The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-01
RUSSIAN COSSACKS.
The Lawless, Daring, Unprincipled MeI
who Compose the Cars Body Guard.

/ see here and at ST. Petersburg only
a few soldiers on the streets, and the
dashing Cassocks riding like mad or
horseback are the life of the military
for the winter. The Cossacs are the
life guards of the Gar, and are the
most interesting of the many charac.
ters in this strange country.
A genuine Cossack has no more ap
probation or dread of danger than he
has of his vodka, a terrible rum, which
he drinks like water and which
makes intoxication at sight. He was
the original soldier of Russia, the
patron detective and the prime spirit
in making republican institutions wha!
they are. He is devoted to the Gar.
and for his devotion has been knighted
in the Highest degree. The acme OF
the Russian soldier is to become as.
sociated with the service of the crown
and to be located about the palace
When a soldier is stationed in the
vicinity of the palace and il becomes
known that he has been recognized by
the Gear, his reputation has reached
the zenith, and he instantly becomes
the admiration of the entire people.
To get promotion en- suite-tbat is,
is to acquire the highest honor million
Russian soldiers aspire to.
In all the wars Russia has fought
from her organization the Cossacks
have figured most tcouspicuously. They
especially did the bloody work when
Napoleon came over from France in
1912 and attempted to conquer the
empire. The great French general
fa 10 hon wi
he was unable to strike back, the
was continuous bushwhacking till the
retreat hogan. when the Cossacks rode
out 40, 900 on horseback and shot down
in cold blood almost twice their num-
Der i'll NapoleOn's ranks. For CEN
turies these people have been the pre-
dominant inhabitants on both sides of
the Crimea against inlruders, Nearly
half a century ago the Czar rewarded
the tribe by making all CossacGs in his
service his special life guard. Alto.
gether the most brutal and ignnrant.
the Cossack is thus given the most
conspicuous position in all this great
army. Whenever you see Alexander
III. YOU see a swarm of COssacks about
him, riding over pedestrians. slash
ing their sabres in the air. and holding
high and arbitrary authority. They
hal e complete privilege and exercise
it to the fullest extent:
4 Cossack soldier is granted eom-
plete immunity against punishment for
all but the highest crime, which is
murder in cold blood. If he wantonly
murders an innocent aud unnffending
citizen or companion he is court
martialled and probably imprisoned
for three OF six months, but it is eX-
tremely difficult to convict him when
once arrested. He is furnished horse,
clothing and rations when stationed in
a city, bHG Is g'Yon no salary, and
rations only when he cannot forage:
About one=fourth of them are thus
supplied by the hands of the Gar,
while nearly hundred thousand al
them are privileged to go about the
country and in the name of the Czar
pillage and plumber. They hold up
strangers, commit burglary sometimes
and demand at the hands of the people
the best there is to live upon. 1t is
useless to make complaints of their
depredatians, rs they are legaliEed.
The people have to keep tte Car and
guard his life; they must protect him
and all his interests, and he holds that
they may just as well do some of their
acts for the empires preservation
directly, by maintaining Il band OF
marautlerS, as TO do il Indirectly
through the channel of the treasury,
1t does not follow that because a
soldier is life guard he must be at
side OF the one lie is employed to
protect HIS field is in any spot he
;an locate effort to injure the empire
9r IFS Gar He is a secret or PUBLIC
letectiyp, or soldier, according te
his purposes or desires. He goes about,
When not under direct orders, in the
Uniform of Il soldier or the dress of q
civilian. At St. Petersburg. moi
many days ago. saw a Gossack il
private citizen's dress on the street
walking in hot haste. He wore u lon!
ulster, buttoned up to the chin. H
was in the role of detective. In
little group of men he espied his gam
"a slender youth. Hastily unbutton
ing his great coat he drew forth
bugle. A single. short call. and at hi.
side were three or four of the fiercest
looking Dossaek soldiers ! ever saw
They came in twinkling, wore coats
of-mail caps, and at their sides and ir
their belts we're pistols, knives apG
maces sufficient to start band q
Texas highwaymen, The arrest wa:
not resisted, and the display seemed
entirely unnecessary.-M0Sc Lette'
to Kansas city Times.