Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1876 — The Cossacks. [ARTICLE]

The Cossacks.

The name of Cossack has been synonymous with barbarian ever since the war between Napoleon and Russia, when the skirmishers-of Alexander came to be regarded by Die European troops as a band of fierce, brutal savages, unrestrained by the laws of civilization, and unmoved by the instincts of common humanity. This idea of the character of the Cossack does him great injustice, according to the representation of Mr. Eu-S-ne Schuyler, who, in his travels in the ussian provinces in Asia, had abundant opportunities for observing the various peoples inhabiting these regions, and the Cossacks among the rest. He testifies that “In reality the Cossacks are mild, amiable and hospitable. They are the pioneers of Russian civilization. If anything has to be done, and brave, manly fellows are required to do it, the Cossacks are employed. When a country is to be colonized the Cossacks guard it, and themselves take part in the work of settlement. Though given, perhaps, to occasional raids, when next to some Kirghiz or uncivilized tribe, they are, in the main, peaceful and orderly citizens, brave, industrious and enduring. The women are hard workers and good housekeepers; and, during my whole Journey in Asia, I was only too delighted when I came to a post-station kept by a married Cossack, for there I was sure to find everything clean and neat, with eggs and milk, at least, and possibly something more substantial, to eat.” The Cossacks are a Sclavjc race, although their name, spelled "Kazak” by the Russians, is of Turkish or Tartar origin. It originally signified robber, or vagabond, and later took the meaning of partisan, or guerilla. Thq. “ Cossacks of the Don” dwelt, on their first appearance in history in the countrv north of the Caucasus Mountains, and from here bands moved westward to the Dnieper, and eastward to the shores of the Ural. Notwithstanding their descent from the ancient Russians, the Cossacks long considered themselves an independent people, and made war upon their neighbors, or lived at peace with them, regardless of the polity which happened at the time to govern their parent nation. Their incursions into Persia, in the seventeenth century, compelled the Czar Alexis to take effective measures for their due subjection to the laws of Russia. In 1655, their military chief, or Ataman, as he is called, was induced to visit Moscow with a party of his followers, and they were then sent against Poland and Riga—the first use made of the Cossacks in the Russian army. When the Government of Orenburg was founded, in 1735, its lines extended into the dominions of the Ural Cossacks, and the introduction of Russian posts and authorities caused great discontent among that free and warlike people. They complained of the invasion of their territory and of the exactions of the Russian Governors, and were in a continual commotion, which finally broke out in open rebellion. Their revolt was universal and determined, but was quelled in 1775, when theif leader, Pugatcheff, was executed, and the name of the river and province was changed from Yairk to Ural. Since then the Cossacks have been peaceful and contented subjects of the Czar, giving him trouble only in the matter of predatory excursions, which they continue to carry on against the Kirghiz east of the Ural River, in a decidedly ruthless fashion.

With regard to the military service of the Ural Cossacks, Mr. Schuyler states that, from the age of eighteen to twenty, the youths are obliged to serve within their district. They then are allowed a year of respite, after which they are liable to service elsewhere for a nominal period of fifteen years, although they are always released long before this term expires. “Every Cossack is supposed to be in the army, though exceptions are made in favor of a father who has three sons in the service, or in case of one out of four brothers. In time of war, all can be called upon. The actual number of the Ural Cossacks in service is estimated at over 10,000, though really not more than 8,000 actually serve at one time. It has long been the practice of the richer Cossacks to hire the poorer to take their places in the ranks, 300 rubles being paid for two years’ service in Turkistan. The abolition of this custom by the new military law was the cause of the disorders in September, 1874.” Mr. Schuyler relates that the Ural Cossacks form an ideal community. The land is free to all alike—each individual tilling the soil, cutting hay, and pasturing his cattle where he likes, providing always that he respects the rights of others, which are established by custom. The fishing in the Ural and the sea is also open to, every one. “ The days of fishing are regulated, and though all are reacy, none dare to cast a net or throw a harpoon before the cannon signal has been given by the Ataman, under penalty of confiscation of all his fishing implements.” The waters of the Ural are diminishing in volume, and its finny inhabitants are consequently decreasing in numbers; yet the produce of caviare, isinglass, Milted sturgeons and beLoza is still great. The communal system prevailing among the Cossacks insures a comparatively even distribution of wealth, and neither of the extremes of poverty or riches is found among them. The poorest man has a house, a horse and some property in cattle. When the Patriarch Nicon introduced reforms into the Greek Church, they were rejected by the Cossacks, who still held to the old faith. In 1869, out of a population of 70,000 along the Ural, only sixty-two belonged to the Orthodox Russian Church, and these were mainly Russian officials. In 1859, at which date the last official statistics of the army of the Ural Cossacks were published, out of eighty crimes, thirty-eight were committed by the Orthodox, and only ten by the dissenters. The remaining guilty parties were Jews, Mohammedans, etc. —Chieago Tribune.