The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-10-06

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and shme alike. The spring corn, which
proved such n disastrous failure, has
been sown a second time; but, rs before,
mother earth refuses to yield up her
fruits, and, as a consequence, despair
has spred over all the land.
The rye crop has fallen far below the
average, and the wheat which has been
raised is OF the most inferior quality.
The SUMS rays beat down pitilessly on
the starving people, scorching the mead
ows and drying up the fodder Tor the
cattle, which arc dying in great mum
bers. No rain has fallen In months.
The rivers are running dry, while the
brooks have long since dried up, aud
the scene presented is wretched beyond
description.
In the Caucasus matters arc even
worse, and it is no longer safe for a
stranger to travel its byways aud high.
ways. Tor the peasants in their despair
attack those who pass that way in hope
OF securing money with which TO buy
f0od. Many villages are the scene OF
The Widest excitement, aud the Cars
officials arc said to have become so ter
rorized as to have lost entire control Of
the people. Curses, great aud small,
are being hurled at tho "White Car"
whom they hold responsible as the au-
thor of their misery.
IL Is learcu IN some quarters that the
famine and the callousness OF the Gov
ernmcnt TO the existing conditions will
precipltate Il revolution. 1t is believed
that the starving people will stop at
nothing to secure some recognition of
their rights. The Holy Synod proposes,
as means OF preventing an outbreak,
TO contribute money and precious stones
from humber of the rich moaasteries
TO relieve the needs OF the most serious
cases. MANY Of the villages are more
than halt dcpopulated through this
dreadful scourge, but where 1t will end
and what the result will be no one can
tell.
| THE CAUSES OF THE DISTRESS.
The present condition of the Russian
Empire is not attributable alone to the
failure OF the crops. Various causes
have conspircd to produce existing re-
suits. Since the emancipation of the
serfs in 1861 the agrarian question has
been matter OF great import to the peo-
| pie. 1t is a veXed question and one very
difficult OF solution. Toa student of the
evolution OF the empire the present DIFF
iiculty is not altogether a surprise. No
other result could be expected from the
system OF land tenure which to-day OBJ
tains in Russia. The liberation of the
scrts was effected not 80 much from a
humanitarl Ill feeling as from economic
considerations.
That emancipation has utterly tailed
TO realize the expectations of both par
lies to The transaction, no one can deny.
The so-called liberation of the peasant
has not brought him either prosperity
or happiness, for at present he is vr-
tually under as great bondage as he
was in the time of Nicholas.
In 1862, when division of the land
took place, but small portion was
allotted to each peasant-scarcely sufli-
cient for his needs at the time; but no
provision was made Tor the probable in
crease OF population. AS time passed
the peasant found himself with a large
family on his hands, but with no extra
land to till whereby they could be main
tanned. AS consequence, the surplus
population driftcd to the large cities, and
i'll time formed an immense proletariat
which represented nearly all of the vices
and but few OF the virtues Of the nation.
Ills this element of the Czar's domain
which causes the Government the great
est uncasiness. but as yet no remedy
has been devised for its prevention
People must live, and if the land will
not yield them adequate supporter,
rather, if INSULT lent land Is given them
on which TO maintain an eXlstencc-the
only alternative left them is to seek the
more busy haunts of men and cast their
lot with the struggling crowd.
Since their liberation the great bulk of
the pcasantry have been in condition
not many removes from actual starya-
tion. Even The official press is forced
to acknowledge the fact that the people
are In far worse condition than they
were before their emancipation.
THE EVER.INCREASING MISERY.
| The terrible and ever-increasny mis-
cry OF the millions OF the Russian peas.
antry is Il blot on the escutcheon of the
Government which time can never wipe
out, and which, to great extent, iusli-
lies the discomfort Il. d rebcllious nature
OF the people. Then, again, when a
crisis like the present arises and no ade-
Quatc provision is made for the emer-
gency the people would be little less
than human did they not take the law
into Their own hands, as many of the
poor creatures whom | have lust de-
scribed have done.
The burden of taxation is also very
great. and TO meet it the poor peasant
is compelled to give two. thirds of his
time to labor outside oi his own little
plot of laud. This he is obliged To do,
as his portion Of the soil docs not Weld
sufficient To enable him to exist and at
the same time meet the demands of the
Cars officials. Instead of serving one
master, as formerly, they have now be-
come the prey of these tyrants.
1t not infrcquently happens that this
system OF taxation is carried to such an
extent that the poor peasant. unable TO
meet the demands OF these human vul.
tules, sees the humble home which his
patient toll has reared gradually slip
from his grasp. First his horse, if he
owns one, will Ue seized for payment of
taxes, then one by one his household
goods will disappear until finally the
home itselfis taken. These tchonOvuiks
(ollicials) having no fear OF punishment,
Systematically carry en their work of
spoliation.
AS l have said elsewhere: Each
Governor is an autocrat in his province :;
each chief Of police is an autocrat in his
district; each police is an auLocrat in his
canton, and each CossacK lieutenant is
an autocrat in his village" The poor