Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-02-26
The Hunted Gear.

hC SZuT.
The news that came from Europe
last week, Of another desperate attempt
to take the life of the Gar, Alexan-
der ii, Of Russia, again forces upon
the records of time a thrilling illustra-
ton of the truth Of the trite saving
that uneasy lies the head that wears
a crown" The imperial family at
this season Of the year occupies the
Winter Palace at st. Petersburg, and
the conspirators sought to accomplish
their aim by blowing up the building
with dynamite which they had in
some mysterious way placed in the
basement. Immediately over the place
where the explosion occurred was a
room occupied by the imperial guard,
consisting of about 125 men, and above
that was the dining hall. The Car,
Il seems, usually dimes at six o'clock.
Fortunately the dinner on that day
bad been delayed short time and his
majesty was just about to enter the
room when the explosion occurred,
killing, according to the accounts, eight
persons and dangerously wounding
forty-five. All the members of the
imperial family were mercifully saved.
OF his line, Alexander is personally
one of the best who has ever occupied
the throne. Essentially autocratic
and despotic in practice and by tra-
dition as the government of Russia has
4 r ages been, the present Car has not
ZEN dead 10 the demand of advanc-
I civilization. His government to-
II is much better than when he re-
&Aed it from his predecessor. To him,
Russia is indebted for many notable
k.as..s rauIcm reforms m the system cal
culated TO enhance the welfare of his
millions of subjects, and these reforms
have undoubtedly bettered their con-
dition. One of the first great strides
in the progress of the mighty events
that have marked his reign--a work
nobler in all the attributes of humani-
ty than will be placed to the credit of
any other crowned head of the pres
ent era-was the emancipation OF
serfs. This above all else should en-.
dear him to his people. But other
changes have marked his career. From
him also Russia has received elective
assemblies, a system of trial by jury
in the courts, and improved education
al facilities such as were never en-
Ijoyed in the country before. Acts lik,
these indicate a man that works fol
the good of those over whom he rules
and it would seem that he should b,
the most popular monarch Russia hai
ever had. Yet it is veritable fac
that this man lives in constant dreaC
of death at the hands of cunning, des
perate and determined foes in hi
own land-probably in his own house
hold. Ever in his mind is the fear o
poison, the dagger, the bullet and th'
scores of other means to extinguisl
life that have been devised by tn,
ingenuity of men. He dare not g,
abroad and is not safe even in his owl
palace. The attempt that was mad
upon his life last week was a piece o
cold-blooded didbolism as cunning an,
atrocious in design as anything of tn
kind the mind can well conceive Of
and that he, together with the mem
bers of his imperial family and hi
royal visitors present in the palace
escaped death or serious injury is al
most miraculous and is a matter o
congratulation.
We copy with great pleasure, il
another column of the DEMOCRAT