New-York tribune., 1870-01-15
THE RUSSIAN LABOR QUESTION.

| IHE RUSSIAN LABOR QUESllON.
THE LAND TEYURE-THE KoLoKoL-oPPREssIoN
| OF RUSSIAN sERFs-PICTURE OF RUSSIAN
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE sEIFs.
BARCELONA, Spain, Nov. 3O.-The question
which agitaes tho Russian working classes though an
old and little to the variations that char
acterZe the labor movement OF Western Europe Is par
tculary Interesting since It Is based by force Of crcum'
stances upon the very principle which forms the subject
OF theory and debate Of much speculation aud OF little
| application, amid the moro enlightened populations OF
Germany. England, and France. The question Of the
tenure Of lands has not only crept into England where
system is perhaps, moro than in any other country,
abused by egallzed land monopOles but it begins TO
enter as an important ingredient into the discussions OF
every Congress OF which the elevation OF the working
classes Is the object Tho point for instance that en-
crossed the time and intelligence Of the Congress a BASIL
In switzerland that Of the justice injustice Of tho
possessorshp landed estates, and Is this phase and
little else that makes this Congress memorable. Legal
lied ar!socrace5 all derive their Importance from and
secure Themselves TO large degree upon this socaled
night OF possessorship In lands and the misery their
has fastened upon the ia unfortunately
visible than the logic in the theories OF ITS redemption.
1t H. therefore, the Russian question in abstract
holding up before humanity lesson the allotment Of
goods that becomes specially interesting at this
ment. but the Russian system, as practical auxiliary
In enghtening upon these grave subjects go
fundamentally revolutionary and subyersive Of tho
adopted forms Of society. have during my travels,
Cleaned many important facts and statistics aprOpos to
this rstarehal custom Of distributing tho products Of
the land.
There interesting journal called tho Eoloko pub
shed IN Geneva, and devoted TO this Russian question,
from which mary important details may be extracted,
showing that tho system resembles cooperative farm
Before tho Of the serfs By Alexander there
had been much dissatisfaction from time TO time, caused
by augmentation OF the imposts exacted from these
to levy IN arbitrary tax, aud wishing TO replenish the
public treasury by crushing the growing prosperity Of
these little communes. which exist in great numbers
throughout tho Empire, she cuuningly effected her
purpose By gradually raising the mp6ts Johcres, which
called the levy OF the Tar" These ungenerous
eXactions wsl many Others which followed, Wero
assented TO- II actually instgaed by powerful and
oyerbearng arstocracy o whose estates the communea
formed paru and in Of time species Of recpro
cal hostility or aversion. assumed shape and orsaniza.
tlon the serfs and their masters This feeling
was perfectly natural the part OF the oppressed since
they are intelligent TO overlook the aggressons OF
those whom they consider as possessing no further right
70 their soil than the right Of conquest Such Is the
origin the present labor question In Russia which
resembes more our ancient strife for free colonies before
the Revolutionary War than our present strife
for social economy since the close OF the he
bellon. In order 20 show that the abolition
Of serdOm does settle the grievance but on the con-
trary the contest keener By berazng and en-
largng the scope ideas necessary TO draw plan
Of Russian on the northern border Of plot
OF fertile territory containing say 100000 acres, is stu
ated tho villa, stables, SummerhOuses &C., OF Russian
gentleman lie 10000 acres, which have descended
10 him from his ancestors The remaining $1,000 acres
are virtually the property OF the serfs and are worked
10y them in their hours Of leisure This privilege is the
rccompense they receive from the lord whose title to the
estate Is acknowledged and whose rule is supreme. In
the center OF the territory tho communal village, con-
taning houses enough for all the nhabitans radating
around them in all directions the farms and gardens
A complete system OF communal laws, sacredly handed
down the scayian patarchs and very little vary
ing from those OF the NOmads OF Noygorod who practced
the communal principle in oden times regulates the
tire colony These communal regulations have, how.
ever for several centuries been subject TO the legal
lied supremacy Of the There Is in this village
$50 families savesfOr U is necessary to imagine this pic
turo before the emancipation, In order to show tho
points on which the enfranchsed people base their
claims The entire population Of the village Is generally
about Eve times tho number OF the families because Rus
alan families are generally large Now each family is
entitled to farm and garden which Is variable In size
according the Increase dimnuton OF the members
There Is sort Of Board OF Management which is elected
by the Mir" e., universal suffrage, and its govern
ment is called tho AiniSlere President is also chosen
by vote TO rule over tem and is thus that the commune
itself makes the subdivisions Of the lots OF land All
troubles arc settled by discussion and VOTE or arbltra
ton The land which is the source OF production. and
therefore the point OF chief interest is the property OF the
commune not OF the individual. Not an inch OF 1t can
belong 10 any man as individual aud ransmissble prop
erty They all own 1t common, and their chef hap
piness consists as they contend in this fact because
they arc drawn thereby into faternal contact which
the cold commercial world forbids. When marriages
take place by which household is diminished, or IN
cases OF DEATH the council after due time conyenes ana
alters the proportions otthat famys alotment appor
tonng the area thus subracted to some family which
has increased in numbers This curious arrangement
frequently occasions removals and gives rise to the sus
pcion that careessness and dissatisfaction must follow
as consequence; but told that such little dspen
ations tend on the contrary. TO enyen society with
specie OF variety which aninates rather than dcour
ages.
The Russian commune with its farms lts village It's
schoolhouses markets, and parks, seems Ike mlnla
ture nation governed by republican system OF sub
mttng all matters OF Importance to the open vote OF the
people. The electoral prercgative is absolute and It's
practice universal Every member OF the Society Is a
citizen speak. Of the state with equal interests 10
deyeop and defend IT. andI assured these miniature
goyernmus OF which there exist thousands In the great
domain Of the Russas resemble much the similar system
Of the Republic OF America.
Such is the plan and practice Of life throughout this
vast empire which renders itself very dear 10 the hard
working classes by the double ties Of antiquity ana sue
oess But who heard Of downtrodden virtue "hie
parasitic authority played the role OF historian Peoples
have no chroncers and they stand ont In prominence
only As the dogged OF individuals representing
not freedom und virtue. but numbers and force such
WAS the case with this naturally intelligent people ever
trugrnr for practical democracy, with domestic econ
omy for their guide. Their condition has ever
| remained until Wise aud just man pro
nounccd the edlct of their emancipation. THIS
| WAS the greatest event Of Russian history since
IL gave birth TO the Russian labor question ~ enish
Iggrge
one dared speak. Now. they whisper; ANA the Orrhe IS
tanning vast but shed Intelligence into judgment ana