The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-16
STARVING on THE yOLGA.
Pitable Condition Of German Colonists in
Russia-Iyorse Off than the Native
Peasants-Neglected in the
Distribution of Relief.

LONDON, March 1.-The special cor
respondent of Reuters Telegram Com
pany who is visiting the famine-strick
en- portions of Russia sends the follow
ing letter from Saratott, under da:e Of
February %, descriptive of the German
colonists OF the Eolga.
"The German colonists on the Folga
number about 100000. They may be
roughly classified as Protestauts, Cath
olics and Mennonites. With the ex-
ception of the last mentioned, they all
came over during the latter part OF the
eighteenth century in response to
manifesto issued by the Empress Cath
erine. In that proclamation Catherine
promised them certain privileges, the
most notable of which were immunity
from military service, self-government
and religious freedom. These privi-
leges were granted ma vek,' which
means forever, but the phrase has re-
Gently been construed to signify CEN
tury only. There is just enough am
biguity about the expression to admit
of this Interpretation, but it is cub
bles.
"When universal military service on
the German system was introduced
into Russia, the German colonists we're
told that they must either serve O.: go.
Many of them, especially the Mennon-
ties, who are kind of Quakers, chose
the latter alternative and departed.
The next thing to go was the self-gov-
ernment. The colonists used to be
governed by sort of elective council,
which met at Saratoff, and was called
the Office This body controlled the
vagaries of the village commune. The
Office has been abolished, and the
Zemski Natchalnik now reigns in its
stead. The German colonists have thus
been gradually brought under the con-
trolling influence Of Russian lnstltu-
tons. Even their religion is threaten
ed now. Fresh entertainments upon
their civil and religious liberty are Of
almost daily occurrence, and their in
dependence may already be described
as a thing of the past. Tne steady de-
cline in the fertility of the soil, which
has eliminated in chronic famine, and
the inhospitable attitude of the Gov
ernment have brought home to the
colonists the conviction that they have
in Russia no abiding place. They are,
therefore, emigrating in large numbers
to the United States.
"The advent of the Russian Zemski
Natchalnik among these sturdy, honest
Germans was quite uncalled for. The
Zemski Natchalnik is sort Of substi-
| tute for feudalism. The Russian peo-
pie are sadly in want of guidance and
guardianship. AS serfs they had Ghelr
master who looked after them, but
since they have been emancipated the
village commune has led them sorry
dance. It's no part of the Cars poll
cv to make the peassuT al educated
and independent member of society,
hence it was found necessary, after
twenty-five years of bad management
and thriftlessness, protect ctthe peasant
against himself and put him under the
tutelage of Zemski Natchalnik.
Whenever possible the people selected
for this office were gentry resident in
the neighborhood and already known
and respected.
In the case Of the German colonies
there was, in the first place, no neces-
sity to appoint such officers, and in the
second place there was no gentry to Sc
lect them from; consequently Govern
ment officials were appointed. The
authorities might have compromised
the matter by selecting prominent col
onists. There are not wanting arnong
the German colonists men of energy
and ability who have, by dint Of per-
severance and industry, risen to wealth
and influence. Thus the village G:
Messer. together with the whole sur.
rounding neighborhood, is practically
dependent upon Herr Schmidt, orig
inally a weaver by trade, who has be
come miller and . timber merchant
as we'll, and is gradually monopolizins
all the trade of the district.
"But it did not suit the Government
to appoint such men. The colonies wer'
to be Russianized. Hence Russian off
cials had to be appointed. The resul
was judicrous in the extreme. rhes'
officials, with salaries ranging from
eo00 to .c250 a year, arrived, armed
with full powers, and commenced t
give themselves airs. The infuentia
colonists, however, passed the wore
among themselves, and the Zemsk
Natchalnik were boycotted. They coul'
get neither lodging nor food nor any Q
the necessaries of life, so they had t
capitulate and pay homage to the loca
magnate, who then, in nine cases on
of ten, gave them free quarters, an
thus was enabled to keep them in
proper state Of humility and depen
dence.
The German colonists can only
described az so many nineteenth eel
,, tury Rip Van Wrinkles. Imagine
body of men taken out fthe eighteent
century, carefully preserved and heE
apart from the influences of moder
progress, latter-day customs and idea
aud YOU have the German colontsts (
the Tolga. They all look like figure
out of old German wooCcuts, with the
: solemn, sallow, obstinate, ciean-saave