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

ut once old and now. would provo an eflca
cious remedy. The hope. at all events. CORE
spcnded to the modes OF thought Of the younG
ruler. who had remained untouched By west.
ern culture. The only question was and II
how far tho character OF Alexander III. wal
lifted to undertake the enormous task OF re-
verslng tho work done since Peter the Grea'
and Of nationnlizlng Russia
III.
In another chapter entitled Alexander I'LL
As Absolute Ruler" the author comedies that
the present Russian autocrat possesses In an
unusual degree the virtues OF an estimable
private man. He Is an excellent husband. a
loving father. and On economical and conscien-
tious master Of his house. He has an antipa-
thy to all kinds OF untruthfulness. immoral
ity and frivolity. and he is distinguished for
the industry and punctuality with which he
fulnls the duties OF his high calling. Disin-
clined to every kind OF Discrimination. he goes
his W way without counting the favor or ap-
plause Of the people. and without using any Of
the little arts by which men In his station are
wont to ingratitate themselves. When one
sees him for tho FIRST time. he looks
az severe and impcrious as his grand
father Nicholas. Like him.. Alexander III. is
firm. resolute. avsrse to all concessions. and
80 completely penetrated with the conception
OF his exceptional position that he might be
presumed inaccessible to foreign influences
or to the pressure Of doubt or apprehension.
According to the author. however. the first
impression 81 the present Russian sovereign
ia not confirmed by fuller knowledge. II
direction OF the will and adaptation OF char
acter were synonymous. or II 1t were possible
for any man to mould his character as he
chose. then the impression would be accurate.
As a matter OF fact. however. Alexander
III. Is not the man he would wish to be and
to seem. but an entirely different person. By
nature. he is profoundly impressionsble.
and contact with the world has driven
him to distrust and doubt himsel as we'll as
others. In spite Of HIS strenuous endeavors to
become u self sufficient autocrat. he has never
succeeded in the attempt. His characteristic
reserve springs partly from an Unborn and in
vincible shyness. partly from a want OF self
confidence. His undertaking persistence in
following out a given line OF action represents
n sense OF duty which has been painfully ac-
quircd. II he seems lmost impervious to the
counsel and opinions Of other people. 1t is not
because he always has his own private opinion.
in which he puts absolute trust. but because
he holds 1t q duty to be and appear in
capable OF being influenced. and because
he fears The appearance OF dependence still
more than dependence itself. II he were
stronger than he is. he would be more Yield
Ing. and II he had greater reliance on his own
powers the appearance OF Welding would not
trouble him. His ~repuRnance to the western
European system Is closely bound up with the
inner instability OF his nature. 1t is. in part,
founded upon the wish OF the Emperor. at
least In this one point. to possess . bond Of
union with the instinct OF the Russian people.
and q reserve power In case OF need: but 1t is
more especially based upon the thought that
the western development Is an uncanny and
incommensurable phenomenon.
The peculiarities Of the Cars daily life are
explained by this contradiction between his
own real nature and the nature OF his duties.
which exclude all dependence upon others.
He prefers to transact business with his Min
listers and Generals rather by writing than
by word OF mouth. because he wishes to avoid
the discussion OF subjects with which he Is I'M
acquainted. As q matter OF duty. he receives
hundreds OF his subjects from all parts OF his
enormous empire. but he never allows them to
discuss minute points. fearing explanations
that may lead to difficulties. He avoids as far
as possible direct and prolonged transactions
with foreign diplomatists. because lie has no
confidence In his OF estimating them ct
their proper value. and because he has less
facility In expressing himself In French than he
would like to avow. Con scientious and Indus
trious. he has gradually learned to master the
little round OF his official duties: what lies out
side OF this is carefully avoided. and for this
reason meetings and intercourse with foreign
monarchs are narrowly restricted. the only eX-
ception being that OF his friendly and unpreten-
tious fAther-in-law. the King Of Denmark. The
fear Of being forced to play a secondary part
follows the grandson OF the "infallible' Nicho-
las like q phantom. As was to be expected,
the depression OF the Gear. who Is constantly
preoccupied with the duties Of his position.
communicates itself to those surrounding
him. and this depression produces . feeling OF
discomfort In the life Of the court which is
acknowledged BY the most friendly witnesses.
Although personally courageous. he feels tho
precautions that have to ba taken to as
sure his safety to be so calling as to de-
prive life of all its JOY. Crushed by
his official position and compelled to constant
repression OF his true nature. he rises above
the contradiction between being and seeming
only during tho periodical visits which he
makes to tho court Of Denmark. Here. where
the feeling Of responsibility Is cast aside. he
gives free play to his frank. pleasant. and
robust character. but In the ordinary course
OF things he stiles his feelings with a painful
conscientiousness. Still. the inner discord
betrAys itself to the attentive observer every.
wherein the salon. on parade. and even in
the midst OF festivities. The appearance Of
the tall. stately. vigorous man. with the fine.
broad forehead. betoksns q mixture Of
strength and weakness. dlsdalnful pride and
invlncible shyness. a mind constantly occu-
pied with itself. This analysis OF the Russian
autoorat's character is offered by the author
OF this book to explain how 1t happens that
Alexander I'LL. who az a Prince was merely
unsociable. has arrived at a degree OF isols-
tion within the last few years which surpasses
anything exhibited by his predecessors
80 much for the Gar; now for the Czarina.
There 10 no doubt that the marriage OF Alex
ander Ill has turned out happier than that Of
any OF his predecessors. Whether a correct
appreciation OF her husbands character or an
innate lack Of self-assertion has had the chief
share in the habitual self efracement OF the
daughter OF Christian ~. may be an open
question. As a matter OF fact. Maria Feo-
has Always shown herself satisfied
with har nnaItion aa vita NJ tha Czar and In