The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-03-22

harshness. His face, general demeanor
and character presents marked contrast
to the noble form and stately presence OF
his father. He hates uniform. and rare
ly wears one. He prefers driving to
riding, solitude to company, the. SIGHT Of
workingmen to that of ceurtiers. and plain
speech instead of diplomatic hypocrisy
He has the peculiar habit Of silenkly suck
ing the head of silver-mounted cane
which he seldom fails to carry. He is
rather stout, and breads corpulence nearly
as much as his grand father Nicholas did.
His education was exclusively military.
On the death of his elder brother he had
no scientific instruction, and no knowledge
of foreign languages except French. OF
politics and sociology he knew next to
nothing. He was inclined to life of
pleasure rather than one of labor To ac-
quire the necessary qualifications for his
new calling he has serious task. He had
hardly time for it. He was obliged to
enter upon the duties of a Crown Prince.
He had seat in the Council of State
He was forced to take an interest in ex-
ecutive affairs and in questions of public
policy, and to show by deeds and words
that he was endowed with as much judg-
ment as his lamented brother. Though
not always equal to the occasion, his wis
dom surpasses all expectations.
AS Alexander H., when simple Care
witch, professed more liberal opinions than
his father, so did Alexander Alexandra
witch entertain views far more in keeping
with the progress Of our age than those
of the late Emperor AS the latter fought
for more liberal policy against Nicholas,
SO has the new Gar always advocated the
adoption of measures that would further
the liberties of his fellow citizens. He
has occasionally sided so openly with the
revolutionists as to be suspected of an
affiliation with their secret societies.
The new Emperor inherited even his
wife from his brother Maria Sophia
Frederika Dagmar, Princess of Dinmark,
was betrothed to Nicholas few months
before his death. With his parents she
stood at his deathbed. She promised him
that she would become his brothers bride.
Her noble character and beauty kindled
the flame of love in Alexander's heart
This love, born of and nurtured in grief,
has proved strong and true. The new
Gar and Princess Dagmar, now Maria
Feodorovna, seem to love each other more
to-day than when they became husband
and wife, fourteen years ago. The name
of the new Emperor is coupled with no
scandal. He is pointed out as model
husband and father He blesses his
brothers memory for bequeathing him
such wife.
His wife's influence accounts for his
anti-German proclivities. Popular spirit
in Russia is opposed to Germany. Once
only has he tried to hide his dislike of
Prince Bismark and of the Prussian court
That was seven years ago, when the EN-
peror William visited St. Petersburg.
The new Gar has always been a zeal
Gus partizan of the national cause and a
decided admirer of Katkoff and other pat
tba riots nor1 In neI the winter Of lse7wes he was
sorely tried by famine. The committee
was politically antagonistic to Walonief.
AS Chairman he was responsible for the
fall of the Governor This action led to
the first quarrel between the late Emperor
and his son. Since that time there has
been no close harmony between them.
Encouraged by its victory, the National
party of Moscow recognized the new Car
as it's leader. He had lively correspon-
depve with Ivan Aksakoff, the publiclst.
All political questions of vital interest
were freely discussed. The secret police
intercepted some of the letters. Count
Schouvaloff showed them to the Emperor.
He suspected a conspiracy. The Care
witch was summoned before the Emperor.
He declined to give any explanation, and
Indignantly complained that one of his
fathers subjects dared to violate the Sc
crecy of his correspondence. He is said
to have slapped Schouvalof's face. He
boldly demanded his dismissal. The
Count assured the Emperor that he could
not answer for the safety of the Empire if
restricted in his Investigations. Alexan-
der told his son that the committee was
tolerated merely as charitable intitu-
tion, and that its Chairman would be dis
missed should he again indulge in po-
litical correspondence. The blow lessen
ed the authority of the new Gar. He
was much grieved, and almost retired to
private life.
Alexander Alexandrovitch is not as
firm and independent in his opinions as is
generally believed. His enthusiasm for
a cause is Of short duration. Outer intiu-
ences frequently change the course of his
thoughts and modify his actions. In this
way his French sympa.hies were singu-
larly modified by the action of the Com
mune. Nor did he show greater deter
mination and perseverance when the re-
form of the Russian army was discussed.
General Milutin advocated gradual
change in its armament. Bariatinski and
Tadereff supported radical and imme-
diate change. The new Emperor took
sides with the latter. Yielding to the
impulses of his patriotism, he displayed
the greatest activity in fastening the
work of reform. He hired skillful me-
chanics and engineers and paid out OF his
private purse for the manufacture Of sew
eral thousand rifles and scores of cannon.
At the end of o few months, however,
his enthusiasm was vaporized and things
resumed their natural course. Ten years
ago, on all economical questions, be swore
BY Tschikakofc Although Tschikakof
was neither q great economist nor man
of peculiar talent, he was Alexander's
most trusted adviser. It was he who per-
suaded the new Emperor to undertake
his campaign against Walouiefe But
Tschikakoff's supremacy was transient.
| Aksakofr took his shoes, and in his turn
gave way to celebrated painter, Bogol-
iubof. The new Czar has grown more
independent of late. 1t would be q
| stran0e thing indeed. If this Prince, edu-