Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-08-20

ing themselves Oiitctlf unQtt itUtt IN
rule or omigrating Most of the mount
aiueers pr ferred emigration, though
in quitting their homes they had 70
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 1860 the policy Of the Govern
ment underwent a sudden chagsre. Sec.
ing that the land was fall l'ng out of cul-
tivation and the country becoming de-
populated, the authorities began 20
throw impediments in the way OF the
emigration they had formerly encour-
aged. and IN 1867 il was forbidden by
special enactment In 1873, when two
mountain tribes demanded perm ssion
to emigrate and attempted to carry out
their purpose without waiting for an
answer, they were forced back by SOL
diors and the leaders arrested and ex-
He'd TO Siberia.
On many occasions. moreover, the
Government has not kept IA tn with the
Circassians. When the Tchctchcntsy
were conquered the Russian Commaud-
erin Chief. Prince Bar atinsky, issued
proclamation In which he solemnlv
guaranteed them in the undisturbcd
possession of their properties. Yet,
despite this promise, the greater part
of their land was couiscated and he.
slowed upon the Cossack and Russian
functionarics. aud the unfortunate
Tchetchentsy were driven into n corner
Of their ancient domain, there to live
as best they could. Smarting 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 "Russianlze" the Caucasus,
aud, by weakening aud impoverishing
the people, to keep them in complete
subsection and prevent future rebellion;
but their inevitable effect was to cause
a feeling OF bitter hatred against every.
thing Russian, above all against the
Russian Governmental hatred which
subsequent proceedings Of the Admins
tration have rendered still more bittet
and inveierate. There are one meas
ure aud 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 chefs, while the ''tommission-
e.s' set over Circassia villages are
chosen by the police. who naturally ap.
point their own creatures for the
most part utterly Ignorant of the wants
and ways of the people aud hostile tc
their religion. Justice is equally par.
tial; there is no such thing as equality
before the law. II a Cossack kills q
native the authorities always pret, nd
that the act was committed in self de.
fence, and the aggressor generally get;
oil sSot-free. When n Russian is the
victim it Is very different In that ca ie
whether there b, proof or not. the au
thorities always assume that the mur-
derer must be a CircasSiqn and punish
an entire district for the fault of sim
gle individual Whenever a crime Is
committed in village the perp TRAITOR
OF which can not be discovered, the en-.
tire commune. sometimes several neigh.
boring communes. are held re ,ponsible
and d alt with accordingly.
Another cause of heart burning and
strife is the question of disarmament,
for nnountaineer disarmed is n man
dishonored, and As the Russian colonists
always carry weapons native without
is at the mercy of the first Cossack he
meets Hence every attemp, to enforce
the law in this regard is tiercely resisted
and ofter attended with riots. bloodshed
and receil'sn. The ill-feeling arising
from this state Of things is by no means
limited 10 the Circassians. 1t is no less
bitter on one side than the other. A
Co5sack LOOKS upon a mountaineer rs Q
savage whom il is his duty to keep in
order, and whose life he is no way
bound TO respect, while a mountaineel
regards Russian as worthless cur.
whom, when occasion offers, he may
kill with impunity. ---Stepniak, ia Lon
DON Iines.