Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-05-17
THE wARLIKE RULERS.
The Emperor Alexander. Of kus-
q si8.

Alexander IL, Emperor of Russia,
who succeeded on the death OF his
iather, Nicholas /. March 2, 1855, was
barn April %, 1918, in the reign Of his
uncle, Alexander l. and is, consequent
ly, entering his 59th year. He was
carefully educated by his father, who
proiessed himself delighted with the
manifestations of the true Russian spi-
rit in his son. At sixteen be was de-
cIared of age, invested with number
of military titles, and SUBJECTED to b
daily life of maneuvring, reviewing,
and military parade, which ct last St
riously impaired his health. He then
Travelled through Germany to recruit
his energies. He next vigorously ap-
piled himself to his duties as Chancel-
lor of the University OF Finland. He
founded a chair of the Finnish language
ON literature, and promoted a number
of scientific schemes undertaken by
Finnish people and weakening their
love of Independence. In 1850 be
travelled through Southern Russia, and
Is said to have witnessed with regret
his fathers attitude toward Europe,
aud to have altogether disapprOved 0l
the Crimean war. On his succession
to the throne, March 2. 1855, he found
himself in a very critical position. He
had two parties TO conciliate at home
the old Muscovite, bliBdly jealous fol
war, strong parfisans of his more war
like brother, the Grand Duke Constal.
tine, and the more peaceable and in.
telligent portion of the nation, who
possessed his personal sympathies. He
l. o1,,-.. al ,.I,tad IN onanIrr
,ge both; spoke of adhering to the pol
icy of his ancestors, and signed thf
treaty of peace as soon as he could dt
so with honor and dignity. Since ther
he has purged the internal administra
tion of its impurities, rebuked and
punished corruption, and given hon
Orable recognition. to public instruc
tion, free from military discipline, and
under hisown Supervision. His mod
Grafton has even stimulated the hopes
OF the Poles. By a ukase of the 18th O1
May, 1856, he granted TO all repentanl
Polish exiles permission to return
home, but though desirous of preserv-
ing the nationality of Poland he would
not assent to its separation from his
dominions. The grandest achieve.
pent of Alexander's reign, without
doubt, was his emancipation of twenty
three million serfs on certain eOndi.
tions, March 8, 1861. Three years af'
terward the same boon was conferred
upon the Polish serfs, with a view to
weaken the influence of the nobility,
who owned the greater part Of the
land, and We're, consequently, all pow
erful, which act seems to have had the
desired effect. In March, 1867, he sold
the whole of Russian America to the
United States for $1,000, 900. Two at
tenpts have been made on the Cars
life, both of which proved futile, and
resulted in the arrest of the would be
assassins. The Emperor married April
2S, 1841, Mary AlexandrCwna, PriD-
cess of Hesse Darmstadt, by whom he
has had large family. The Oldest OF
princes, Nicholas, the late Czarwitch,
born September 70, 1913. died prema-
tvrely at Nice, in 1865. Alexander,
the present Crown Prince, born March
10, 1S45, Married :November 8, 1866,
the Princess Dagmar, daughter of the
King of Denmark. Two of the Empe.
ror's Sons, the Grand Dukes Alexis and
Constantine, are now in New York,
where portion Of the Russian fleet
has been stationed for some time.