The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1876-05-25
RUSSIA.


are fatty denied, still there i some reason
for believing that his mind is affected.
he is now ffty-eight years old-not far
from the age at which his father, the
Emperor Nicholas, died. His uncle, AL
exander L, was only forty-eight at the
time Of his death. His grandfather Paul
was assaszinated at forty-fve. Had he
been suffered to live out his days it is
not probable that his existence would
have been greatly protTacted, for he was
a raving mailman. Paurs mother, Cath
crime, reached sixty-seven, greater lon
gevity than any soyereignOf Russia since
and including Peter the Great. 1t is true
that Catherine and her predecessor were
generally vicious in their habits. Max
ing all due allowance for this fact, how
ever, it may safely be concluded that the
ROmanOhs are not q very long-lived
family. PauPs insanity displayed itself
in Alexander L, in the mild form of mel
anCholy. Nicholas was 20 fierce at times
that it may be doubted whether he was
always sane. His brother Constantine's
atrocities in Poland ought in charity
to be regarded as the freaks of a lunatic,
for there can be no possible explanation
Of, or excuse for, them on any other sup
position.
The reigning monarch has won the IA
vorable opinion Of all foreign nations by
his gentleness and his reforms. For an
absolute sovereign, inheriting the usages
and traditions of centuries of despotism,
he has certainly displayed remarkable
moderation and noBIeness. It has been
whispered that of late years he has be-
come a slave to alcohol. If this be 50
the habit has not resulted in the despeE-
ate acts or the low debauchery of some
of his male and female predecessor 1t
is as likely to be the result as the cause
of any OF his mental alterations.
A nephew of the Emperor Of Germany,
he is in warm sympathy with his rela-
tive and with German institutions. His
namesake and heir, a young man of thiE-
ty-one, is said, on the contrary, to be
thoroughly Russian in his mental and
physical characteristics, and in his pref
udices. His features are those of his
Sclayonic ancestors, and he hates Ger
many and all foreign influences. Should
he succeed to the throne, the civilizing
and refining influences from abroad
which have been encouraged by his
father viii be frowned upOn and stihed.
In one sense, such result would be q
misfortune, but eventually it may prove,
q blessing to the empire. Alexander II.
has done wonders in allowing some traces
of representative government, bat his
people are not satisfied. The burden of
despOtism is still too great, and one ex-
trems has provoked another. The Mill
ist organization, which has caused great
alarm in official circles, is spreading in
many parts Of the empire in spite of the
efforts Of the police. It's members reject
almost every received religious and
moral truth, and desire to carry into pO-
litical matters the same distinctive radi-
CaliSm which they entertain regarding
theories believed by the mass Of Christ
endom. If they have not initiated the
deeds Of the French revolutiOnists, it is
only because they are waiting their time.
II would be ruin to the country If they
were to have their way. They can ef-
tectually be met only by the adoption Of
some fairly popular government which
shall endow each citizen with rights
worth contending for, and diffHss intelli-
gence through all classes of the commn-
nifty. At present the thoughtful Rus
sian has to choose between aUtOcraCy and
anarchy. The former may be endurable
under an indulgent sovereign, but under
q malicious tyrant it win soon become
intolerable. There is no sUrar way Of
attaining this happy medium than BY q
revolt which shall overthrow the old
time tyranny and defeat the policy Of
half insane communists. If the heir-ap-
parent succeeds to the throne, and does
not agreeably disappOint public exPec-
tation, such a revolt may be not merely
q probability, but a necessity.
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