The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1920-07-15
Shall Chaos or Reconstruction
in Europe Follow the Great
World War;
7UssIA ALWAYS UNDER YOKE
Easy to Understand Why the Unhappy
People Have Turned to BoIshe-
vism In Their Cropping for
Freedom.
Article XVI.
BY FRANK comERFoRo.

The history of Russia begtnssWith Z
legend Nestor Of Kiev, an old monk
ish chronicler, tells the story. KIev II
the mother OF Russian cities. In the
ninth century SIavs and Firms lived In
a tribal state In the forest region neal
Lake linen, between Lake Ladoga and
the upper waters of the Dnieper river
Bands OF military Adventures from
the land Of Rus, which is supposed to
have been a part Of Sweden, eIacted
tribute from the tribes. In the year
859 the tribes threw off the yoke of
the Norsemen and drove them out of
the country. 1t was Russia's first reyo-
luton, 80 the old chronicler relates,
and 1t was successful. Freed from the
tyranny of the tribute takers the tribes
| began to quarrel among themselves.
| Their land was large and fertile, but
clvil war destroyed order. Then as
now, order was the first essential to
peace and happiness. 1t is told that
after three years of tribal war they
their own affairs and they sent a mis-
sion to Rus to invite their old masters
to come and rule over them.
According to the legend, three broth
ers, princes Of Rus, Rurik, Sineus and
Truvor, accepted the call and founded
dynasty, from which many of the
Russian princes of the present day
claim descent
While much discussion has been pro
voked as to the identity Of the war
riors from the land Of Rus, the found
ers of the Russian empire, 1t is gen.
orally believed that they were the
hardy Norsemen, who In the ninth cen
fury roamed through various countries
of Europe. These rowing bands In
vaded and conquered territory and
lived as the dominant military caste
until they were gradually absorbed by
the native population.
Novoorod First Capital.
Prince Rurik built his capital on the
banks of the River Volkhoy, which
with Lake linen formed part of the
great waterway connecting the Baltic
and Black seas. By this route, the
tall, blonde Norsemen, who composed
the famous Varangian bodyguard of
the Byzantine emperors, travelled from
Scandinavia to Constantinople. Rus
sia's first capital was Novgorod.
These new rulers from the land of |
Rus brought with them the spirit of |
adventure Of the Norsemen. They |
were not contented TO rule the tribes |
who had invited them. They set out |
to conquer the surrounding country in
all directions, and before two hundred
years had passed they had invaded
Byzantine territory. established them
selves at Kiev, threatened CONSTANT
nople with feet, secured as a consort
for Vladimir l, one of their princes, a
sister of the Byzantine emperor,
adopted Christianity for themselves
md their subjects. learned to hold in
heck the nomadic hordes of the
'teppe. and formed matrimonial al
iances with the reigning families of
poland, Hungary, Norway and France.
They became great power in eastern
europe.
They had great appetite for con-
!uest. but they lacked the power to
rganize the territory they conquered.
The political future Of the new state
Tas destroyed when the princes of the
turk dynasty divided the state into a
lumber Of independent principalities.
or time these were. weakly and
oosely held together by the patri-
rchal authority Of the senior men,
er Of the family, the grand prince,
tho ruled in Kiev. Family Quarrels
ecame frequent These princes were
trong men. They wanted power. They
trove to enlarge their territories at
lie expense of their rivals. The tradi-
onal authority Of the grand prince
eclined. Yaroslay the Great was the I
ist of the grand princes. With his !
cath In 1854, family feuds multiplied |
nd disintegration set In. During the :
ext 10 years, from 1854 to 1924, :
ussia was split into over sixty prin- !
palities. Disputes over the question
succession led to eighty-three civil .
ars. n
Ruined by Internal Struggle. r
During these interminable struggles +
rival princes, Kiev. which had been b
long the residence of. the grand
ince, was repeatedly taken by storm. c
I'd ruthlessly pillaged. Finally the a
hole valley Of the Dnieper fell prey a
the marching tribes Of the steppe. /,
lereupon Russian colonization and a
litical influence retreated north d
lrd, and from that time the contin-
'us stream Of Russian history is
be sought In the land where the
kings first settled. and In the adjoin q
3 basin Of the upper Volga. Here <
W principalities were founded. some a
them having grand prince, who VI
longer prefessed allegiance to Kiev. W
uS aDpea rcd tho grand nripcpS NJ ri