New-York tribune., 1901-04-28
THE POOR COSSACKS
INCREASING MILITARY BURDENS THE
CAUSE OF THEIR DECLINE.

Vienna correspond ance of The London Times.
A report from the Austro- Hungarian Vice
Consul at RoStOff, the Don. contains some
highly interesting particulars of the inquiry IN
Stituted some time ago by means OF n special
government commission to the causes of the
decline of the Cossack popula ton
The report which deals more particularly with
the Cossacks of the Don. begins by stating that
. in the institution Of the CoSSaCkS' there is a
dominating factor which distinguishes its mode
cl existence from that of the other elements IN
the empire. and which is characterized by com
pulsOry military ice in the strictest sense of
the term For the last thirty years compulsory
service has been in force throughout Russia, but
IN accordance with certain dispositions OF the
law a large number OF young men exempted
as being the support OF their family or in consa
guen1e Of tritlInE physical defects and on other
grounds. No such favor is extended to the Cos
sacks. who are, indeed. obliged to equip and
mount themselves at their own expense. Their
rifles and ammunition are alone provided by the
military administrator. Every Ccssack at
tanning his eighteenth wear * enrolled i'm th4
tosSack army. and has 70 take the oath OF al
legiante. The special privileges which the Cos
sack enjoys are exemption from taxes and gifts
of land from which he makes his living and
meets the cost ot his equipment The greater
part o. The district Of the Don IS Was the
property OF the Cossacks.
Their impoFerishment is due TO the fac, that
the material burdens imposed upon them by
their military obligations have been steadily in
CreaSluZ while Their has hecn no corresponding
augmentation in their sources Of revenue In
order 10 provide himself with the regulation
equipment the young Cossack. or more fire.
quenty- his father. has 4" mortgage. let sell
hiS property The lessee ~ the land uatu-
rally anxious 10 get rs much "a possible out OF
II in short time. The consequence is that il
loses much Of It's fertility. circumstance 81 hich
h4~ proved highly unfavorahle L. the rearing OF
cattle, and especially to horse breeding. Accord
ing to q member Of he commission OF inquiry
forty years ago the communes made 40 special
distribution of the land belonging q" them. Tn"
Ccssack sowed and reaped Wher" he liked and
much he liked. but he confined himself To
the requirements OF his family the land that
remained lrlug used
lie did not need money ana cared nothing for it.
His farm sufhced TO provide for all his personal
wants and for the necessities Of his military
service He rode his own home bred horse. had
his own homemade saddle and wore his every
day clothes. The Introduction OF railways
brought about a complete change in the half
nor7adIC existence Of the CoSsdck The silver
ruhle. TO which he had previously been indif-
ferent. IS everything to him and regulates
his whole life. II has upset all his traditional
habits. obliging hE to draw distinct line Of
separation between his own property and that
% his neighbor. The land is longer common
property. hut has been divided into Individual
lots The effect Of this change has been most
prejudiCia him
To make matters worse fresh calls have been
made on him for his military service He has
been reduced to altogether precarious circum-
stances. His military obligations practically
preclude his exercising any industrial pursuit
outside his own commune. With regard to trade
he is handicapped by a special impost for dis
pensation from his military duties. and is thus
at disadvantage in competing with strangers.
The cultivation Of the vine is unsatisfactory
The Cossacks employ the same methods to-day
they did a century ago.
The report gives particulars of the successive
administrative experiments among the Cossacks
all OF W hich have lamentabIy failed. If a remedy
is not speedily found, and If the requisite re-
forms are not promptly introduced. the in
Stitution Of the CossaCkS'' in the territory Of
the Don cannot be maintained for any length of
time. The Russian Minister OF War General
kuropatk.n, while tour Of inspection in the
Don district last June. is said have remarked
IN the course of private conversation that in any
case the CosSacks much better off than the
rest Of the peasant population of the empire.
The author Of the report adds this remark is
per Getty