The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-19
RUssIA's GREATEST RULER.


Some of the characteristics of Peter the
Great-His Pardon of Orloff
II. Sutherland Edwards, in Harper for June.
Peter the Great is many -sded figure, and
such huge one that to view him from all
points would involve the making of very
considerable circuit. 1t would be easy to
snow that he was acoarse sensualist, and he
had undoubtedly many of the tastes of a
mere barbarian. He drank to excess, and de-
lighted in such practical jokes as serving up
live rats and mice in pie-dish covered over
with the usual paste. When he was in Eng
land, his favorite exercise consisted in charg-
ing with a wheelbarrow a trimly-cut quick
ser hedge, which had at one time formed the
joy OF its garden-lovihg proprietor. He not
only sentenced TO death, but apparently him.
self killed the disaffected son whom he had
thrown into prison, and who persisted there
If you inquire at the museum of the Her.
mitage at st. Petersburg who carved those
wooden figures, who turned those ivory orna-
ments, who made that pair of boots, who
built that boat, the answer is always, 1.-THE
Tsar Peter" Inquire further who reformed
the old Slavonic alphabet by introducing
into it the symbols of sounds peculiar to the
Russian language; who altered the constitu-
ton of the Russian Church SO as to make
the Tsar of Russia, in lieu of the Patriarch of
Constantinople, its head; who established fac
tori es in Russia; who forced the Russian no.
bles, willing or unwilling to accept the
duties of state service, under pain of losing
their privileges; who formed the Russian
army; who created the Russian navy;
who built st. Petersburg-"the win
dow" as some one has said, "from
which Russia looks out upon Europe" who
first led Russian levies with success against
trained European troops; who among the
Tsars was the first to get. himself formally
recognized by Europe as Emperor" who
among the Tsars and emperors commenced
that unceasing war against Turkey which,
beginning with defeat, a capitulation, and
the nearest approach to the personal surren-
der of the Tsar, has at length brought Russia
up to and beyond the Balkans and placed
her, but for the political attitude of other
powers and the strategical position of Aus
tria, within easy reach of Constantinople;
who with Russian ships first navigated the
Caspian; who with Russian troops first made
war upon Persia; who sent out the first Rus
sian expedition against Khiva with instruc-
tons to its chief to dispatch from Khiva
military, naval and commercial agents dis
guised as traders to India? In every case
the Tsar Peter.
Whether Peter was what is called good"
need scarcely be considered and certainly
cannot be decided. Exhorted on his death
bed to repent of some very bad actions which
he had undoubtedly committed he said that
God would judge him. not by isolated deeds,
but by the general tenor OF his life. He was
far more remarkable for energy in every
possible direction than for piety or any sort
of moral quality. He did not, however like
killing the wrong man; and when he was de-
CAPTIVATING with his own hand the rebellious
strelitzes or "archers," who detesting
his innovations from the West had,
during his absence from Russia, risen in
instruction against him, he hesitated
to strike one bold young soldier who ad-
vanced gayly toward the block exclaiming,
make room here' and kicking on either
side the fallen heads which stopped the
way. This man will be of use to me-"
thought Peter. He spoke a few words to
him, pardoned him, and gave him a COM
mission in one of the regiments that he was
forming.
The forgiven one proved worthy of his
pardon. His name was 0rlof and his
descendants have often shown the same
reckless daring which, as exhibited by the
founder of the family made so striking
an impression on the mind of Peter. The
Russian system of government has been
described as "despotism tempered with
assassination" and the Orloffs, as if
mindful of their ancestor in his mutinous
days, have not always ranged themselves on
the side of disposition, but on the whole
they have served the Russian government
faithfully and unscrupulously; now burning
the Turkish feet in the bay of Tchesme,
through the agency Of newly invented fire
ships, taken into action by English captains;
now, the more surely to betray her, profess
ing the most ardent affection for the UNI
fortunate Princess Tarakanod, who was to
be delivered by her pretended lover into the
hands of her enemy the Empress Catherine;
now, under the Emperor Paul starting, at
the head of a force OF Cossacks and horse
artillery, on an expedition TO Khiva, with
British India as final objective.