The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-03
Social Aspects of Russia.


productive activity, until II constituted, rs
SIEyEs affirmed, the nation, has only be-
gun to terminate in Russia. A glance ut
the social framework inherited from the
past, aud which is destined to succumb or
adjust itself to the pressure OF recent lib
ernl reforms, will indicate the actual situ-
alton aud the outlook of the Russian people.
A whole volume of the imperial code is
devoted TO the classes or conditions among
which the entire population is distributed
according to profession or birth. Prior to
the present reign definite place was
marked out by law for each citizen, and a
specific sphere for each class every spring
and wheel of the social machine having its
proper and narrow function, from which
1t could not diverge. Yet these groups,
although confined TO determinate voca-
tions, ana to this day, even, more sharply
Disseminated by manners and education
than by law, were not inilexible castles.
Their immunities and privileges were not
due TO their own initiative, TO inheritance,
or tradition, but to the uutrammelled will
of the sovereign who might, and did, pro-
mote OF degrade individuals from one class
to another.
The mobiles, the clergy, and a few rich
merchants incorporated in a certain guild.
composed the privileged categories, ex-
empted from military service. from the
heaviest direct impost-the poll tax-and
from chastisement by the knout on rod.
The remainder of the urban population.
burgesses, shopkeepers, and artisans, like
the peasants of the rural districts,
were subject to CONSUMPTION, capitation
rates, aud corporal punishment. BY GU
rious anomaly, however, there was no com
munity of feeling or interests between the
upper grades, the Russian nobility. unlike
the French noblesse, disdnining ecclesias-
teal dignities, which accordingly became
the appanage OF an hereditary priesthood,
and tue privileged tradesmen of large
towns retaining TO an Unprecedented ex-
tent the habits, sympathies, and prejudices
OF the common people. The isolation of
each class was not more striking than Its
want Of internal Conference and esprit de
corps. Each group was broken into sub
divisions often hostile to one another, and
| the dualism remarked in the ranks of &C.
| clesiastics between priest aud monk, the
white and the black clergy, was reproduced
III every stratum OF society.
The numerical disproportion of these
classes is the most impressive feature Of the
system. In European Russia, exclusive Of
the Caucasus and Poland, the rural popu-
lation is computed ut ifty-fve millions,
whereas the townfolk Of every species
scarcely aggregate tenth OF the number.
The discrepancy must appear more start
ling when we consider what inconsderRble
villages figure under the name of towns.
Even villages relatively 10 the area OF the
country, are twenty times further apart
than in western Europe. In extent of ter
ritory the United States may be compared
with Russia. but how wide difference in
respect of manners. ideas, and aspirations
Is implied in the contrast between our
teemiug urban life aud the sparsely peo-
| pied steppes of realm of peasants.
| AS the name kouptsy merchants assign
| ed TO the privileged section of the towns
people indicates the sole constituents Of Il
middle class subsisting in Russia were sup
piled by trade and manufactures. Most of
the so-called liberal professions which
elsewhere assured weight and authority
| to the third estate in advance of legisla-
| tive recognition, were scarcely known to
| the empire of NICHOLAS. There was small
scope, In fact for lawyers in a country
where so late as 1850 the rules Of procedure
| were still in manuscript, or for jurlsts
where legislation was a chaos, and its jul
dicial application arbitrary and venal.
We may add that literature and science,
until lately, owed nothing to the mercan-
| tile class.
Aside from the abolition of serfdom,
| which was a revolution in form as well as
substance the innovations of ALEXANDER
III. have aimed TO leave intact the social
structure, while infusing into IL the mod
| ern spirit, and measurably multiplying its
| repressive ana Insulating tendencies. The
| scheme Of reform, however, contemplates
not only the adjustment and moderation
I Of existing institutions. but the develop
ment of an entirely new class through. the
| creation Of employments and professio ns
which exact discipline and culture in
other words, by opening new and hone RAJ
bic channels to intellectual activity The
universities and the multiform progress of
education, the railways and other i'm
| proved facilities of communication, and
even the expansion of manufactures and
trade, should all cooperate TO the same
end, and generate by the side of tho old
III mercantile bourgeoisie an enlightened and
| powerful third estate, possessed Of various
aptItudes and ambitions, and constituting
vertable middle class. Already this is
| in process of formation, recruiting its
III ombers from all social categories, indie
| pendent Of caste distinctions, and sur
mounting with comparative ease prcju-
dices OF birth, because these, in spite Of
! appearances, have never struck deep root
| IN Russia.
Tho gulf between privileged and non
privileged clnsfcs has AT last been substan-
italy brdged. Iuder thenew system, the
burden Of military service has been dis
trbulod among all grades of society Some
years ago another equitable law relieved
| from the captation tax the smaller trades
men and artisans of towns, who, less for
tunate than the emancipatcd serfs. have
| no communal prosperity secured to them.
One OF the most pregnant innovations Of
| ALEXANDER, looking toward the fusion of
the whole people, Is the establishment of
provincial assemblies, wherein, for the
! first time, the different orders of the nation