Thibodaux minerva., 1855-03-31

DEATH OF THE CZAR.-Last Saturday the news
came by telegraph that Nicholas, the Autocrat OF
all the Russias, was dead. So astounding and un-
expected was the intelligence, and SO highly inn
porant to the destines of Russia and the interests
of Europe was the event announced, that we were
disposed to doubt its correctness and set 1t down
as an emanation from the brain of some mprinclpied
dispenser of news, who sought thus to impose upon
the credulty of the public, and perpetrate stupen-
dous and wicked fraud. But subsequent dispatches
seem to have established the truthfulness OF the
report, and convinced the most skeptical that the
Gar of Russia is no more. Death, which invades
alike the kings palace and the peasants hut, has
snatched away from earth one of its mightlest po-
tentates. The supreme ruler over seventy millions
of people the lord over the broadest kingdom
upon earth the most potent, the wisest, the most
dreaded of all European soveregns, has at last been
subdued-not by the earthly foes by whom he was
environed, but by the omnipotent will Of God, the
great Being that gave him life, capacity and power
The sceptre he has welded has been wrested from
his grasp; the crown he wore has been torn from
his brow; and both lie in the dust, equal with the
scythe and spade of his meanest serf. Thus passes
away all human greatness. So perishes and fades
majestic man
"The gories of his blood and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is armor against Fate
Death lays his icy hands on Kings
The Gar Nicholas was born on the 9th of July,
1896, and was consequently SO years OF age when
he died. He married, in 1916, the Princess OF
Prussia, sister of the reigning King, by whom he
had six chdren-four sons and two daughters.
Nicholas ascended the throne upon the death of
his brother Alexander, in 1s25-Constantine the
elder brother and the legitimate heir to the throne
mindful of his own ncapacity, and fearful OF being
assassinatcd by the aristocracy in revenge for his
participation in the murder of his father, having
agreed to resign his right to the succession. When
Nicholas assumed the reins OF government, the
country was in most depiorabIe state, consequent
upon the imbecility of Alexander during the last
three years of his reign. the treasury was empty;
venality and corruption bore full sway in every de-
partment of the government, and the empire was
shaken to its centre by intestine revots. The Gar
with an energy, promptitude and wisdom deserving
of all praise, called around him experienced and
trustworthy advisers, and placing himself at the
head of the army, quelled the insurrectlon, and
restored the empire to peace and prosperity.
During the first few years of his reign he evinced
disposition to ameliorate the political and social
condition of his subjects, and to relax the severity
of his rule He even went so far as to proclaim the
supremacy of the law over his own will, and to
allow the criticism of abuses in books and dramatic
representations. Under these and other measures
of reform the country became in the highest de-
gree prosperous and tranquil. But this state of
things did not last long. Unsuitable ambition, and
traditional thirst for conquest precptaed him into
wars which depleted the treasury, raised the taxes
and produced general discomfort. Insurections
broke out in severalof the provinces including that
of Poland all Of which he easily suppressed; but
in doing he displayed gimpses of character and
feeling which revealed cold-blooded heart and the
disposition of a tyrant His cruelty to the Poles is
a foul blot upon his escutcheon which time cannot
efface. In order to keep down the people, Nicholas
tightened the reins of government and annuled all
the reformatory measures which he had previously
instituted. From that time to this he has ruled
over Russia with an iron sway. His will has been
the supreme law of the land. We have not room
here to expatiate upon the public character of
Nicholas, and therefore content ourselves with
giving the above short sketch of his career. In
his private relations he is represented as having
being unexceptional, and was as a husband and
father, perfect model Of domestic virtues.
The successor of Nicholas is his eldest son, Alex
ander the hereditary Grand Duke, who was born
in 1918. We were informed few years since, by
a distinguished gentleman, who at one time repre-
sented the United States at the Court of ST. Peters
burg, that the Grand Duke is not whit inferior to
his father, in intellect, energy or popularity.
[N. o. Bulletin.