The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-03-15

Alexander II. (Nicolaivitch) Emperor
and Astocrat of all the Russias who sue
lceeded on the death of his father Nicho
las l., March 2, 1856, was born April 20
1878. in the reign Of his uncle Alexander
L. When he was years of age, Alex.
snder died elev9ting Nicholas to the
throne and making the young prince
heir-spparent. For moment, however
his destiny trembled in the balance, as 6
widely spread detection, which was only
quenched By torrents of blood, exhibited
Itself in the garrisons Of the capitol
Nicholas, however, oYerAWed the re-
oelllous regiments, and thereafter
ruled q nation Of slaves. Thereto
fore, the young prince had been
Il lined by his mother, the daughter oil
Frederick I'LL, of Prussia, but now he
was placed under the discipline of mill
tary governors. He tired of the stern
regimen of the barrack room, and at the
first opportunity enfrsnchised himself,
seeking In travel and society the SOFTEN
| ing influences of intellectual culture and
taste. His prediction for civil rather
than military life being opposed to the
traditions Of the Russian court, excited
gloomy forebodings respecting the prince
and his succession to the throne. The
half-bsrbarous, half-soldierly people
preferred Nicholas second son,
Constantine, which caused antipathy and
distrust between the brothers. On enc
occasion Constantine, as admiral Of the
fleet, put Alexander under arrest. The
differences between his sons caused
Nicholas so much apprehension, that
upsn the birth Of Alexander's first child
ne required Constantine to take an oath
of fidelity to the heir to the throne. Upon
the death Of his father, Alexander was
proclaimed emperor. His first act was
to issue manifesto to the nation declar-
ing his intention to uphold the glory of
the empire. He did not interrupt the
course Of the war with the allied
powers, in which Russia was engaged,
but on the return of peace he
reduced the army to the lowest limits
compatible with the dignity and safety Of
the empire. He placed the national
finances on a firmer basis and promoted
commercial prosperity. But the gTe3test
reform was the emancipation of %, 000,-
600 human beings from the bond of serf-
dom, and an imperial 1kase proclaimed
liberation of the serfs on certain condi
tons, March Sd, 1861. In 1864 the same
boon was conferred upon the Polish serfs.
As regards education, the Emperor made
great efforts to place the state colleges on
s level with the best educational institu-
tons in Europe. A more notable re-
form was the inauguration of elective
representative assemblies In the prov
inces. The frat of these met 10 1865.
and it was anticipated that this tentative
measure would pave the way for the in
PRODUCTION Of national representative
assembly, but unfortunately it did not.
Among the principal wars entered into
by Russia, under Alexander, were-that
Ia Turkistsn, against the Amer Of Box
hars, the late war with Turkey and
the present one with the Turcomaps.
in all of which the empirs
has been victorious. In 1867, the
Gar sold the whole Of Russian
America (Alaska) to the United
States, for So, 100000 It WAS his con-
slant policy to strengthen the influence
of the church, of which he was the head;
hence the violent persecution of all other
religious bodies, and especially the Gath
Ole Church, which characterized his
reign. There were many attempts on
The Cars life and since April 10th, 1856.
when ne was fred at while entering his
carrisge, he has been in constant danger
Of assassination. The public is familiar
with many of the plots for his destruc-
lion. In lS4l, Alexander married Maria
Princess of Hesse Darn
;tadt, by whom he had q large
family. The eldest of the princes, Nj
sholas, died premsturely at Nice, in
1865. Alexander, who succeeds his |
father, was born March 10th, I845, |
November 9th, 1866, the Princess
Marie Sophis Frederique Dagmsr of
Denmark. The late emperor, while
possessing many virtues, was without
moral character Numerous social
scandals were associated with his name.
During the later years of her life there
vas a total arrangement between him
md his empress, he living VIGOROUSLY in
adultery withathe Princess Dolgourki,
~ whom he had three children. Soon
.fter the empress death last year, Alex
.nder and the princess were married
q order to legitimatize their off spring.