Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-28
EVENING STAR.
DOUBLE SHEET.
GAR AND DIXIE.

and this y more especially true, as the present
Gar has always been, at least a. far as outward
appearances 90, friendly TO this country. The
imperial house Is descended from Rurick. Duke
OF kiOv, who reigned in S62 A. ID. This title Of
Duke of KiOv was retained until 1l57, when the
title of Grand Duke of vladimir was adopted.
and in 1928 these sovereign Princes of the East
became Grand Dukes of Moscow. In 1888 Ivan
assumed the title of Gar of Muscovy, Gear
meaning Great King" Peter the Great, in
1859, was the first Muscovite sovereign who bore
the title Of Emperor Of all the Russias, which is
still borne BY his successors The present Empe-
TOr was the eldest SON Of the great Nicholas
who, a. Is known, succeeded his brother
Alexander l., in 1875, the heir and elder
brother, Constantine, abdicating the throne in
his favor. Nicholas died on March 2 ISj5
when the present Gar acceded TO power Alley
snder III. was born on April -, 1914. AT that
time his uncle Alexander was on the throne ami
his father was = simple Grand Duke, with no
prospects of the succession; for the then En-
perOr might vet have children. and between
Nicholas and him was Constantine. The Young
Prince was most carefully educated by his
mother. lady Of rare accomplishments, Alex
andTa FeOdOrOvna, daughter of the then reign
ing hing OF Prussia, and sister Of the present
Emperor William i. of Germany. She was
thoroughly yersed in the studies and literature
of the day, and her German influence il be-
tTayed in the EmperOrs character to this day
He had, besides, an excellent German Protest
ant tutor in Gen. Maedar; while the Grand Duke
Nicholas, his father, overlooked his military ed
ucatiOn, initiating him in those soldierly eyer
cises IN which IL was his own pride to excel
AlexandeT's youth was passed amid these favor
able influences, and his education was com
pleted ander the guidance of JOwkouski, then
the first Of Russian living poets At sixteen he
graduated from this somewhat singular course of
education, and thencefOrth participated active
" IN the anairs ana Pageants Of State.
ander at once assumed a high command in the
Imperial army a. the Cars chief aide-de-can-o y.
As such u was his duty to take the lead in those
splendid military reviews and Ceremonies which
were the special pride and delight of Nicholas
Russia was long at peace with the world, 50 that
his 'bloOd," or military talent. That he made
an excellent carpet knight was Acknowledged ON
all hands; and his fathers subjects were proud
rode 20 es SasSiS AND TTug prince who
his cuirassed and helmetted troops; for Alexan
der was inferior only TO the Emperor Nicholas
in personal beauty, and the nobility of his pres
ence. When he was twenty-one or two, the
charge of all the military schools of the empire
was given into his hands, and as governor of
these he made frequent visits to them and dill
fects. He married in 1S4i, when he was twenty
three, MaumillisDa, daughter of Louis, Grand
Duke OF Hesse, handsome and accomplish
princess, who still lives to adOrn the consort
throne
the time Of his marriage TO that " his accession
for he busy with his military duties and
studies; and in 1880 he made long tour to the
remOtest confines of the vast empire, visiting
the Crlmea, the Caucasus and Cireassia, being
received with enthusiastic honor wherever he
went. Ii was known, before Nicholas died that
his heir was liberal in opinion, and was fully
resolved to pursue policy in many things an
a breach more or less serious between father and
son, and Tor some time the Emperor refused to
admit the son to his presence. 1t was even
whispered, at one time, that Nicholas intended
to deprive Alexander Of the succession, and TO
confer il upon the Grand Duke Constantine
who ZealOusly sympathized with him and was
his tavOTite son. The quarrel extended to the
two brothers, who had a long and bitter feud
dividing the court and the political parties be-
tween them They never spoke OF held any per-
sOnal relations with each other, A similar state
Of things followed to that which existed in
England in the reign OF George III; the mon
arch had one court and the heir an
other, each bitterly hostile to the other.
reconciliation, however, took place Just be-
fore the death Of Nicholas He called his eldest
son to his bedside and an affecting and affection
ate scene eDsued- Both were melted to tears,
and the long arrangement at an end.
Nicholas then called Constantine to him, and
besought HIM TO make peace with his brother.
self-willed, at first refused; but the dying En-
perOT's supplicatiORs at last prevailed, and the
Two brothers were clasped to each others hearts
At the sick bedside. There we're everywhere
fears lest Constantine, who was bold, adyentur-
Gus and ambitious, a. well as exceedingly pOpu-
lar, should resist -AleXander's succession, and
CndeavOT to secure the crown of MuscOyy and
Russia tor himself by military coup d'etGt; but
on Nicholas death these fears were speedily
dissipat6d, for Constantine was the first to
hail and swear allegiance TO the new Gear,
and TO offer himself for his service. Alex
ander's accession to the throne was hailed
by the liberal party of Russia as the be-
ginning Of era OF true progress; and
ms promise, during the first years of his
reign, was not belied. Reforms began to
lie decTeed by ukase after ukase, frighten-
ing the mobiles, disgusting the ''Old Russia
PARTY, and calling forth the admiration OF liberal
Europe. The Czar had seen with his own eyes
the extravaganza and corruption Of the public
functiOnaries OF the Empire, and he first cleared
the Augean stables of the state of their rubbish
and placed the administration on an economical
and systematic basis. Then he decreed a greatly
improved syste m Of education, the universities
we're freed from the odOus restrictions imposed
on them by the despOtic Nicholas, the military
tyranny over civil Affairs was abolished andsOme
OF the most irkSOHe laws restricting the press
we're abTOgated. All this was done in the very
first year OF Alexsnder's reign. In his second
year lie turned has attention TO Poland, granted
universal amnesty TO the eXiles OF 1850, re-
moved many OF the despoie laws which ighed on
that unhappy land, and really and earnestly en-
deavOred 10 reconcile them TO Russian rule. The
Emperor found his efforts unavailing and was
son obliged 90 restore the repTessive admnistra-
ton Of the old Russian governments. Then came
the magnificent act Of freeing the serfs-an act
betTaying a courage Of which Alexander had not
been suspected; and many more broad and lib
eral measures which have been put into Opera-
ton in Russia might be traced to his power.
Alexander i the least military OF his race. In
this respect he is not true ROmanOff. He il
known 10 shrink from warlike measures, and TO
prefer the paths Of peaceful internal improve
ment- His nature II soft and polished, rather
than bold and naughty, like his father, Nicholas
OF active and gracious, like his uncle, Alexander
No prince ever preserved lOftier reputation for
purity, III gnity and mildness Of personal charac-
ter.
That he j. often me anchOly and gloomy i per
hap- a hereditary mi sfOrtune, for . was Mich
OlaS and Paul before great contrast 20
the J. n, -Or II his plNt brother Constantine
Grand D1ke and Grind Admiral OF the Russian
Feet. lie y perhs - the ablest imperial prince
OF the house OF l. smanOfi since Peter the Great
man Of indOmitable activity, strength OF will,
personal power over men, waTlike, bold, quick
Nitted and tenacious OF purpose. When a mere
lad, being then admiral, his brother Alexander
happened 10 be taking cruise upon his flagship.
Constantine. as commander, ordered the Caro-
witch to DO something, which order the latter re-
sisted The young admiral at once arrested him,
though he Was heir Ia the crown, and kept him
in confinement Till they reached port. Nicho-
las severely Teprimanded Constantine for this
act, but IL was believed that in his secret heart
be was proudeT Of his rough sailor Lad than OF
his more gentle and plant heir. Constantine,
indeed was cast in the mould OF his irOn-willed
father. His tastes are martial, and he Is the
idOliZed leader of the ultra g old Russia" party.
which regards il as the sacred mission of the
empire 70 expel the hOslem from Europe
and 10 assume the headship Of the United Slavic
race Of the eastern side Of that continent. He
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