmatic. scientific cultivation OF the soil, and has
produced the highest achievements in Agricul-
ture. but has also reduced nine tenhs Of the pop
ulation to proletaries-to proletarles, however
many milionaires may be found among them.
In France was the opposite, atonizjng system,
prepared long before the Reyslution, and, through
if. is now perfected. According to this is the soil
commodity infinitely divisible transmitted, as II
were. into small change. More than two-thurds
ofthe population are engaged in Agriculture, but
the majority with no advantage to themselves and
to the aggregate; -and, IN spite OF their ownership
of the land nothing but proletaries.
While Germany forms the medium between
both extremes in so far as she shssvs, in addition
tn the numerous small estates, which are capable
only Of spade culture also many of greater extent
I,c- min of
has be en- engaged upon uniting those extremes IL
mites intrinsicaly and harmonousy the system
of division with that ofcohesion-it goes on CONT
pually dividing the soil, but this remains ever at
the same time the common possession OF the com
r,nre-moyement and rest are recOncled. In Rus
STA therefore, there no proetanes by birth, be-
cause every man belongs to commune and every
member of a commune has an interest IN the CON-
mon soil.
The principle of equal division il carried to such
an extent that it often happens when the seris OF
village purchase the freedom OF themselves and
Of the village. from the noble, that they do not d.
vide the lands in proportion to what each family
has paid of the purchase money, but IN proportion
to the number OF souls.
EQUALLY often is it the case, that German Coio-
nies completely RRssidRi-e themselves; that Is,
they petition the Government for PERMISSION 70
Give ND their German rights Of inheritance, ana 20
odopt the Russian system OF community OF prop
erty, and its equal division
labor in Russia was originally, ard in many re-
.nects it remains so to this day, common one
entire commune will pursue one trade, and send
tn. product to the larger cities where members per,
Of the commune have charge of their stores anu
sell their goods partly at wholesale to the mer-
chants and partly at retail, and the Proht' are
sferwsrd divided pro rata among the ianiilie''
m. h;..or;.oI narallel TO the German ieudal