West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-09-04
THE CAUCASUS.
Bussisu Rule in the Mountain Country of
the Empirc.

1t is precisely in the north and west
of the Caucasus, tho regions first an
oexed by Russia, and over which the
tchinopniks have consequently held
longest sway. that the condition Of the
country is the least satisfactory IN
tcusiyo migrations of the indigenous in
habitants have left il almost without
population. Great stretches Of land
once belonging To the mountaincers
werc made over to Cossaok settlers.
and distributed among Government
functonarics; but the latter either be-
cause they are unskilled in husbandry
or out of sheer idlcness. have let their
farms for the most part run 10 waste
The Cossack settlers, unable. for similar
reasons, TO mako n living out OF the
soil, are maintained at the expense of
the Government, and districts once i'm a
high state of cultivation aud inhabited
10y a thriving peasantry are now COW
crel with brushwood and almost de
populated, and the whole country pre-
sents an aspect of abandonment and
ruin.
The difference between the condition
of the country under the rule of the
rude mountainccrs and under that of
tho Cars tchi8OUnikS Is striking and
sadly significant of tho loss il has sus-
tanned 10y annexation to Russia. The
district inhabited by the warliko
Cabards was formerly covered with
superb gardens and productive vino
yards, and the natural fertility of the
soil was Increased by nm admirable sys-
tenn Of irrigation. But when the Rus
slams took possession, all was changed
as 10y the stroke Of somo wicked en-
chanter's wand. The canals have fallon
into ruin, the acacia walks have dis
appeared. and the magnificent lime
trees have been cut down for the fires
| OF Russian functionarics. The traveller
may now journey for miles and find on
his way only destruction and waste.
Albeit thirty years have elapsed since
| the conquest of the Caucasus, the peo-
| pie, so far from becoming reconcilcd to
the Russian yoke, continue TO leave
thor homes en- mdSSc and take refuge i'm
Turkey. The history of this emigrat on
is cminently characteristic of the sys-
| tenn of colonization pursued by the Rus
sian Government Ii might also seem
as II its object were To depopulatc the
| country, for no sooner did mountain
| tribe make their submission than the au-
! thorites offered them the alternatives
| of descending into the valleys and plac-
ing themselves directly under Russian
rule or cmigrating. Most Of the mount
! aineers preferred emigration, though
in quitting their homes they had to
leave behind them their crops and cat
tie, all of which became the property
OF the Cossack cOlOnists. They made
in crowds for one or other of the ports
| on the Black Sea, hundreds dying on
the way OF sheer want and privation.
But in 800 the policy of the Govern
| mcnt underwent "A sudden change. See
ing that the land was falling out of cul-
| tivation and the country becoming de
populated, the authorities began TO
throw impcdiments in the way OF the
emigration they had formerly encour-
| aged. and i'm 1867 it was forbidden by
special enactment. In 1873, when two
mountain tribes demanded permission
TO emigratc and attempted to carry out
their purpose without waiting for an
answer, they were forced back by sol
diers and the leaders arrested and OK
He'd TO Siberia.
On many occasions, moreover. the
Government has not kept faith with the
Circa5sians. When the Tchctchcntsv
were conquered the Russian Command
cr-in-Chief, Prince Bariatinsky. issued
| n proclamation in which he solcmnly
guaranteed them in the undisturbed
possession Of their properties. Yet.
despite this promise, the greater part
OF their land was cOnfscated and be.
slowed upon the Cossack and Russian
functionaries. and the unfortunate
Ichetchentsy were driven into n corner
! OF their ancient domain there to live
as best they could SmartinQ under
the injustice inflicted on them. these
men took TO brigandage, and became
the terror of the country.
The object OF these measures was. OF
course, TO "Russanize" the Caucasus.
and by weakening and impovcrishinV
the people, 90 keep them in complete
subsection and prevent future rebellion
but their inevitable effect was 10 cause
feeling Of bitter hatred against every
thing Russian, above all against the
Russian Goyernment-a hatred which
subsequent proceedings OF the Admins
tration have rendered still more bitter
and inveferate There are ono meas
urc and one law for the Russian colon
lists and another measure and other
laws for the Circassians. For instance.
the former have the privilege Of elect
ing their own village Mayors and com.
mon chiefs, while the "Commission-
ors' set over Circassian villages are
chosen by the police, who naturally np-
point their own creatures men for the
most part utterly ignorant Of the wants
and ways Of the people and hostile 10
their religion. Justice is equally par
ual; there IS no such thing as equality
before tho law. n a COssack kills "a
native the authorities always pretend
That the act was committed In self de-
fence and the aggrcs5or generally gets
OF scottree. When n Russian h the
victim 10 is very different In that case.
whether there b. proof or not. the nu-
ihoritics alway- assume that the mur-
dcrer must be a Circassan and punish
an entire district for the fault OF n sin
gle individual. Whenever crime is
committed in "a village the perpetrator
OF which can not be- discovered. the en-
tire commune, sometimes several nciph-
boring communes. are held responsible
and dealt with accordingly.
Another cause OF heart burning and
strife Is the question Of disarmament.
for % mountainccr disarmed is man
dishonored, and a. the Russian colonist.
always carry weapons n native without