The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-03-19

thor OF this book. The Grand Duke Constantine
Nikolaevitch. who was at one time Cen
eral-Admiral and viceroy Of Poland. passed
out ofthe public eye when he retired from the
influential place which had been assigned to
him during the lifetime OF his brother. the
Emperor Alexander H. In spite OF the stric-
lures which have been made upon the char
acter and conduct Of this exceptionally cnpa-
BILE prince. and In spite Of the seclusion In
which he and his benevolent and noble wife
have lived for a number OF years. our author
thinks that HE removal left n perceptible gar.
The second son Of the Emperor Nicholas
dominated his immediate environment. not
only by reason OF his natural endowments. but
even more by the cultivation OF his faculties.
It Is pronounced a matter OF no little conse-
quence that 1t least one court could be named
In st. Petersburg where learned men and
artists could frequently meet together. and
where other interests than those OF society
and external show could receive considera-
ton. No trace OF such n cultivated cir
Gle will be left when the Grand Duke Con-
~stantine Nikolaevitch dies. His Oldest son is
q lost man." who is not permitted to leave
the place appointed for him years ago on the
Asiatic frontier; tho two younger sons. how
ever. are imperial alde-de-camps. and enjoy a
good reputation. Tho second uncle OF the
Emperor. Grand Duke Nicholas. who was
Commander-in- Chief In 1877. died in 1901. but
had long since ceased to play q public purt.
The Grand Duke Michael. besides holding
other offices. is President Of the Chamber. the
highest post in the Russian empire. Formerly
Governor OF the Caucasus. he has. by his mill
tary vigor and the integrity OF his character.
won the favor Of his imperial nephew. and re-
tanned 1t in spite OF differences Of opinion. His
wife. who was a princess Of Baden. is reputed
to be extremely clever and active.
OF the Cars Ministers there are at present
| but We NJ. de Giers and NJ. PobyedonostsefY.
In whom people outside OF Russia are much
interested. The ormer'ss success is attributed
in large part to q circumstance which at first
sight seems unpropitious-the fact, namely.
that he is not q Slav. but Finn. From the mo.
ment. however. that Alexander III. made up
his mind to take the direction OF foreign affairs
into his own hands. nothing could moro favor
the execution OF the idea than the transfer
enco Of the inheritance OF Gortchakof to an
official with a foreign name. q Finnish baron.
who was altogether dependent upon the per-
son OF the Emperor and was surrounded by
those who envied and hated him.. 1t Is we'll
known that the present Minister OF Foreign
Affairs had held high offices OF State
even in the timo Of Alexander H.. that he
began his career as Consult General in
Moldavia- Wallachia. and there married q
relation Of Gortchakofr 3: that he subsequently
filled various positions In various embassies.
and that about the middle OF the seventies he
was appointed to the Senate. and undertook
the double Office Of director Of the Asiatic de.
partment and assistant Minister. During the
last years Of GortchakoTs life De Giers was
the virtual director OF the foreign policy OF the
Government, and after the old Chancellor's
death he succeeded him In the Foreign ONCE.
That De Giers. although the best abused Rus
sian statesman OF the present day. has man.
aged to retain his position is attributed to
several circumstances and especially to the
preference which tine Emperor has shown Cor
men OF an orderly. reliable. and respect.
able character. Prince Gortchakofr could
hardly be said to belong to men Of this
category. Personally avaricious. he was
entirely Indifferent to the expenditure
which had to be borne by an already
overburdened State. Already while a COL
league OF the Chancellor. De Giers brought
about some change in this respect. and for
this reason and because Of his quiet, serious.
and modest behavior no was personally agree
able to the Emperor. he was entrusted. first
Professionally and afterward definitely. with
the Chancellorship Silent. cautious. with no
inclination for the frivolities. intrigues. and
~vanities OF high society. he possessed two
special qualities which endearcd him to the
Emperor-minute acquaintance with actual
political relations and the methods oftransact-
ing business. together with the power OF max
ing his authority felt at the right time and the
right place. He moves from point to point.
and knows and says exactly what ought to be
done In given circumstances on the other
hand. he Is o thorough disbellever In
stereotyped systems and principles. and
sets himself resolutely against explanations
of a general nature. BY never anticipating
the wishes Of the Car and by always con-
fning himself to the practical questions Of
the moment. De Giers makes 1t possible for
tho Emperor to feel that he himself Ia the real
handspring OF Russian politics. De Giers.
who Is Of retiring and taciturn nature. has
never yet disclosed to anybody his views on
the Slav or Eastern question. nor has 1t ever
leaked out whether he has embraced the cause
OF France or Of the central powers: whether. |
in fine. ne strives after a permanent or a pro-
visional condition Of peace. or what he thinks
OF the future OF Russia and Europe. In a
word. De Giers deals only with the immediate
present. and then only when the necessity for
action has arisen. According to the author
OF this book. there arc grounds for the
opinion that he is an opponent Of the Pan
Slayist fanatics and Frsnch-favoring en-
emlss OF Germany: but 1t is admitted that
declarations and ayowals to that effect cannot
be produced. Tho Emperor has the feeling
UNIV LIZ NlcIS u u lhltiluIs Cicd -Hchucu' VIZ
servlceabls statesman who never encroaches
upon the rights Of others. 1t Is one OF his
noteworthy characteristics that he never
makes himself inconvenient to his master by
putting forward claims or expressing desires.
Even IL measures which he has opposed are
put down to his charge. or II successes which
he has brought about are attributed 10 an
other. he evinces complete indifference. for
the actual possession of influence is. In his
eyes. OF more value than its mere appearance.
Next to the Gar himself. the most infuen-
tIal man in Russia is Pobyedonostsef. the Pro-
curator Of the Synod. All office which in West
ern Technology might be defined as nearly
equivalent to the Ministry Of Public Worship
At first sight he might be taken for a Prussian
Privy Counsellor. Serious and thoughtful In
his manner. no suggests rather a savant than
n statesman. He is one Of those men who are
fanatics from reflection: one OF those cool. cal
culating natures whose temperament enables
them to steer clear OF difficulties because they
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