New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-16
THE EMPEROR NICHOLAS !.

The announcement of the decease Of the Russian
Emperor affords the opportunity OF presenting our
readers with brief sketch Of his biography, we
are able to gstber il from authentic sources NIcHo-
AsPAuLowI1scH was the third son of the Emperor
Paul /. by his second marriage With Maria Feodo-
rowpa. daughter Of the Duke OF Wdrtemberg. He
was born on the 18th of July 1885, at ST. Petersburg,
and was consequently in bis dfty-ninth year at the
time Of bis death. Among bis early instructors were
The celebrated AdeluDg, Storch, and Duouget. From
his child hood however he showed less inclination for
study than for military sas His youth was passed in
comparative retirement and his freedom from the vices
of corrupt Court laid the foundation for the physical
and moral vigor which was subsequently exhibited in
his character During the reign OF bis brother Alex
sndey, he kept himself entirely aloof from public az
fairs After the peace Of 1875 be spent some time in
foreign travel visiting England in 1916, and making
The tour Of the Russian Provinces. On the 18th Of
July, 1877, he was married to Charlotte, the eldest
daughter Of King Frederic William Of Prussia, then
In the 10Th year Of her age His domestic life, pre-
vious TO his accession to the throne, not only
without reproach but was amodel Of purity aud hap
pines
On the death of Alexander Dec. !, 1925, in conse-
quence Of the resignation Of bis elder brother, the
Graud Duke Constantine Nicholas was called TO the
sovereignty Of the Russian Empire. One Of bis first
acts after ascending the throne was the suppression
of military rebellion, which he accomplished with
promptness though not without of severity.
This incidert which threatened the stability Of the
throne already weakened by the Huctuatng policy Of
Alexander, exercised decisive influence on the
mode Of government, as well as on the personal
character of the young autocrat. He Immediately
adopted the most stringent measures for the CONSOLE
daon Of the Imperial authority. Rejecting the plan
Of his predecessor which aimed nj the prosperity Of
the State by the cultivation and Improvement Of the
people, he adopted the ancient system Of the Czars,
founded on military discipline and implicit obedience.
He addressed himself theoretically to the correction
Of abuses In the public administration, visiting de-
Inquent agents with exemplary punishment and
partially changing the practical organization Of
The Government. Among bis great enterprises
for the more effective dispensa.ion Of jusics,
wss bis reform Of the legal code which gigantic labor,
commenced in 1927, was brought to close in 1886.
The foreign policy of Nicholas, during the flint years
Of his reign was chiefly directed to Asia. Persia be-
gsa the war which. two years afterward, Feb. 90,
1898, terminated with important accession to the
Imperial territory. Soon after Nicholas declared war
against Turkey which followed by the peace of
Adrisnople securing to him the free Of the
Danube, and Of the Black and Mediterranean Seas
with other political advantages Of incalculabe value.
While Persia was thus humblsd beneath his power,
and Turkey was, in fact, completely subjugated, the
political movements Of 1890 began in the West of Eu-
rope which essentially affected his relations to the
European powers, and produced the national riiing
Of Poland which could only be suppressed by prompt
military action, sustained by the combined resources
Of the Imperial Government. Nicholas avenged the
instruction by Transforming Poland into Russian
province, and endeavorng to bring its nationality to
an iremediable end.
Combined with the political operations Of the Gar
were his endeavor to reduce all forms Of religion in
his Empire to the Greek Church, Of which be was the
acknowledged head. At the same time he omitted no
practicable to strengthen his authority in its
relation to foreign nations Meantime, the agitstons
ofls4s began to exert their influence, with fear Of
change perple1ing monarchs." All the subtlety of
the Emperor was called forth by this crisis. His pol
icy took systematic form, and was prose ,uted with
incredible energy. Since that epoch, bis course has
been prominent in tie eye Of the world. His recent
Intervention in the affairs Of Hungary and his single
handed contest with the Western Powers belong to
cosemporsneous history, and require no comment in
this place.
The eldest son Of Nicholas, Alexander Nicolse-
witch, who succeeds to the throne, was born on the
2stA Of April, 1918, and married princess Of the
house Of DGmstadt on be 2sth Of April, ls4l. The
fruits Of this marriage are four sons and daughter
In his personal appearance, Nicholas has been de-
scribed a. combining the pretension Of the fop with
the susterty of the despot 1.-THE glance Of his large
bluesreenish, cry,tslke, hmpid eyes" says enc
who knew him well, "pieroes through and through
- with the points OF two freezing icicles. A cold
pang seizes ones whole being receiving their full
glare"
An admirable generalization of the character Of
Nicholas is given by the same authority, which will
be rad with peculiar interest in connection with the
recon- intelligence. IAN bis qualities for good and
" for evil appeared the surface, and shaped them
selve out when he ascended the throne The FIRST
"steps the young sovereign were made cautiously,
" with graf crcumspection. He tried to surround
himself Nth honest men-rsre jewels In Russia,
"even amone those in the highest places. He was
I" directed in be choice by what Is there carics-
ture Of public Onion by the voice Of some few 'a-
looms, and liewis by the advice Of his mother. He
" thus made come god and some bad selections. He
devoted bis activity to stopping the disorders
(which had nightly sehed on the Empire in thelsst
"yesrs Of Alexander; DUNG which time it can be
"ssid, tbere was no government and no sdministrs-
"tep, and That Russis kept toreher by an inward,
"inborn force Of cohesion. His primitive tendency
"wss TO be re former-to give nev and refreshing
"hpulse to the nation, and 70 awaken ito intellect
"and powers. 1hese first steps were ssccessful.