The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-04-20
The CAR.



The date for the coronation of Emperor
Alexander H., says the ~. James Gazette,
has Mt last been fixed OF two courses open
10 him he chooses TO brave til. possible vio-
lence of the Nihilists rather than incur the
Certain mistrust OF his peaSantry. who, until
the new Emperor is amounted by the clergy
and crowned by himself will scarcely believe
that the old one Is dead. In this alone lies
serious danger, for the history of popular
instructions in Russia ~ the history of i'm
posters coming forward in the character OF n
defunct Gear TO dispute the rights Of his sue
cessor. These appearances have always been
accompanied by liberal grants of lands TO the
serfs, with permission 10 seize, or, IL deemed
preferable, destroy the mansions of the land
owners. The fact that there are no longer
serfs I'm Russia does not, rs might at first
seem TO be the case, deprive any pretender
who might start up of such means Of working
upon the peasantry as were employed to-
ward the close of the last century by Pongat-
chef and toward the end Of the last but one
by Stenko Rain. The peasants set free by
ACT or 1861
retain possession of the land they were In the
habit of cultivaung for their own particular
use. But they have dues to pay, Of which
they would gladly be relieved; and the land
allotted to them is either insufficient or is SO
regarded by themselves. Twenty years ago,
almost Immediately after the publication of
the law of emancipation, fanatic appeared
in the neighborhood OF Kazan, announcing
that the Emperor had made over the whole
Of the land TO the peasantry; and, absurd as
his story was, IL found thousands and tens Of
thousands of interested believers. But for
the prompt Intervention OF the military, by
whom the fanatic was shot, the agitation
might have led TO eryserious results. There
may be no more reason now than at any
other time since the emancipation to antici-
pate rising of peasants In Russia. But
what has happened so often and on small
scale recently may well happen again on a
scale not necessarily small The possibility
of such thing would certainly be increased
by leaving the occupant Of the throne un-
crowned. In country nearer our own we
have seen IN Emperor reign for eighteen
years without going through the coronation
ceremonies.
THE THIRD NAPOLEON
did not undervalue the importance of solem-
mites and pageants. But he had set his mind
on being crowned, like his uncle, by the
Pope; and he remained without crown
rather than receive IL from the hands of any
one but the supreme pontiff. The French
people knew that Napoleon III. was their
Emperor, inasmueh as he exercised imperial
power, and the fact of his having never been
crowned gave them no concern whatever. In
Russia, however, the least civilized and
most superstitious country In Europe, all
sorts Of fables would be set going IL the Gear
omitted to secure for his authorities the
sanction and blessing of the church. An
omission so entirely unprecedented could
only be explained In two ways--on the sup
position that Alexander III. had no clear
right TO the throne, or that, possessing the
right he was afraid TO assert. Difficult, and
indeed, impossible as IL was 10 do otherwise,
10 cannot be denied that the step which
Alexander III. liz about 10 take will be at
tended with considerable risk. TO celebrate
the coronation with manned rites would DO
worse than not celebrating IL at all. Ii has,
indeed, been formally announced that the
ceremony will not be- shorn Of its ancient
splendor, and therefore II may be fairly as-
sumed that 1t will be accompanied by the
usual popular festivities. 1t is precisely ia
these that a source of peril is 10 be found
ALEXANDER II
was far frsm being the first Russian Emperor
who had persisted by assassination. But pre-
vious victims had died at th. hands Of men,
beers Of the high aristocracy; and their death
cor rather the manner Of their death--attract-
ed no attention, beyond the precincts OF the
palace. The second Alexander was the first
who fell in the public streets, slaughtered by
subjects of Gloss which, until within very
few years, had been supposed 10 regard their
sovereign with feelings of absolute devotion,
1t has always been m understood thing in
Russia that a Gear might be murdered by his
courtiefs, and members of the reigning faini.
ly have been often disposed Of on the recon.
mendation of the chief. But the assassina-
ton Of an Emperor by band OF unknown
persons who were not even in the Govern
ment service was something quite unprece-
dented. Twenty-seven years ago there was
no more likelihood of Alexander III. being
struck by any member OF the immense crowds
In which he had 10 show himself throughout
the coronation week than there was Of an
earthquake bringing down the palace OF
Kremlin. All that, however, has been
changed. The late Emperor, during the last
sixteen years Of his reign, was attacked som e
Ave or six different times, and always by
such persons as the present Emperor will
have to meet In thousands providing that his
coronation festivities are hike those Of his
predecessors. On his way to the
KREMLIS
the Emperor will be sufficiently guarded on
all sides by soldiers, and as the Cathedral Of
Assumption,in which the ceremony Is to take
place, is so small that measures can easily be
taken for keeping out all persons who are
not known and who are not entitled TO BIZ
present by virtue Of some high Office. IL II
In connection with the popular festivities BY
which the coronation is followed that some
untoward occurrence may be feared. For
instance, dinner is offered TO the people In
the Prtrovsky plains just outside Of Moscow
and some idea fthe magnitude OF the enter
tainment may be taken from the fact that al
the coronation of Alexander III. the tables
arrayed In lines across the immense meadow
measured no less than eight miles. The En-
peror is expected on this occasion to show
himself on horseback TO his people, and II
would be grave breach Of etiquette to dc
so surrounded by an escort. He lis supposed
to place implicit trust In his children, and the
coronation, fixed to take place next May
will be the first at which any sort of doubt on
the subject win have been entertained. Then
there is the ball at the Kremlin, to which &C
cording 90 tradition yet unbroken, every
one has q right to come without invitation,
and here, once more, the Gear has to make
his appearance among guests OF all classes
Snch meetings are very impressive when
confidence between the sovereign and his
subjects really exists; but In the absence Of
any such feeling they can only be regarded
with grave anxiety.
MRS. FITCH,s DIAMONDS.