Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-23

ably made II more feasible to abolish serf-
dom, because the mobiles were as anxious
to be relieved of theitr debts as the serfs
were of their serfdom. The process adopt
! ed was gradual and embraced the follow
ing points: First-The peasants were COM
| PEELED to remain as tenants for nine wears
| until 1870, and to perform forty days
work year for The proprietor, but not
more than one working day in a week,
whereas, formerly the proprietor claimed
three days work in week. The peasants
might change their labor rent into money
rent, and already large numbers Of the
peasants have done so; this money rent,
called "obrok," averages roubles (sG.SD a
year for each peasants share. Second-the
proprietor was compelled to accept the
price fixed by law for the land, which Is
lG3 times the annual money rent. Now, as
this rent is roubles for each peasants
share, and each share is estimated TO aver.
age twelve acres, the average rent paid per
acre Is three-fourhs Of a rouble (57 cents);
hence the average price of land fixed by
law is $3.50 per acre. The village may at
any time purchase the land which 1t culti-
vated while its inhabitants were serfs. at
this price, at any time during the nine
years liked by law, and upon tender Of the
money tue proprietor is bound 10 hand
over to the illage an hereditary copyhold
or permanent lease, subject to the payment
Of fixed annual money rent, the land TO
be held in common by the villagers. The
government likewise bound itself to assist
the village 10 pay the cost of the land by
advancing per cent. bonds of the Impe-
rial Bank, amounting to three-fourths of
the cost, secured by mortgage of the mon
ey rent of the land bought, provided the
dwelling houses and farm-yards Of the viii
lage were also purchased.
When ii IL considered that the Russian
government has subsidized or bqi.St,a vast
system of railroads since the Or. ~ ., war,
in addition 10 the large outlay said 1ssary
under this arrangement for exlihI 4, shing
serfdom, IL is not to be wondered mat the
Russian debt has largely increased within
the last twenty years. But the advantages
accrung from IFS railroad system in time
OF peace have been so important that Lapv
mahufaciories have been put in operation
and wheat fields heretofore unavailable
have been opened up, and to-day 9TH,
''Black Sea wheat as converted into fiCeur
in France, has proven strong competitbr
in Mediterranean ports for American flourA
Though the receipts from her railroads and
the money-rent from villages thus assisted
by government loans approxima ely pro-
vide for the interest on that portion of her
national debt, still large debt has been
thus funded; but the result seems we'll
worth the risk. In time of war the rail-
road system would save loss of time and
waste of men, who could be supplied with
the necessities Of military life in greater
numbers and al less cost while the peas
ants, no longer serfs, are just as available
for military service as formerly. So far
the emancipation of serls in Russia has
been carried out without serious difficulty;
without resistance or hard feeling on the
part Of their former proprietors, without
tut bulence on The part of the serfs. There
has been less trouble in Russia in, thus
gradually emancipaling twenty-five aill-
ions OF serfs than in the United States in
suddenly enancipatng four millions of
slaves. The cost to Russia has been loan
of the purchase money 10 the serfs, secured
by the rental Of their lands, so that Il loan
might fairly be called national, with sink
ing iund mortgage security. The proprie-
tor and The serf both are satisfied andSihe
ST. te secured. In the United States we
have freed our slaves at The expense of
disastrous civil war, the cost of which 10
the national treasury would have pur-
chased the freedom of every African slave
in the world, TO say nothing of the losses
10 our national industries and the destruc-
tion of property accumulated during long
years Of peaceful thrift. And 10. day, when
this country finds itself brought face to face
with the evils resulting from a sudden
emancipation of one-tenth of her people
and their as precipitate investure with the
right and tremendous power of equal sul-
frage; when we find our presidential elec-
lion turning upon the vote of lately enfran-
chised slaves, we may well ask ourselves
what would have been the result If our
slaves had been thirty-eigbt instead of ten
per cent. OF our population, as were the
serGs in Russia? Yet in Russia the mighty.
change was wrought out as quietly and r-
resistibly as nature works its wondrous
changes, without the disinteeratlon of the
country or the loss OF material power,
whether for peace or for war.-BOSton Her.
aid.