The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-01-12
The CAUCASUS.
Russian Rule I'm the Mountain Country oil
the Empire.

nexed by Russia, and over which the
tchinoUniks have consequently held
longest sway. that the condition of the
country is the least satisfactory Ex-
tensive migrations of the indigenous in
hab;tants have left il almost without
population. Great stretches of land
once belonging TO the mountaineers
were made over to CosSack settlers,
and distributed among Government
functIonarieS; but the latter, either be-
cause they are unskilled i'm husbandry
or out of sheer Idleness, have let their
farms for the most part run to waste.
The CoSsack settlers, unable. for similar
reasons. 10 make a living out of the
soil. are maintained at the expense of
the Government. and districts once in a
high state of cultivation and inhabited
by thriving peaSantry are now coy
ere with brnshwood and almost de-
populated. and the whole country pre-
SCENTS an aspect of abandonment and
ruin.
The difference between the condition
of the country under the rule of the
rude mountaineers and under that of
the Cars tchiROUniks is striking and
sadly significant of tho loss il has sus-
tanned by annexation tO Russia. The
district inhabited by the warlike
Cabards was formerly covered with
superb gardens aud productive vine
yards. and the natural fertility of the
soil was increased by IN admirable sys-
tenn of irrigation. But when the Rus
SLAMS took possession, all was changed
as by the stroke of some wicked en-
chanter's wand. The canals have fallen
into ruin, the acacia wsiks have dis
appeared, and the magnificent lime
trees have been cut down for the fires
of Russian functionarieS. The traveller
may now Journey for miles and find on
his Way only destruction and waste.
Albeit thirty years have clsvsed since
the conquest of the Caucasus. the peo-
pie. so far from becoming reconciled to
the Russian yoke. continue To leave
their homes en- miSSc and lake refuge i'm
Turkey. The history Of this EN- graz on
is EN- nently characteristic of the sys-
tenn of colonization pursued By the BUS
S an Government Is might also seem
rs if its object were To depopulate tho
for no sooner d q mOuntain
tribe make their submission than the au-
thorities offered them the alternatives
of descend ng into the valleys and plac.
ing themselves directly under Russian
rule or emigrating. Most of the mount
aineerS pr, ferred emigration. though
in quitting their homes they had tn
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 change. SEQ
ing that the land was iall NC out of cul-
tivation and the country becoming de-
the authorities begsn "a
throw impedimentS in the way of tho
they had formerly encour-
aged. and in 1867 il was forbidden by
special enactment. In 1873, when two
tribes demanded permission
TO emigrate and attempted To carry ont
heir purpose without waiting for an
answer, they were forced back by sol
1iers and the leaders arrested and ex-
led to Siberia.
On many occasions. moreover. the |
Government has not kept a'th with the
When the Tchetchcntsy
were conquered the Russian Command
erin Chief, Prince Bar atinsky. issued
4 proclamation i'm which he Solcmniy
guaranteed them in the undisturbed
possession of their properties. Yet,
despite this promise. the greater part
Of their land was coniiscstei and DO
slowed upon the CoSsack and Russian
and the unfortunate
were driven into a corner
Of their ancient domain. there to live
as best they could. SmsrtinS nndel
the injustice inflicted ON them. these
men took to brigandage. and became
The terror Of the country.
The object of these measures was, o.
course, to ''RussianIzc' the Caucasus,
and, by weakening and impoverishing
the people, to keep them in complete
subsection and prevent future rebellion,
but their inc sitable effect was To cauSa
a feeling of bitter hatred against every.
thing Russian. above all against tho
Russian Governments hatred which
subsequent proceedings OF the Admins
Lration have rendered still more bitter
and inveterate. There are one meas
ure and one law for the Russian colon
stS and another measure and other
laws for the CircaSsianS. For instance.
the former have the privilege of elect
ing their own village Mayor and com,
mon chiefs. while the commission
ELS" set over Circassian villages are
chosen by the police. who naturally APP
point their own creatures-men for the
most part utterly ignorant of the wants
and ways of the people and hostile to
their religion. Justice is equally par
tial; there is no such thing as equality
before the law. III CosSack kills a
native the authorities always pretend
that the act was committed in sclf-de-
fence. and the aggressor generally gets
off Scot-free. When a Russian il the
victim it is very different. In that case,
there be- proof o. not. the All
thorities always assume that the muir
derer must be Circsssisn and punish