The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-15
STILL BOUND TO THE SOIL.
THE TRUE CONDITION or RUSSII's
EMINCJP1TED SURFS.
A Great scheme Carried Into Eject Almost
without BIoodshed The Communal Sys-
TEN Failure Grave Questions to settle.


without BIoodshed The Communal -ys-
TEN Failure Grave Questions to settle.
odessa Correspondence or ne AeBpbis Appe1i
The peasant of Russia Is nm amiable,
kind, gentle creature, not too fond of work, nj
ways in n good humof. devoted to Russia and
to his Emperor. Unfortunately fond of his volka "a
llduor distilled from rye), and an humble and
devout worshlpper before the affairs Of his
church, which he seldom fails to attend. lie Ia
harmless and retiring to the last degree, but Is
not without fair share Of personal courage,
and is READILY trained to a skill md dexterity m
the use OF arms and IN military inducements. und
makes "A soldier not TO be despised. As servants
they are devoted to their matters. and are hon
est and faithful, and well deserve the Gift Of
freedom which their Emperor few years ago
made them. and which has thrown halo OF
glory about him which the waves OF time
Will not for generations to come deface.
Their prayers will follow him, aud their children
will bless him for all timo. The position OF the
serf IN Russia was most singular one He was
bound to the soil, and passed with II into whose
soever hands II passed vet retaining his bonds.
Iho church. winch is the great moving,
clvilizing power, recognized them as chill,
dren Of the same common Father. and
welcomed them WITHIN her oapacous
doors upon an equal footing with prince prince
the sanctuary. clothed in Mis- sheep skins, with
the freedom aud assurance OF the highest In the
lind; nor did his conscience allow him, be ne
ever so much inclined, to stand away aud make
room for more pretentious wOrsh pDers. clothed
IN purple and linen. lie walked to the altar and
bowed down before his patron SAINT, aud made
his devotions beside his emperor or his lord
though he occupied nm equal social position
] "A
common chattel' and was without power TO
rlise hims ~ unless, as was often the case. the
ma ster gave him freedom and lands, which made
MIN az once himself q lord Many Of them have
passed to exalted positions IN the church ara IN
the empire, and have made their names Nus.
trous, ana perhaps shaiued the men VINO had
iOrded II over themselves ind families. The
serf was entitled TO "A better posi- ion, being Of
the same blood, worsnipping the same God at
the same altar aud without even pratence
! tnnt he was OF AN inferior race than the man
VINO owned him.
And now, I this point, word IA TO the pro.
| cess - emancipitiOn. oar own ue0ple have had
I the same subject pre- cnted Tor con-ideratton,
and It's one thai has given no little trouble aud
! ANNOYANCE In Russia rs wei a. IN America II
would TIC unbecOming IN Us, as an officer living
! unger the protection OF the empire and ou1oN-
| ms us hospitality as courtesy 10 our own GOV
eminent. to write OF the on tr. ~ Russia In a
siirit Of criticism. and consequently we are
! silent "a 10 what might seem " us worthy OF
| condemnation. aud write only 81 things as they
| are, ana express no opinion OF our own. lbe
/ subject ~ emancipation IN Russia Is one that
! hid for several rcgns enc iged tue earnest at
lenton ~ the ruler. The great Catharine, the
! FIRST Alexander. and Nicholas 'ch contemplated
! l., but IL wa, finally accomplished In 1851 by a
! proclamation Of Alexander H., the plan having
been adopted by "A commission which had ~
meeting u, 81. Petersburg. Many Of tie MOBILITY
! OF Russia yOred the idea. and many opposed
| It Violently but IL was finally carried into effect
! without bioOdshed OF any magnitude. aud
| TWENTY-FIVE million of seIfs became ireemen.
| he seris obtained, as regards the land
| FiTst-A right to the perpetual tenancy OF
| their homcsteads, and to each parcel OF land
from two ana eightyslx one hundredths to
same. as agreed between the serf ana landlord.
Second-A right 70 demand the sale by the
lord ~ the household but IA this case tho allot-
| ment Of land Is reserved To the lord.
Third-A right to demand assistance from the
| state 10 purchase tne honeSteal, ahu aiso tne
| allotment, should the Landlord Dc Wiling TO
| p4rt with both.
In case the serf and landlord could not agree
rs to the price to be paid. the act provided Tor a
| commission to value the property and Tx the
! price to be paid by the serf to his landlord The
Interests Of the latter were protected by the fol-
| lowing provisions OF the act.
First-The landlord received money pay
| ment based on tho rents previously eni ~ ed. aud
| he coded without compensation only his pollt-
| teal rights over the serf and his right TO the
gratuisOus labor of the domestic ssrf.
SecOnd-lhe landlord could insist upon the
! purchase by the serf Of the allotment Of land
when the seri demanded to purchase tue home
stead. and he could refuse to sell the allotment
without tina homestead.
rhird-By gift to the serf of one-quarter Of
this land allotment THE serf cOnsentlngl, aud
tine perpetual tenancy OF the homestead, the
landlord could avoid the cession OF the allot-
ment ls liked 10y law.
esponslbility to care for the poor or from the
payment of taxes 10y the peasantry aud from
his previous obligation - defcnd actions at law
against the peasants on his land, and of paying
nnee imposed upon them, &c.
Flfth--lIe was paid In oUnds Of the empire
bearing five per cent. interest for his lands ana
| loss OF s-rf labor.
Sixth-He was aided by the Government To
pay Oh any incumDrances on his land, So that
tne serf took an uncloudsd title
On the lst OF January. lHi2, $4,000 acres of
land had passed INTO She hands Of 6.OJj,OJJ Of
! male -erts-being an average Of ten acres each
aus the imperiu excheqrer had pad 10 the
/ landlords GU4,OOO0n roub!t- equivalent D about
| ShJu.Ua,OO) 10 repay To the Government this
enormous sum OF money IRE Ieasant, ourlng a
/ term Of fofty-nine years, PAYS poll Nof 4
I nXed amount yearly. In order 10 secure such
j repayment. "a system Of collective responsibility
was introduced, under which tle peasintry OF a
! commune guarAuteed mutualls the payment OF
| their take, ana Redemption dues. The viii
! age cnumune% therefore. as corporate bodies.
/ really became iho pufci '-srs oi the lHnd coded
! - the pUasautrN WHO mus. 10 a great extent,
4 are tenants under communet In order,
also. 10 prevent the dissolution OF the
| aud financial UNITS, aud not d modern CO.
/ operative Hasocia ION, the cnaacipHttou act
/ contains a variety OF subtle proyisiuns
| whIch preUent the peasantry from leaving the
SOL. and tney are thus bound Ia It Is hrmly rs IN
| the DAYS OF serfdom, during the coutinuation OF
their liability TO the government for moneys ad-
! yanced. Inc communal system ~ now gener-
| ally aeknOwlod to be a failure, the Incentive to
| individual xertiOn being removed 10y IL, and the
| burden tails heavily upon tue industrious ana
ahe peas ants nile the Lazy and INDECENT escape
| this Responsibility ana at the same time enjoy
| the possession Of their allotment Il land. Their
! self government, with which they we're endow
/ cd IN 1861, has been recently severely con-
/ demned In the report OF an imperial COM
| mis- ion appointed by the ministry Oi domains.
] Like an uneducated masses, their system OF
| seif-government l. exceedingly crude, and their
| administration of justice AS corrupt "a II Is
! crude. The question Of the emancipation,
education. and civilization Ot the serls has been
! "A dficult one. and men of stout hearts have
| but we may hope that they, ENJOYING freedom
| and becoming educated, IN time the work may
| he accompisne and this ignorant, crude mass
| OF humanity may stand upright III thsir man
| hood and become the GROWING glory OF the
| empire.
Won De Good Times Come Agiue
pam ne atlanta Conshtuhon.