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very extensive amendments in the emancipation law。 Those they did
make were all in favour of the nobility。 The most mischievous
consisted in the considerable diminution of the maximum and
minimum shares accorded to the peasant； and in the resolution
that no rights would be recognised as belonging to the villagers
in the common pastures of the manor。 The interests of the
peasants were also sacrificed in the permission which was given
to the landlords to diminish the shares of the peasants； on the
condition of renouncing all remuneration for the ground which
they ceded。 In all these measures the demands of the nobles were
complied with。
But the great ends at which the reformers aimed； the
liberation； that is to say； of the peasant from all personal
dependence on the manorial lord； and the securing to him the
right of possessing land in common； were nevertheless attained。
The law of February 19； 1861； was the beginning of a new era
an era of democratic development； as well as of economic and
social growth； for the immense Empire of the Czars。 For there is
no doubt about the vast influence which the law of 1861 has
exercised in all directions。 It is that which made more than
twenty millions of people at once the free disposers of their own
destinies and the communistic owners of the land。 Villein
services； rents in kind and in money； feudal monopolies； and
manorial jurisdiction； ceased to exist； and the peasant became
the member of a self…governing body； or the Mir。 The ideas of
social justice and of equality before the law ideas hitherto
cherished but by a few dreamers such as Radischev and Herzen； or
revolutionists like those so…called 〃Decembrists；〃 who organised
the rebellion of December 24； 1825 made their triumphant entry
into the Russian world； working a complete change in the
organisation of public schools； admitting the son of the peasant
to sit side by side with the son of the nobleman and the merchant
in the same grammar school and the same university；
revolutionising both official circles and the drawing…room；
admitting to both persons of low。 birth but high education。
The emancipation of the serf certainly was not carried out
without some loss to the land…owning gentry； but the squire soon
recovered from the state into which he was brought by his
inexperience in the management of his estate without the help of
unpaid servants。 Capital was invested in land； agricultural
machines were introduced； the yearly income began to rise
rapidly； and with it the value of the land was augmented。 It was
partly enhanced by the fact that it was thrown open to the free
purchase of all classes of society； while previous to the reform
the higher class alone was entitled to own it。 Instead of
abandoning the tillage of the fields； according to the
expectation of some pessimists； the liberated serf soon became
the regular farmer of the lands possessed by the gentry； and
entire village communities have been seen during these last few
years renting； under conditions of mutual responsibility； the
land of a neighbouring estate。
If we investigate the indirect results of the great reform
accomplished by the Emperor Alexander； we are first struck by the
fact that it involved the necessity of a complete change in
provincial administration。 Justice and police had hitherto been
in the hands of persons elected by the nobility。 This could no
longer be tolerated the moment the serf was liberated from his
previous subjection to the noble and squire。 A system of
provincial self…government； based on the principle of
representation of the whole land…owning class； both private
proprietors and those possessing land in common； was introduced
in its stead。 The organization of justice was completely changed；
learned jurists occupying the place of the ignorant magistrates
of old who had been appointed by the provincial gentry。 The
people； as members of juries； were admitted to a share in the
exercise of criminal justice。 The transformation of the medieval
State into one that answered to the requirements of modern
civilisation would have been completed if the Liberator of
millions had not been slaughtered on the very day on which he had
undertaken to give a constitution to his people。
Years of violent reaction have followed。 The feudal party；
whose secret designs had been defeated by the mode in which
emancipation had been effected； again got the upper hand； and
modern Russia now looks back to the period of 1861 as the golden
age of Russian Liberalism。 It is in the work of the men who were
directly engaged in carrying out the great reform that Russian
Liberals seek consolation and help； and the Nineteenth of
February has become for them a day of general and of grateful
commemoration。
NOTES：
1。 Compare V。 Somevsky； 〃The Peasant Question in Russia during
the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century〃； Petersburg； 1888。
2。 〃The Village from Petersburg to Novgorod。〃
3。 See his work； entitled 〃The Fall of Bondage in Russia；〃
Petersburg； 1883。