The Hawaiian gazette., 1883-01-31

The nysteVy which hss surrounded the pre-
,araiious fer GROWING the Gar IS in strange
and Painful contrast with the pcmp that her
aided the ccronAtiNa Of Alexander III. 10
September, l>S6. Moscow was the scene of a
series Of pSSeants which cost the Imperial
excholaer 6,eOo.e0a silver rouhles, or a mil
lien sterling, and which were the talk Of the
newspaper reading world for a long time after
wards. Il seemed fitting, If not necessary,
that the absolute master Of 60, eeo, zoe subjects
should receive the symbols Of his power, amid
cerernouies calculated to produce deep I'M
preston on the minds Of all beholiers; and
The loss Of prestige which the Russian armies
had suffered in the Crimea was viewed as at
foriias an additional reason why the Gar
should show himself in Moscow like a tn
ursphArs conqucror, 1t is interesting at this
date to glance over those brilliant letters, IN
which the special correspondent Of the ffsssS
described al the stirring sights that were az
cnrulAtei in a month Of wonders; and u -
touching 10 note, by the light Q; all that has
happened since. how many were the hopes
formed OF the new reign, how eOstatSe was the
enthusiasm prevailing amcng all classes Of
the people. The ccrouation Of Nicholas in
lSee was much less splendid; it had indeed,
been conducted amid circumstances Of gloom,
In lSa5, the League for the Public Veal, y
precursors Of the Nihilis,s, had organized a
formidable conspiracy sgsins; Alexander l..
and the rinslsaders: Batenkow, Rieliew. Ka-
towski and Baron Steinbell, had decided that
the Gar should be assaSsiuatei at rssanrcs,
where he was going 10 held a review OF
troops. katowski had volunteered to strike
the blow. The Gar arrived at rAsanros on
the 29th Of November, but died suddenly two
days later. He was at once succeeded by his
brother Nicholas, who usGTped the place Of
Constantine, the rishtful, but less energetic
heir; and on the 35th Of December, the new
Gar was within an ace Of being murdered,
like his father Paul, in the military insVrrec-
ton which exploded at St. PetersbU. :. IL
has always been said that Nicholas owed his
life and throne to the father Of the present
Count lsnatieis, captain, who, being trusted
by the conspirators, went over at critical
moment with his company to the Emperor $
side, The mutiny having been quelled, al
who had taken any part in 1t, or were sus-
pected Of having teen in the remotes; way
pTivy to its objects, were punished with IN
splring severity A reign Of terror set IN,
and for months there were no festivities at
Court or in any Of the palaces Of the nobility.
When AT last Nicholas went to Moscow to be
crowned, his progress was not meant to glad
den the people, but to make them quake.
There had been some rumors Of rising Of
seEfs, aud the Gar marched forth with an
army as if he were going to battle The cor
ouatiuu took place on the 81 Of September
aud when Nicholas left the Cathedral Of the
Assumption with his crown on his head, his
face" wrote Alexandra Herzen, looked hand
as Siberian ice.n The people were too fright
with their faces in the dust, sand this said
De Custine, with his light French sheer, a
dozen years later, " has been their customary
posture ever since