The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-03
The Russian serf In His New Free
dom.


itself to the existing framework Of society,"
These are among the important questions
of tho time, ana now that decade and
half has elapsed since the decree OF eman-
cipation they should admit of q partial
answer.
II is well known that in the greater part
of Russia the dominant and subject classes
wero OF the same race. and that serfdo M
was of recent origin, having been created
by an arbitrary ukaso less than three CEN
turtles ago. at the very epoch when similar
institutions were disappearing.from West
ern Europe. There was always room TO
doubt whether In principle the ownership
Of land was vested in the moujtk or in his
master, the boyGr. and 1t is certain that
the former was allowed by custom the
usufruct OF IA part of his lords domain.
These circumstances partly account for
the equitable provisions which distinguish
the Russian system of manumission from
all analogous undertakings.
Not contenting itself with tho naked
gift of personal freedom, as in the United
States, the law has here endowed the en-
franchised class with lands for its support.
Not mutilating it's favors by leaving the
new citizen under the patronage and
tutelnge OF his former owner, as in East
ern Prussia before the reforms OF 1872, the
law has secured to him local independ-
enoe by clothing his communal organiza-
ton with official administrative authority.
On the other hand, II was recognized that
the loss of prescriptive rights entitled the
bopdr to an indemnity. and 1t seemed
~ l. IA.
easy conditions, upon those who profted
by the social revolution. We may add
that the quantity of land conceded to each
male peasant in fee was commonly eqmva-
lent to the area Of which he previously had
the usufruct, varying from five TO twenty
Ave acres according to fertility OF soil aud
density OF population, while the indemnity
represented with tolerable accuracy the
value OF the services In kind (corveel or Of
themoney stipend lobrok) which formerly
on him, the noutfk was, as a rule, able 10
pay only in small annual installments
Hence the necessity OF extending the pro-
cess OF liquidation, and consequently OF
emancipation, over q long series OF years
80 long, therefore, as the peasant has not
formally accepted his allotment by COM
pletng u first payment. he continues 10
owe labor or pecuniary tribute to his former
lord. The difference is that these dues
are no longer arbitrary, but legally fixed
by local regulations. According to the
Messenger O0ctel the number OF quondam
serfs subject TO this transltory regime is
still considerable. amounting on Jan. l.
1875, TO rather more than q quarter of the
whole in the thrty-seven interior prov
inces.
without the financial cooperation OF the
Government 1t 10 obvious that such a
method OF purchase must have been
fraught with much embarrassment to the
proprietor as well as the peasant. Ao-
cord'ngly, the State advances the sum
required, or rather the larger part OF IT, 70
all who demand assistance, the terms of
reimbursement contemplating forty-nine
annual payments. Undei this system the
installments OF purchase money reluctant
ly made over by the enfranchised serf to
his former lord are transformed into n
species of impost, whose collection is en-
forced by the civil authority, while 10 the
manifest advantage OF the proprietor n
private cain Is converted into a negotia-
Die Government bond. The State in short
has made itself the banker Of the two in
tere.ted parties, and that its aid was an
indispensable factor in the scheme Of
emancipation seems TO be demonstrated
by results. out OF $500, 600 male peasants
who In the districts aboy named lave
awaited themselves Of the Leci ee and now
own upward Of fifty millions OF acres
seven-eighths required Government nd
vnnces' which already aggregate more
lhan hVe hundred millions 81 dollars
1t Is PLAIN that hslfH century must clause
before the process 81 manumis>ion is con-
cluded, mud the Russian scrf completely |
freed from special Obligations toward HE |
former lord on 10 ward ths state. Vet .,
Is probable that the day is not tar distant |
"hen every male peasant within the boua- |
darlss or the empire WIN have tlkcn. with |
Government assistance the nrst and de-
cisive step toward the acqusition Of ia.
lands assigned him. Not h wever. thai
mouth and bJydr evince eve yNLore III.
same anxiety to regulate tuei mutual SIT
uation In the province # Samala for
Instance, so late ~ ls74, scarcely NTH o.
the peasants, and in Brssar9bin not 4
tenth, had taken advantage OF the decree.
whereas IN Nlotka, Iskof, and khalkof at
the same 'pOch, the opei qton OF munl-
mission Was far advanced. In general it
n"y Ice noted that the saIs effcc cd by
mutual con put constitute but two-nflhs
~ TIE '.tal number, the reIvain lei having
been Drought about upon the demand of
Ihr pi"plciors OF their mortgages. The
''n'He OF emancipation gives the bopir
'"' Hs' 10 insist upon q purchase Of
""'' Nhi' 1r such % care tho nouh is
''Nl'l'd |" reduce hrs allotment 70 the
minimum neteiminen 10y local ordinances.
" mere 'hes"il ispoor end the ,cliius rate
'Hlchlaleh upon the oldtarifI Of srrl dues Is
high, the land owueris, Of course
Interested in occurring the prico authorized
~ law, and ptce uerSd
1t follows thai the scheme OF emancipa-
ION, although oyorI WLars l4punded upon