The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-10-07

Ile l'Coi!L. i!Iil lDu ooOi iSSSifAi'o 'tie>A
and shale alike. The spring corn, which
proved such a disastrous failure, has
been soun second time; but, as before,
mother earth refuses to yield up her
traits. and, rs 4 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 suns ravs beat down pitilessly on
the starving people, scorching the mead
ows and drying up the fodder Io7 the
cattle, Which are dying in great mum.
bers. No rain has fallen in months.
The rivers are running dry, while the
brooks have long since dried up, and
the scene presented is wretched beyond
description.
In the Caucasus matters are even
worse, and it is no longer safe for a
stranger 10 travel its byways and high
ways, for the peasants in their despair
attack those who pass that way in hope
of securing money with which TO buy
food. Many villages are the scene of
the widest excitement, and the Czar's
officials are said to have become so ter
roriZed as TO have lost entire control OF
the people. Curses, great and small,
are being hurled at the white Gar"
whom they hold responsible as the au-
thor of their misery.
1t IS iearrd in some quarters that the
famine and the callousness OF the Gov
eminent 10 the existing conditions will
precipiLalc revolution. It is believed
that the starving people will stop at
nothing to secure some recognition Of
their rights. The Holy Synod proposes,
as a means Of preventing an outbreak,
10 contribute money and precious stones
from number Of the rich moaasteries
to relieve the needs OF the most serious
cases. Many Of the villages are more
than half depopulated 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 consp;red to produce existing re-
suits. Since the emancipation of the
seris in 1861 the agrarian question has
been matter Of great import to the peo-
pie. Its veXed question and one very
difficult OF solution. To student ofthe
evolution Of the empire the present d,f-
liculty is not altogether surprise. No
other result could be expected from the
system OF land tenure which to-day OBJ
lains in Russia. The liberation of the
sertS was effected not so much from a
humanitarian feeling as from economic
considerations.
That emancipation has utterly tailed
to realize the expectations of both par
ties 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 vir-
tually under as great a bondage as he
was in tie time Of Nicholas.
In 1862, when a division of the land
took place. but small portion was
allotted TO each peasant-scarcely sutli-
Gent 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 large
family On his hands, but with no extra
land to till whereby they could be main
tanned. AS consequence, the surplus
population drifted to the large cities, and
III time termed an immense proletariat
which represented nearly all OF the vices
and but few of the virtues Of the nation.
It's this cement Of the Czar's domain
which causes the Government the great
est uneaslnesS, but as yet no remedy
has been devised for it's prevention.
People must live, and if the land will
not yield them adequate supporter,
rather, if lasutti-ient land Is given them
on which 10 maintain an eNlstence-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 peasactry have been in a condition
rot many removes from actual starva-
ton. 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.lNCKEASING MISERY.
The terrible and ever-increasing mis-
cry of the millions OF the Russian peas
antrv is blot on the escutcheon OF the
Government which time can never wipe
out, and which, to great extent, ,iusti-
lies the discomfort ard rebellious nature
ot the people. Then, again, when
crisis like the present arises and no ade-
4uatc provision is made for the emer-
gcncy 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 just de-
scribcd 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 OF his own little
plot Of laud. This he is obliged to do,
rs his portion Of the soil does 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.
Ii not intreQuently happens that t!!s
system OF taxation is carried TO such an
extent That the poor peasant, unable 10
meet The demands OF these human vul-
turcs. sees the humble home which his
patient toll has reared gradually slip
from his Grasp. First his horse, if he
owns one, will be seized for payment Of
taxes. then one by one his household
goods will disappear until finally the
home itselfis taken. These tchonovniks
(oi!ici;ls) having no fear Of punishment,
Systematically carry on their work Of
Spol;ation.
AS | nave said elsewhere: Each
Governor is al autocz,t in his province;
each chief o! police is an autocrat in his
district; each police is an autocrat in his
canton. and each Cossack lieutenant is
ali autocrat in his village" The poor