New-York tribune., 1909-03-03
FEUDA1, RIGHTS CUT BOTH WAYS.


When people hear complaints OF the survival Of
feudalism they generally associate them with no
tons Of tyranny and oppression On the part of the
MOBILES at the expense Of the peasantry. In this
in everything else however, there are two sides
70 the question, and # in mediaval times the
princes. barons and territorial nagnates generally
possessed any number Of prerogatives Of which
they have since been deprived by law. the peas
sntry too. had certain rights which have not been
sbTogated by statute, and upon the preservation Of
which they are determined. This is particularly the
case IN Italy where the legislators find it far more
polite 70 consult the interests Of the masses than
those Of the classes in order TO retain their seats
In Parliament IN fact. the mobiles. especially those
who have ancestral estates, are somewhat unjustly
treated. Thus, among the rights formerly enjoyed
by the peasantry in what is the province Of
Rome was that Of pasturtng their cattle on the
lands OF the lord Of the soil and OF helping them
selves 70 the dead wood in the forests; that is to
say. 10 the branches and trees which would other
wise have been left 10 rot the ground.
some tine ago very severe storm swept through
me great Bandta forest, on the estate Of Prince
borghese at Attgliano. which resulted IN several
thousands Of trees being blown down. The superin-
'enoent Of the princes estate, on becoming aware
% the extent Of the destruction at contracted
WIN me government railroads TO sell them the
iaieh trees for use ties. When, however, he
se01teo 10 have them removed the peasantry Of
he district interfered. insisting that all these trees
Delongen TO them; that the prince had no right to
Nispose of them, and that under no circumstances
ou'u they permit their sale or removal On the
speflnenoent resisting these pretensons an armed
T To-S4e eIsoed between the peasantry and the
e-'eso gaInekeepers, IN which three Of the
~ were shot dead, couple OF gamekeepers
I7 Aliled and a third had his arm literally shorn
.t 60 Is Oooy By the terrible weapon with which
:, peasants were for the most part armed: that is
- aaEs scythe attached to a pole
Ne prince has appealed to the government for
po'eon OF his property and for assistance against
-. - pSesafts Of Attigliano, putting forward the
49, Ve'oei argument that the rights Of gathering
- "ooo ana Of pasturng cattle on the Borghese
r-e slsheeo IN connection with the feudaI
az -, Formerly possessed by his ancestors
So. "lch included serfage forced labor. etc. and
e. le. tnese feudal preroga:iyes were abol-
-. " lsW the rights Of the peasants which
end. necessarily came TO an
tsr s.S,.-@ent e.naent AFRAID OF parliament. has thus
r. -i-Lec ec TO interfere. There have not even
& r,-o,,,ls' eSls' and when the latter are made II
0ie tasf II @fll be the Rsnnekeeners of the
prince rather than ,bs a..srt- ,'o,, ~ -
= go N jail and indicted for ,,or,fc,de rTe,tce
=, ,sDs Sow in Italy where all the roerobers
Jns,,o '4sIy are subserV1ent TO the Minister of
sass -. - : member Of the Cabinet. other
tbro,,.. ne . Borghese might have some redress
sad II 4, 1910 But as it is, he is helpless
Cabine, !, whether with an ultra radical
rs.,, - = "ilee and radical majority, in Ria
So eAher he or ais fellow nob1as a., -. 80.
fsi- ~ ~ 9ostiee or for legislation tnspr,ng men,
isnS -esfs so much Of oppression ~, ,,o ,.r. =,
ven ths+ . hooes in Europe that II is met as
thar the v,ro. '" shouid he drawn to the fact |
.ns.ssa lungs are not all on their si5e ga "a.
ao OF being the onrressasa ni'e' ana tial
as IN the case OF primo D.. '.'es are Some