Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-13
ESTABLISHED 1850.
RULING A DESPOT.
The Power of the Cars FavOrItes-
Russians who Predict that a Dis
assrOus War with Germany Will
Wind Up the ROmanO6s.

IdNOFIteS govern DOLn Lnem ana their
dominions. 1t is no secret here that the
present Car has neither the ability nor
the education required to reign over all
the Russias. Therefore the Russians are
particularly interested in the question,
"Who are the Cars favorites ?"
Michael Nikiforovitch Katkoff, the
editor of the MoscOrskia Ked0mostt (the
Moscow NeacS), is the / 70 of the day in
the administration circle. He is a vet
eran writer, having been for over forty
years engaged in the discussion of politi-
cal and social questions. For over
twenty years he has conducted his
unique journal. No other Russian editor
ever had such an immense influence over
the public as Katkoff Not without
some reason he has been styled 'the
Moscow Oracle, "the Prophet" ''Jupi-
ter" and Cato" Strange as it may
seem, it is a fact that Katkoff has al
ways been kind of literary Nihilist.
As yet he has been powerful only
in opposition. He led an animated agi-
tation against the deceitful policy of
Grand Duke Constantine while he was
Regent of Poland, on the eve of the
Polish insurrection. He bitterly criti-
cised M Golovin, the Minister of
Public instruction, for granting autono-
my to universities and other high schools.
He scolded Minister Reitern for issuing
subsidies to private railroad companies.
He dared to defy even the omnipotent
chief of the late Third Section, General
Potapof. He boldly blamed General
Louis Melikof for his constitutional
ASPIRATIONS He beat an alarm when NJ.
Saburotf, late Minister of Public Instruc.
tion, declared that "the people may es-
tablish any schools they like" "The
Russian people," says Katkoff, care
strong, solid and sound. If they have
some troubles, they are chiefly due to
the weakness of the government"
Suddenly the news is flashed here that
KatkOtf has been promoted to the rank
of PrivY Councillor, which is next to
the highest rank in the civil service;
that he has been made member of the
Council of State, kind of legislative
body, and that he has been invited to be
the chief instructor of the young Care
witch. All this is extraordinary. Till
this year only the highest civil and mill
tary officers have been made members of
the Council of State, and those digni-
taries are shocked at the entrance of
Katkotf into their circle. If before, from
his editorial chair, Katkoff dared to
grumble against the administration. now.
from his chair in the Council of State. he
will be able to speak yet more boldly,
aud woe to his foes-Nihilists, Liberals.
and in fact everybody outside of the
Russophile party, of which he is the
head.
ADOthar xryr;+a, ,ubo - 49,. A.
confident counsellors of the Gar is Ivan
AksakoH, the editor of the Rus, and the
head of the Slavophile party His dream
is to unite all the Slavs under the Cars
sceptre. A long time ago he pronounced
the death sentence upon both Turkey
and Austria, and he never tires of preach
ing a crusade against those States. The
late Gar, loath to have any trouble
with Germany, kept Aksakoff under
ban for twelve years. But
since the accession of the present
Car Aksakoff has become a leading
spirit. He sincerely believes that Eu-
rOpean civilization can only do harm to
Russia, and that the original Slavonic
institutions, both political and social,
when fully developed, will not only
save Russia from all her troubles, but
will benefit the whole world, bv bring
ing in new era of civilization. In or
der, probably, to further that end the
Pan-Slavonic Society of Moscow recent
ly rendered membership to two distin-
guished Slavs, General Skobeleff and a
famous Herzegovinian chief of outlaws
who has just turned his followers against
the Austrians,
The new Czar in his youth was deeply
impressed by the erudition of his tutor.
then Prof Pobedonoszeff. Being aware
of his own lack of knowledge, the Gar
felt safe from all blunders in the pres
ence and under the advice of his old
tutor. So the former Professor has
been appointed the Chief Procureur of
the Holy Synod. 1t is doubtful, how
ever, whether the Car has profted
much by his walking cyclopedia.
Against the revolutionists Pobedonog.
zeff could find no remedy but the
anathema which he ordered to be pro-
nounced against them in all the churches
of the country. Against famine and
epidemics he suggested public prayer
Among other things, he teaches that loyal
subjects had better believe in than think
of the Cars authority. By the way,
public opinion here ascribes to him the
trick of the appearance of the late Cars
ghost in the Kazan Cathedral. It is said
that his object was to arouse the popular
wrath against the Nihilists. He failed.
OF course, in his aim, and succeeded
only in becoming target for ridicule.
Grand Duke Vladimir, the chief of the
army in the st. Petersberg district, and
Regent of the empire in case of the early
death of the present Gar, has embraced
Russophile theories. At every oppor-
tunity he whispers in the Cars ear that
as soon as the civil service and the army
are cleared from the treacherous German
element, the Gar and his country will
be safe from all trouble.
Behind Katkoff, Aksakoff, Pobedonos-
zef and Vladimir, however, stands that
astute diplomatist, Count Ignatieff. He
leaves to his fellows the making of pro.
jects and the advising of the Gar as
much as they like, reserving for himself
alone full power to act. AS the Minis
ter of the Interior, he is the chief of all
the Governors and General Governors
and the head Of the huge body of police
and gendarmes throughout the empire.
To-day he sides with the Russophiles
Slavophiles, because they have carried
the day; tomorrow, if the Liberals take
the lead, he will join the Liberals. He
will favor the policy OF peace or that of
war, or any other policy, provided it
Will help him to remain on top.
| asked civil officer here;
Chow does Ignatieff rule the country,
while he has but one voice in the Coun-
Gil of Ministers?"
eyes, said the Russian, with a wink,
'he has, indeed, only one voice; but
then, my friend, you ought to know
what voice he has"
Patriotic Russians are now asking,
where will the present administration
lead the Car and the country There
are different answers to this question.
Some say there will be disastrous war
with Germany that will end the career of
Alexander III. and of the Romanoff
family, as the Franco-P Prussian war ended
the career of Napoleon Ill. and of the
Bonaparts. Others say that the Cars
favorites will keep him in his palace
prison till he grows crazy from the fear |
OF assassination, and then there will be |
a horrible interregnum. Still others sur
mise that in fit of frenzy, to which he |
is already subject, the Car will dismiss |
his present counsellors, and will recall |
that cunning Armenian, General Loris |
L<..A