The morning call., 1894-10-20
THE DEATHBED OF THE CAR.

1t is evident from the bulletins from
Livada that The death of the Emperor of
Russia may be expected any day. Under
skillful medical treatment he may linger
for a while, but his death may be ques-
tion OF hours. The family would not have
been summoned to his bedside il any rea-
sonable hope remained.
The close OF his reign is not as clouded
as the beginning was. II is just thirteen
years since the explosion of Greneyitschy's
bomb made him Emperor of Russia at The
age of Sc. Though he was a Hercules in
strength. and Was supposed to possess the
hereditary courage Of the Romanoffs, he
spent the first days of his reign in an
agony of terror. The nihilists, who had
assassinated his father. threatened his
life, and hardly deigned 10 conceal their
purpose. He shut himself up in the castle
OF Gaschina. and denied admission to all
visitors. Officials who called on public
business were searched before they were
admitted to his presence. There was
ground for these precautions. Louis Nell
koff, who had been charged with the duty
OF watching over the Emperor's safety.
found that the ramifications Of the plot
against Alexander ii spread through all
classes of society. Tue nihilss counted
among their members noblemen. soldiers.
students, professors, persons employed at
court and even individuals connected with
the imperial family. FOrty-Seyen men
had volunteered to throw the fatal bomb,
knowing that ii was certain death;
son of the Grand Duke Constantine had
attended nihilist meetings; an officer in
the navy had supplied the nibilists with
explosives; several officers of the guards
had affiliated with the assassins. 1t is no
wonder that the Emperor voluntarily sem
fenced. himself TO an indefinite term OF
Imprisonment iD his fortresses.
During the thirteen years which fol-
lowed he has never felt for single day
that he could enjoy the freedom from care
which is the privilege of the meanest peas
ant. He was always on his guard. peering
round for suspicious foes. listening for the
sound of explosives. Death in its most
horrible form was always present to his
view. He never knew when he rose In the
morning that he would not be weItering
in his blood on the ground before night.
His very deathbed must couple intense
anxiety with excruciating physical suffer
ing. His son and heir Nicholas is unfit
mentally and physically to succeed TO the
throne. 1t is believed that he does not
desire to succeed; like the Grand Duke
Constantine, in 1885, he is quite willing to
be set aside. Another of his sons, George
is dying or consumption; the youngest
Michael. is lad of 16 Under ordinary
circums tances the death of Alexander III
would be followed by an interregnum or a
regency. Butin Russia, as in China, when
the heir to the throne is unfit, the fashion
prevails of selecting from the members Of
the imperial family the one who seems
most likely TO rule with vigor. Thus, in
1926, the obvious fitness of Nicholas led to
his elevation to the throne over his
brothers head, and the nobility. the army
and the people acQuiesced. If similar
course should be pursued now the court
choice would probably fall on the Grand
Duke Vladimir, brother of Alexander III
and uncle of the CZsrOwitch. He is man
of AZ, a soldier to the core, German in his
predictions and therefore no favorite
with the Panslavists. He is pretty well
known in European society, where he
passes for rough trooper, who is more at
bone at the head of an army than in
court Such an Emperor might keep the
nihilists in check by combining concessions
with stern repression of disorder. Vlad-
iE;ir passes for a man of Intelligence: what
he would turn out To be If he assembled the
throne is of course mere matter of con-
lecture.
1t is a grand thing, no doubt, to be an
Emperor; but there are few rooms even in
the lowliest homes in Europe which are the
abode of more sorrow than the chamber in
the palace of Livadia where the Emperor
lies diving.