The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-02-18
A FAMOUS RUSSIAN REvoLUTIoNIsT
What "Stepnials" Says of the Injustice OF
Russia's System of Taxation.


Russia's System of Taxation.
In one of the dingiest squares in the
west central district of London lives
aStepniak," the famous Russian writer
and revolutionist. In the course of a
recent interview he said:
"When the late Car Alexander
emancipated the serfs he received the
applause of civilized Europe. 1t was
thought to be a gracious act worthy Of
an enlightened age. Russia hailed it as
the dawn of new era. But what has
been the result? Millions of people have
been emancipated from slavery to So
called freedom which has burdened
them with responsibilities they are not
able to bear, and for the non-fuldllment
of which they are afflicted with punish
ments unknown to slavery itself. Rus
sia is peasant state. The inhabitants
of all the cities and towns make only 10
per cent. of the population, and one:
half of the towns are agricultural. And
our peasants are our taxpayers. They,
and not the wealthy folk, supply the
revenue of the state, and they are taxed
far beyond reason and justice. The
taxes are SO imposed that they fall due
Just before harvest time, when the peo-
ple have not yet turned their crops to
cash. At the best of times they have
barely enough to live On after they have
paid the government Demand how
much worse then must it be when they
are asked to pay their taxes just at that
season of the year when they have no
money? i; D.. '~:.s...,, -s. -'-..' -
aYou would think that it would only
be rational on the part of the govern
ment to postpone its days Of collection
until the harvests have been gathered
and sold. But the Russian government
does nothing that is rational. Year
after year efforts have been made to so
postpone the date when the taxes fall
due. But to no avail. For then the
officials would be bereft of an excuse for
piundering the peasants and approprlat-
ing their crops in the name of the law.
And understand that in Russia every
thing is done by the officials as they
think best, or, rather, as they find the
best chances for plunder. At one time
banks were started to assist the peasants,
so that they could lay up money through
the year to meet the taxes as they be-
came due, but, just as these institutions
met with favor from the men they were
designed to benefit and their Golfers be-
gan to fill with savings, decree was is
sued-which is only another way of say
ing that it was carried out-appointlng
government official at the head of
each bank, and the officials at once ap-
propriated the funds. ,.'.
"In Russia there is no public opinion
because there are no means of formu-
lating one. The peasants, who form
nine-tenths of the population, are
densely ignorant, and the educated
class suffer ceaseless prosecution unless
they enroll themselves prominently on
the government side. What are called
the 'Nihilists' are chiefly the educated
people, for there can be no harmony be-
tween despotism and enlightenment.
The educated GLASS have takeH up-ou
behalf of the peasant the battle which
the peasant is unable to fight for him
self, and for this they are persecuted be-
yond the power of an alien people to
believe. London Cor. New York Trtb-
une.