Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-03-24
TmE IMPERIAL FAmILY on RuksIA.

We hNo gtateIuaJ shttcn Oi the illo OF
the emperor Nicholas, whose sudden death is
likely to produce a complete change In the ex-
listing state Of affairs upon the continent Mich
olas married Charlotte, eldest daughter of Fred
erick William III, Of Prussia, and sister Of tho
reigning king, who survives her husband, to
whom she was much attached. They have had
seven children, as follows:
l. Alexander Cesarcwisch, hereditary Grand
Duke, was born April 90, 1918, and afiianced
Dec. ls, 1910, TO the Princess Marimlienno
Wilhelmine Augusta Sophia Marie, born Au-
gust g, 1924, daughter Of the Grand Duke
Louis II of Hesse. They have at present four
children, all sons, as follows Nicholas. here
-ditary Graud Duke, born Sept. 90, 1913; Al
exander, born March 10, lsi5 Wladimar,
born April %, isi7i and Alexis, born Janua-
ry IA, 1850.
g Maria, born August ls, 1910, and mar
ricd July IA, 1880, TO the Duke Maxilian Jo-
aeph Eugene Augustus Napoleon, Duke Of
Leuchienburg, Prince Of Eichstedt. This prin-
cess is not now living.
3. Olga, Grand Duchess, born Sept. H.
1929.
4. Alexander, Grand Duchess, born June 81,
1925.
5. Grand Duke Constantine, born Sept. 81,
1927.
G. Grand Duke Nicholas, born Aug. g, 1881,
and died within few years.
2. Grand Duke Michael, born Oct. 25, 1892.
The Grand Duke Alexander is the righlful
heir, though Constantine has made pretensions
10 the succession on the ground Of being the
eldest son born in the purple, Tor after his faith
er succeeded to the throne The succession be
ing in the eldest son Of the ragHiHg emperor.
Alexander was in ST. Petersburg, VIC presume
at the time Of his fathers death. Constantine
and Michael were in the Crin,ea at last ac-
counts.
Il may be that the claim Of the Grand Duke
Constantine has been waived. A preiension
having 90 frivolous basis, would possess not
the slightest validity ia any other country Of
Europe, but Russia, where hereditary claims TO
the throne have heretofore been lightly regard
cd. The empire is essentially military in its
government, and The strong arm Of despoiic
power is at times made subseryien, 10 the army
Might has ofien cmphatically made right in set
tling the succession to the imperial power. On
the death Of Peter the Great, his widow, Cath
srine, seized upon the throne, which rightly be-
longed to Peter, the grandson Of Peter the
Great, and who only succeeded TO his rights
upon her death. Peter II. died young, how
ever, aud q few Of The great officers Of The ar
=" -. aside his legitimate SUCCESSOR, Peter,
eon OF Anne, Duchess vf I-l.,ein Go,,orp.
conferred the throne upon Anne, Duchess Of
Courland Anne was deposed, and Ivan, an in-
fant, declared Car, under the regency of his
mother. This regency lasted, however, but
short time. Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the
Great, deposed The reigning Duchess, and i'm
prisoned Ivan, who was afterwards murdered by
by Caiharine "the Great" Elizabeth was sue
ceeded by her sisters son, Peter, who was poi
soned by the minons Of his wife Catharine,
who seized the throne. The report was eircu-
lated that Peter died Of collie Paul, the son
and successor Of Calharine, was murdered in
his palace by conspinlors headed by one Of his
own sons. Alexander, who assumed the throne
on the death Of his father Paul, died natural
death, that is, Of disease. His legitimate sue
cessor was his brother Constantine, who volun-
tarily renounced his pretensions in favor Of his
younger brother Nicholas, the late Emperor,
who ascendcd the throne in the midst Of a re-
belion. The reign Of every sovereign since
Peter the Great, il will thus be seen, has been
marked either at its commencement or iermina-
ton by some great crime-some fierce struggle
for supremacy. This evil is inherent IN mil
iiary monarchy, and it would be strange indeed
If the new emperor should become firmly scat
ed upon the throne without fulfilling the seem
ing destiny Of his family.
1t is possible, however, that Constantine has
been induced 10 rciinqaish his pfeiehsoas.-
The Emperor Nicholas, il must be presumed,
was too sagacious and far-sghled 10 leave dis
puted succession, and he has probably indicated
his own wishes by a posihumous decree The
influence Of the Empress mother, too, most
amiable woman and greatly beloved by her fam
lily and by her subjects, will undoubtedly bo ex-
erted to maintain harmony between the brothers.
The crisis through which the country is pass.
ing, requires the united councils Of the whole
imperial family and the undivided energies Of
the nation, and a struggle for the succession
would be little less than madness. Taking all
the circumstances into account, we may feason-
ably suppose that Alexander will succeed 10 the
throne without opposition.
The Grand Duke Alexander is said 10 be
mild and amiable prince, possessing fondness
for the arts Of peace rather than for strife and
boodshed. His disposition resembles that Of
his mother, and is the reverse Of that Of his
brother Constantine, who is a fiery spirit, and
in character and habits more like his father
AS we have already remarked, the death Of
Nicholas decidedly increases the chances Of
pacifca'ion. Both Alexander and his mother