The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-10
C0SSack Stories
In Russia Manv

The London Times publishes the fol-
Lowing interesting history OF the Rus
1.-THE saying used to be proverbiaI in
Russia that the Cossacks are the sa-
viors OF Russia There Is good histor-
ical foundation for this. The Cossacks
nave always arisen to the occasion in
generally proved themselves the cham
pions. OF law and order. For this rea-
son they were In the days OF czardom
one OF the most privileged classes in
the country. having traditions OF their
own and receiving in reward for their
car.
The first came into prominence, par
ticularly the Don Cossacks, who are
the most numerous, during the reign
OF Ivan, the Terrible, in the capacity OF
national conquerors. Until that period
they were looked upon more or less as
outlaws by the princes Of Muscovy.
In 1852, however they took part in
John the Terribles campaign against
Kazan. In which they proved them
on land. but skillful sailors, both on
the Volga and the Black sea.
The attack on Kazan was the first
recorded occasion In which the Co.'S
sacks co-operated with the troops Of
the car OF Muscovy. The expedition
cred favors and privileges upon the
Don army, and the activities OF the
Cossacks-who from that date began
TO- expand and form colonies both in
Siberia and the Caucasus-became d.
rected entirely into channels which led
empire.
"There followed the conquest Of ST.
IBERIA by the great Don leader, Yer
max, and the bond between the car
OF Muscovy and the cossacks became
between Yermak and his cossacks and
forms to this day the subject OF many
celebrated works In painting and lit
erature. For the first time firearms
bered, the Cos sacks so terrified the
hordes OF Kutchum that their ultimate
success was never In doubt.
"Kutchum fed, but later revenged
himself. Yermak and few of his fol-
lowers had become isolated from the
main body OF Cossacks in the course
OF an expedition. and were attacked
while asleep on the banks OF the River
Irish. Only one Cossack was able TO
swim TO the boats and gain safety.
Yermak threw himself into the water
but was weighed down by his armor,
and so perished ignobly. His name has
come down to posterity as the con-
queror Of Siberia. His statue NAV he
seen to this day In the town OF Novo
Tcherkaselk.
Even now. during the period Of rev.
olution. the Cossacks have proved
themselves the least amenable TO boil
shevist propaganda. They are perhaps
even less cultured than the Russian
peasantry unless. indeed, n perpetual
with It a culture OF It's own. Apart
from military activities. they are an
indolent and improvident race, consid-
ering II beneath their dignity to soil
their hands with manual labor At the
Cossack stanitsas II Is the women who
do all the arduous work, Though good
orthodox churchmen. in their treatment
OF their womenfolk they are quite ori-
entail and pagan,
'During the revolution they made
several bids for liberty, under such
din, but they lacked the power Of sus-
tanned effort, and. being only thor
oughly at home in the saddle. found
themselves impotent against such mod
army was able to employ. They were
Obliged, finally, to take the line OF least
resistance and to make some sort of
peace with tho reds.
Now, however, conditions have
arisen providing the Cossacks with that
they have always excelled. They seem
to have Joined Gen. Wrangel at the
psychological moment
1.-THE reds have always feared the
Cossacks, realizing full we'll that their
enforced conversion to bolshevism was
never founded on deep conviction.
They have always loved their land and
their liberty too much to become true
bolshevists The only bolshevist-ac-
cording to the idea OF the soviet au-
thorities--that the Cossacks have ever
produced was Stenka Rain, who IN the
seventeenth century broke away from
his clan and became the leader Of n
band OF brigands. He Is looked upon
as the leader Of the first attempt at
revolution against autocratic power.
He was finally caught and sacrificed ms
robber pure and simple, The author
tiles Mt Moscow have set up n statue
In his honor.
"a story IL told Of stenka Rain,
whose companions on one occasion |
twitted him on his devotion to his |
beautiful wife. To prove 10 them that |
he was his own master, he threw her |
into the Volga. The incident Is his |
torlcal, and is enshrined in Russian
song and verse"