登陆注册
5382300000217

第217章 CHAPTER XXIX(11)

The dues were capitalised at six per cent., and the Government paid at once to the proprietors four-fifths of the whole sum. The peasants were to pay to the proprietor the remaining fifth, either at once or in installments, and to the Government six per cent. for forty-nine years on the sum advanced. The proprietors willingly adopted this arrangement, for it provided them with a sum of ready money, and freed them from the difficult task of collecting the dues. But the peasants did not show much desire to undertake the operation. Some of them still expected a second Emancipation, and those who did not take this possibility into their calculations were little disposed to make present sacrifices for distant prospective advantages which would not be realised for half a century. In most cases the proprietor was obliged to remit, in whole or in part, the fifth to be paid by the peasants. Many Communes refused to undertake the operation on any conditions and in consequence of this not a few proprietors demanded the so-called obligatory redemption, according to which they accepted the four-

fifths from the Government as full payment, and the operation was thus effected without the peasants being consulted. The total number of male serfs emancipated was about nine millions and three-

quarters,and of these, only about seven millions and a quarter had, at the beginning of 1875, made redemption contracts. Of the contracts signed at that time, about sixty-three per cent, were "obligatory." In 1887 the redemption was made obligatory for both parties, so that all Communes are now proprietors of the land previously held in perpetual usufruct; and in 1932 the debt will have been extinguished by the sinking fund, and all redemption payments will have ceased.

This does not include the domestic serfs who did not receive land.

The serfs were thus not only liberated, but also made possessors of land and put on the road to becoming Communal proprietors, and the old Communal institutions were preserved and developed. In answer to the question, Who effected this gigantic reform? we may say that the chief merit undoubtedly belongs to Alexander II. Had he not possessed a very great amount of courage he would neither have raised the question nor allowed it to be raised by others, and had he not shown a great deal more decision and energy than was expected, the solution would have been indefinitely postponed.

Among the members of his own family he found an able and energetic assistant in his brother, the Grand Duke Constantine, and a warm sympathiser with the cause in the Grand Duchess Helena, a German Princess thoroughly devoted to the welfare of her adopted country.

But we must not overlook the important part played by the nobles.

Their conduct was very characteristic. As soon as the question was raised a large number of them adopted the liberal ideas with enthusiasm; and as soon as it became evident that Emancipation was inevitable, all made a holocaust of their ancient rights and demanded to be liberated at once from all relations with their serfs. Moreover, when the law was passed it was the proprietors who faithfully put it into execution. Lastly, we should remember that praise is due to the peasantry for their patience under disappointment and for their orderly conduct as soon as they understood the law and recognised it to be the will of the Tsar.

Thus it may justly be said that the Emancipation was not the work of one man, or one party, or one class, but of the nation as a whole.*

The names most commonly associated with the Emancipation are General Rostoftsef, Lanskoi (Minister of the Interior), Nicholas Milutin, Prince Tchererkassky, G. Samarin, Koshelef. Many others, such as I. A. Solovief, Zhukofski, Domontovitch, Giers--brother of M. Giers, afterwards Minister for Foreign Affairs--are less known, but did valuable work. To all of these, with the exception of the first two, who died before my arrival in Russia, I have to confess my obligations. The late Nicholas Milutin rendered me special service by putting at my disposal not only all the official papers in his possession, but also many documents of a more private kind.

By his early and lamented death Russia lost one of the greatest statesmen she has yet produced.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 世界经典科幻故事全集:星球纵览的故事

    世界经典科幻故事全集:星球纵览的故事

    我们编辑的这套《世界经典科幻故事全集》包括《太空环游的故事》、《星球纵览的故事》、《海底探险的故事》、《岛上猎奇的故事》、《科学传奇的故事》、《奇异幻想的故事》、《神秘人类的故事》、《远古寻踪的故事》、《机器大战的故事》和《古堡秘影的故事》等10册内容,精选了包括法国著名科幻作家、科幻小说之父儒勒· 凡尔纳和英国著名科幻作家威尔斯等人的作品近百篇,既有一定的代表性, 又有一定的普遍性,非常适合青少年阅读和学习。
  • 无限载入

    无限载入

    无限次的载入,无限次的轮回……在激烈的战斗中寻找着一丝生的希望……在生死的边缘唱起悲哀的挽歌,为逝去的同伴,也为迷茫的自己……想明白生命的意义吗?想真正的……活着吗?现在……载入……
  • 恶婆皇后

    恶婆皇后

    她是摄政王长女,她是京城的恶婆娘,他不要的破鞋那又怎样?四年之后,卷土重来,她站在皇上的身边,笑看天地动,一揽风云涌握着至高无上的权利,她笑,右贤王,别来无恙?这是一部恶毒腹黑女的彪悍成长史,也是一部虐恋情深的选择题集。
  • 关于真善美的格言(经典格言)

    关于真善美的格言(经典格言)

    知识欲的目的是真;道德欲的目的是善;美欲的目的是美,真善美,即人间理想。本书汇集了关于情感、热情、激情、忧伤、爱憎等名言数百余条,包括有格言、谚语。它们或文中所摘,或诗中所抄,或从大众口头所采。本书通过这些名言,揭示了深刻的人生哲理。阅读它们,能对人的思想起到潜移默化的作用,能更好的体会真善美。
  • 愤怒的乡村:鲁彦作品精选

    愤怒的乡村:鲁彦作品精选

    文学大师是一个时代的开拓者和各种文学形式的集大成者,他们的作品来源于他们生活的时代,记载了那个时代社会生活的缩影,包含了作家本人对社会、生活的体验与思考,影响着社会的发展进程,具有永恒的魅力。他们是我们心灵的工程师,能够指导我们的人生发展,给予我们心灵鸡汤般的精神滋养。
  • Before He Covets (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 3

    Before He Covets (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 3

    From Blake Pierce, bestselling author of ONCE GONE (a #1 bestseller with over 600 five star reviews), comes book #3 in the heart-pounding Mackenzie White mystery series.In BEFORE HE COVETS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 3), newly minted FBI agent Mackenzie White graduates the FBI Academy in Quantico only to find herself thrown into an urgent serial killer case. Women are turning up dead while camping in a remote national park in West Virginia. Yet the park is vast, and no connection can be found between them.At the same time, Mackenzie receives a call from Nebraska urging her to come home. After many years, a new clue has surfaced about her father's murder. The case no longer cold, Mackenzie desperately needs to help solve it.
  • 国初礼贤录

    国初礼贤录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 两小不猜之我只喜欢你

    两小不猜之我只喜欢你

    青梅竹马,两小无猜的才是最美好的,往往人们所需要的也正是那样不虚伪的感情,在这个世界里,找到一个你喜欢的,和喜欢你的,很难,所以找到了,就好好珍惜!毕竟不是所有的爱情都能收获满满!
  • 下一个故事

    下一个故事

    一段奇异的故事,带着无穷的奥妙慢慢靠近神话。一个古老的传说,述说下一个故事里的仙神异闻。下一个故事,倾听有你的声音。
  • 穿越之剑破苍穹

    穿越之剑破苍穹

    千里长空,见诛仙之力,看破魔之猛,闻天雷之威,试青光琉璃之伤,悟生命之源。万镜之内,剑气之威,流光闪,龙灵现,一剑震山河,两剑碎生灵,三剑屠万物,四剑破苍穹,五剑哮乾坤,龙吟一出,看我剑神之威。一句“我命由我不由天,天不容我我猎天”且看一名穿越少年手持逆天神剑,身怀绝世武决百练成神之路!