The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-04
ALL FOR LOVE.


When Alexander the First-uncle Of the
present emperor of Russia-died Suddenly,
leaving no son to reign, his brother Con-
stantine, next in birth, was assumed to be
his successor. Nicholas acknowledged
him, and the army at St. Petersburg,
which he commanded, took an oath of
allegiance. The story Of Constantine's
future is told briefly by DIR. Hepworth
Dixon, in his "Free Russia"
""But, while the messengers were tear
ing through winter SHOWS, some members
of the Senate came to Nicholas with start
ling news. Alexander, they said, had
left with them sealed paper, contents
unknown, which they were not to open
until they heard hewas dead. On OPEN
ing this packet they found in it two pa
pers; one letter from the Grand Duke
Constantine, written in 1922, renouncing
his rights in the crown; second, mani
festo by the dead Emperor, accepting that
remuneration, and adopting his brother
Nicholas as his lawful heir. Nicholas
scanned these documents; saw good rea-
son to put them by; and urged the whole
body of the Senate to swear allegiance to
Constantine the First. In every Office
of the State, the imperial functionaries
took this oath. All Russia, in fact all
Europe, saw that Constantine had opened
his reign in peace.
Ten days rolled by. On Christmas eve,
the Grand Duke Nicholas made up his
mind to take the crown. He spent the
night in drawing up manifesto, setting
forth the facH which led him to occupy
his brothers seat; and on Christmas day
he read this paper to the Senate, by which
body he was at once proclaimed Autocrat
and Gar. A hundred generals rode to
the various barracks, to read the new
proclamation, and to get those troops who
had sworn, but week before, to uphold
his Majesty Constantine the First, to cast
that oath to the winds, and swear second
oath, to uphold His Majesty Nicholas the
First. But, if most of the regiments were
quick to unswear themselves, by word Of
command, part of the guards, and chief
ly the marines and grenadiers, refused;
and marching from their qua rters into St.
Isaacs Square, took up menacing posi-
tion, while cry rose wildly from the
crowd thong live Constantine the
First!"
A shot was heard.
Count Miloradirtch, Governor-G General
Of st. Petersburgh, fell dead; brave
general, who had passed through fifty
battles, killed as he was trying to haran-
que his troops. A line of fire then opened
on the Square. Colonel Sturler fell at
the head Of his regiment Of guards. When
night came down, the ground was cov-
cred with dead and dying men; but Nicho-
las. was master. Grape shot swept the
streets clear"
The Grand Duke Constantine accepted
the situation, went to Warsaw as viceroy,
and led an almost private life, with his
Polish wife, for whose sake he had first
renounced royalty. Then came a Polish
rebellion; ahda deputation of Poles wait
ed ON Constantine, asking for "a Living
Poland" The Grand Duke listened, and
consented that several Polish regiments
under his orders should join the insurgent
bands. "The Emperor" says Hepworth
Dixon, "when he heard the news, went
almost mad with rage" and he relates the
sequel ina paragraph, as follows:
"Constantin died suddenly at Minsk;
the disease was cholera, the corpse was
carried to St. Petersburgh; and the prince
who had lost a crown for love, was laid
with honor among the ashes of his race,
in the gloomy fortress of St. Peter and St.
Paul"