The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-07-20

to AZ acres. Therefore the peasants
were compelled to rent land from the
landlords at fabulous prices. The
aggregate value of the redemption and
land taxes often reached 1856 to 25O
per cent of the normal value Of the
allotment, not to speak Of the taxes
for recruiting, the churches, roads and
local administration, chiefly levied
from the peasants. The peasants have
sunk deeper into debt every year. The
scheme was a quicksand-the harden
they worked and struggled the deeper
into debt they fell. Increasing arrears
have driven one-fifth of the inhabit-
ants from their houses. Every year
more than half the adult males Tin
some districts three-quarters OF the
men and one-thIrd Of the women) are
forced to quit their homes and wan
der throughout Russia in search OF
work. In the governments Of the
black earth region the state Of mat.
tiers is hardly better.
The phrase "otass distinction" was
more than rhetoric in Russia-it was
part of the chains, 1t handcuffed des-
tiny, bolted the door of opportunity.
The great mass Of the people. 81.6
per cent peasants; 10 per cent made
up the nobility; 8 per cent the
clergy; 93 per cent the burghers
and merchants; 81 per cent the mill
tary; thus 147,OOO.OOO of the Russians
were peasants.
The slavery In Russia consecrated
By law in 1909 was partly abolished
In 1861. The Act only pretended to
liberate the serfs. Even under the
best landlords conditions continued to
be terrible. Household servants or de-
pendents attached to the personal serv.
ice Of their masters were re-
leased. They Joined the town pro-
letariat. The peasants. were given al
lotments Of arabic land. These al
lotments were not given to the indi-
viduals. they were given over to the
rural commune called the Mir, which
was made responsible as a whole for
the payment of allotments. 1t was
sort of land communism, except that
the title did not pass even to the Mrs.
The enormous charge against the land
made them tenant serfs. The Mir
was a mortgaged community. The re-
dcmrtion charge was not calculated
on the value of the land, but was con-
sidered as payment for the loss Of the
compulsory labor of the serfs. The
enslavement of the peasant was rec
ognizcd in the Act which pretended
emancipation.
Peasants systematically Cheated.
Many proprietors Of land saw to 1t
that he o!lotments did not give the
peasants tie needed pasture lands
around their homes. This craftily cal
cu'ated scheme compelled the peasants
'to rent pasture land from the land
lords at any price. The landlords
hold them up.
1t was only as late as 1904 that the
landlord WAS forbidden by law to in
diet corporal punishment on the peas,
ant. Even this law was winked at
un. the practice of treating human
S'isy5s els 'hrutcs treat tired domestic
ANIMALS. continued. The peasant was
y ehattel ana the cheapest farm fix
tnye There were plenty of peasants
Notwithstanding the barbaric life In
Russia the population continued to
grow.
Tie peasants only participation In
ss"sejnllent was in the assembly
allied the Mir. With its quaint Gus
Las it is of hnmemorial antiquity.
~ assembly of the Mir consisted Of
III Iii" peasant householders of the vii
Il 70. These elected head man and
T pz'tor of local taxes, 1t was the near
st t,ussian peasants ever got to free
IN. 1t vas the clearing house for
Ia troubles, Il socialism of sorrows,
:, touch of local self government which
ave no rights; 1t simply provided
ii. lis of cooperating In burden
/ ar B%
s..p ~ IS2O, Western Newspaper Unionl
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