The workingman's advocate., 1871-06-24
THE INTERNATIONAL IN RUSSIA.
BY C. OSBORNE WARD.

anu dSSEeSslNc3 tueiC 10 ASuSSio SCAAAA-
atIng entirely different" This sugges-
tive remark refers to the new and rap
idly rising question of industrial prero-
gative Of which 1 promised to give
you some particulars in this letter.
The Russian communes, 80 ancient
and peaceful, resemble a cooperative
farm. They were, as was explained in
my last letter, originally free, and pos
sessed enlarged rights, based upon
code of laws, according extraordinary
freedom. Female suffrage was enjoyed
and practiced as a matter of necessity.
Every important action was adjusted
by the democratic voice. Their happi-
ness consisted in their unity and isola-
ton from centres of corruption. This
state Of things continued until the ad-
vent of what is called the " Yzarine
Centralization," meaning the individual
ownership system, brought into Russia
by the Muscovites, or usurpers, who
constitute the aristocratical population
of this country, and against whom
Cars, Czarines and nobility there is
springng an indiscriminate hatred.
The vitiating influence of the foreigner
grew worse and worse with his encroach.
ment upon the commune yet these en-
croachments were very sly and gradual
from century to century, owing to the
universal respect the communists en-
joyed from their strict honesty and
morality. These encroachments we're
engineered by the same sneak diploma
cy which characterizes all governmental
action of the age.
A mortal blow was struck against the
poor communists by the terrible con
scription. The reign of the Empress
Catherine proved an additional disaster.
She was too profilgate to live upon the
ordinary imperial assessments, and con-
nived with her satraps to gradually
raise the tax on the cOmmunes, by aug
menting the Imports Fonciers," which
was the levying Of the Tar. In con
sequence of this encroachment,a a direct
blow at the dutonOmie of the communes.
fierce controversy arose between the
minister or chief executive elected for
three years by the Mr., or universal
suffrage, and the hated muscovite no
bility
Again, during the reign Of the Gar
Nicholas, vexations encroschments we're
pushed upon the peaceful customs of
settling disputes by their time-honored
system of arbitration. In this way,
many old and long loved forms, once
legal, have been spoiled by petty, in
trusive laws. and hence the question of
strife, to-day, which is bringing about
the great cOmmunlstic struggle of Rus
sia | am indebted to Herr Gustaf
VOgt, whose acquaintance | made at
Berne, for many particulars Of this in
teresting question. The usufruct Of the
commune had always been enjoyed, to
greater or less extent, before the
abolition Of serfdom the Vetchi poPu-
Ldire disappears by the appearance Of
the Tzarine Capitalization the anto-
nomy Of the province ceases; the city
(hamlet Of the commune) loses its sig-
nlhcaucc the prince is reduced 70 his
title and patrimony fonciere. Instead
Of the 800 villes before the tzarine cen-
tralizatiOn, the imperialism has institute
ed $50, which are so many intolerable
centres Of rapine, exercised by the
functionaries over the people.
stated in the last letter that there
were originally no merchants among
the communists they were regarded by
them with adherence. Yet by the
gradual encroachments already alluded
to, the unWelcome Intermediates had
insinuated themselves to some extent
before the emancipation. A class or
caste of merchants was created by
Nicholas they made themselves extre-
mely obnoxious to the people by the
monopoly they held over distribution,
and they would never have succeeded
in obtaining this monopoly had they not
been assisted by the government. The
whole object Of government in estab-
fishing the merchants as a means Of in.
terchange, instead Of the periodical
fairs of the communists, which system
was impervious to speculation and dis
honesty, was to obtain another clue to
taxation. The government imports was
levied in form of licence. Any person
desiring to become a merchant must
register him-or herself by paying
guild. There were three kinds of guilds,
lst., one comforting the right of inter
national commerce, which cost the mer-
chant $4,000 year, exacted by the
government for each patent. The second
guild comforting right Of commerce
within the Empire, cost yearly 5000.
The third giving the right Of traffic IN the
city, was sold at 1925.
This wretched innovation created a
bourgeoisie among the communes-a
sort Of aristocracy called by the Rus
slams the MieStchanine, or in French, the
pdysdn cltadin. The popular accordance
Of class privilege claimed by the Mes.
f(L
cause the exOrbitant taxes wrenched
from the merchant, spite of the cOrrel-
latiFe advance exacted on the merchan-
disc, made them poorer than the agri-
culturalist. The Russian government,
Notwithstanding the miserable influences
OF the merchantlle system upon the
community in general, found the rural
communes, or the solidarity very handy,
and IS seeking at this moment TO bring
solid arifias into tho oit,oo