Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-03-20

is calculated to do the person some good.
"And thus" exclaims the Messenger OF
Europe, "a miserable laborer, Temporal
rily out of work, can be arrested, sent
back to his village, where there Is moth
ing for him to do, and after having been
subjected to all the hardships and pri-
vations inseparable from a journey by
etape, condemned to an additional pun
ishment. And what punishment
Truly this can not be termed
safeguarding of the law, but rather a
palpable mockery of Justice"
The Zcmsky Natshalnik Of Ulomd
Government Of Nijni-Novgorod) be-
gan his administrative activity by for
bidding all peasants, ir. spective of age |
or sex, to appear in the streets or roads,
or to dance or sing, after eight o'clock
p. m; he likewise strictly prohibited
them from visiting each others dwell |
ings for the purpose of carrying on con-
versations and discussions, under pain
of imprisonment and the lash. The
Liberal organs are now asking, in as
tonishment, whether it can be true that
peasants are to be punished with i'm
prisonment and the lash merely for
calling upon each other and having a
quiet chat. But even when crime has
undoubtedly been committed and the
community is interested in the discov-
cry of the criminal, the Zemsky Nat
shalniks use the lash as indiscriminate-
ly as when all are notoriously innocent.
In q district of the Government Of
Tshernigoff, for instance, a peasant
complained that his turkey cocks had a
disagreeable way of disappearing from
his farmyard and from the village gen.
orally. He did not know exactly who
was committing these depredations on
his property, but he suspected little
boy Of eleven, who might possibly
be aided and abetted by rela
tions who were of an age
TO know better. The Zemsky Natshal-
mix at once declared that 1t would save
much time and trouble If the child were
flogged till he made clean breast of
1t; so he told the peasants to assemble
and do their duty. These rude, half
civilized creatures, however, had more
scruples about carrying out the SEN
tence than their betters felt in pro-
nouncing it. Hesitating to fog mere
child and afraid to disobey the "Tsar's
ambassador" as the Zemsky Natshal-
niks liked to be called, they compro-
missed the matter by fogging an elder
brother of the child. In comparison
with this sort of thing, fogging peas
ants in order to compel them to pay
taxes seems a natural, legal and wise
procedure. AS an instance of how 1t Is
done may quote the following order
sent round to the peasants of the
Ephremovsky district of the Govern
ment of Toola, and published by the
"Peterburgskia Vedomosti" few days
ago: 81 hereby order the starosts (peas-
ant-elders) to call the peasants together
tomorrow and make known to them
that they have got to pay all taxes by
Saturday next, and, when l verify the
list, all who have not paid will be
fogged in presence Of the assembly,.
Here and there, no doubt, traces of
the old spirit are still extant, as was
shown a few days ago In the Govern
ment Of Smolensk, where the peasants,
having refused to appear at some meet
ing, were summoned in body to the
Volost Board, without being enlight-
ened as to the object for which they
were wanted Reluctantly they obeyed,
and when the whole seventeen of them
were safe in the room of the hut the
watchman closed the door, turned the
key and put it in his pocket. Now,
what might that mean?" asked
one of the mystified rustics. "It means
hot poultice for every mothers son OF
ye-that's what it means," was the can
did reply; ''fifteen piping hot for each
of We, brothers." "It's not lawful to
lock the door," protested one. "The
sentence should have been read over to
u.s." urged another. "It's dead against
the law, brothers, and we won't lie
down." cried third and so they
argued, protested and stormed until
they were tired. Better have 1t over,
brothers," shouted out stout,
burly fellow with thick skin and nc
nerves to speak of. The others list
ened in silence, and at length agreed
that he was right. Then arose the i'm
portant question of precedence, Wht
was to handle the lash? No one wa.
desirous of the equivocal honor. Al
last the same wise man solved the ques
tion satisfactorily. "It's all one, boys
the first will get no more than the last
so don't mind If lie down"-and
suiting the action to the words, ht
made the necessary alterations in hi
toilet, lay down like lamb, anc
the dolorous operation was begun
Meanwhile a storm-cloud burst owe,
their heads and the rain poured dowl
in torrents. "The scene," we are told
J was highly impressive. In the hut
was pitch dark, and nothing could b,
, heard save the dull thud of the lash. tn,
subdued moan, the wincing and wrig
Cling on the floor, and the vague, inar
, ticulate murmurs of the peasant
around. Suddenly brilliant flash o
J lightning turns the night into day
, revealing the bare back with the re,
, marks made by the rods, the brick
| colored, wedge-shaped, shaggy beard o
/ the heaving mass on the ground, th
: anxious crowd standing closely III
, against the wall of the room, tn
| vigorous sweep of the lash, the gfoom
figure of the elder, and the ironica
glance of the secretary. 4 won't Ii
l down. exclaimed one of the peasants
\ for I am not the owner Of house, on
I wasn't sent for. My father asked m
: to come and see what's up It's al
5 one, said the practical elder; down o.
, your marrow bones and take you