The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-24
SOCIALISM FAILS THERE.
RUSSIAN PEASANTS WON'T rLOW
THE COMMlNirY.S LAND.
Prefer tn Pat Their Work On Ground
That Cant He Taken Away-Tux-
inx the Memh~r.-Rcp0rt 81 .
Z. ;. Consul.s observations.

People devoted 10 the theories ~ social
ism. communism. single tax and kindred
heresses will read With interest the state
Fnent Of Nit. Pierce. the charge fasfaires
AT interim for she United States at ST.
Petersburg. regarding the condition OF the
Russian pcasan,ry. In the Russian VIII
lagos. or MRS" rs the communities are
called. socialism has rot been a theory
bur condition. and the result has been
disastrous To the welfare OF the peasant.
Mr.. Pierce says
The land OF the peasantry is not geners
ally owned by them individually. except In
certain districts Of the Baltic provinces, Of
Little Russia, and OF Poland hut Is held
by them in communities. or Mrs in which
each taxpaysng individual has a share and
for the taxes Of which he is responsible.
The taxes due to the government are a.
sessed unon the number Of souls In the
community. and upon the same basis IL al
looted to IL a certain quantity OF land This
iand Is sold. not given. to the mir, and
payment therefor Is made by amortization
from a certain proportion OF the taxes.
For these taxes the mir Is held strictly
and rigidly responsible, but II i~ permitted
10 collect the amount from the individuals
Of the community as ii may see fit--of
course. within certain restrictions The
mir. therefore, constitutes community
having a considerable degree OF self-gov-
eminent
III elects it's officers by popular vote and
regulates its own financial Affairs. In which
IL IL not molested by the imperial govern
ment so long as II continues TO make its
full tax returns To each sour Is allotted
by the authorities of the mir certain
proportion OF land of three separate sorts,
viz, cuitiyab.e. pasture and marsh or
meadow, according 10 his ability TO work
the land productivity In the interest Of tax
raymentA Thus a man who has horse
gets more land than he who has not while
one who has ahie-bodiei children. sons or
daughters. gets more than the man who
has no one TO help him in his cultivation
The incapacitated get nothing. but are
supported by the community. In these al
lotments the ownership OF the land does
not pass TO the Individual: he simply gets
the usufruct for a certain term. and the
duration OF that term varies In different
mfrs from one year TO ten or even more
from three to five being the most usual
with a general tendency TO increase the
length OF the period In this allotment the
individual has no option He may argue
his case before the board of officers OF the
mir hut he must perforce, assent 10 ac-
ceps the allotment OF land made him. to-
gether with the share of taxes fevoivlng
thereon. In general. II Ia said that these
appointments are made In a spirit of
equitable fairness. but that abuses do ex-
ist Is not surprising 1t occasionally hap
pens, for instance, that a peasant having
a reputation for experiences AT soine trade
which brings him custom from the neigh.
boring large proprietors or from other OUT
side the limits OF the commune. by means
OF which he earns money In excess Of
wha; his labor in the fields could produce
has fastened on him an excessive propor-
ton OF communal land and consequent
taxes
" lille In the more productive districts.
and especially in the black-earth belt. tho
effort Oh the part of the Individual IN 10
sySure az much land possible, In Ia.
northern and other unprotiaetive districts
the peasant tries TO shfrk his communal
responsibilities by presenting reasons why
he should be allotted the minimum OF land
But further. the mr. s. obliged TO take care
OF him. |, can. while he Is able to labor.
force him Ia nay hiss share Ut the taxes:
but II he becomes ineapscitated IL must at
lsast keep him from starvation
The inevitable result IL that the muj.k
feeling thar AT the end os a period more or
lees brief his allotment Will be subject TO
redistribution. in which. II h. has i'm
proved 1t by careful cultivation. expend-
.ne upon II time and money with an eye
TO the future. the greater part OF II will
probably be taken from hitu. puts Into his
land only such cultivation A. viii give
him, for the existing season. the best
returns. without exfssndfnr uron II capital
or labor OF which he IN not 70 enjoy the
fun fruits Hence he plows but the top
Of hia coil, not only 10 save labor, but
that h.a manure may be consumed by his
own crop and not ~ u future one. lie
has no attachment fe, the soii so which he
belongs hl, which does not belong to him.
and ne is devosd OF that seif-reisanf indie.
Desdefsce which rharactef!xsS the aEri.
cultural csasses 81 other countries. IL we
add to shss the absolute fasai.sm with
which the muJlk regards every event OF
Ffe whether of good or evil fortune, we
have 4 would seem. 4 combination OF
tenn permanent and surroundings we'll cal-
cua1sa 20 develop shsiftlessnsss.
In these parts Of Little Russia. the
Baltic provinces as<t i'p.af1si. where the
mir syssean sioes noe exist. not only II the
yeasant more animated and cheerful. but
rmueh greater Thrift preysile.'