The herald., 1894-10-22
A NOBLE MONARCH.

PHILADELPHIA. Oct. 21.-Ex-Minister
Charles Emory Smith. who. during the
Tina he represented the United States
at ST. Petersburg, had ample opportu.
nifty tc observe the personal character
istics OF the car. talked Interestingly
today when asked by an Associated
Press reporter for his impressions as to
the effect the death of the czar will have
in the Russian empire. Mr.. Smith
said:
"The impending death OF the czar
would, in my opinion, be serious mis-
fortune for Russia and for Europe. II 10
not probable that there will be any
marked change in the conservative part
of the imperial government. The policy
OF the present reign has been wiee, pru-
dent and firm. 1t ia likely to be fol.
lowed, in the nature of the case, with
new and untried sovereign. There must
be solcitude until the lines are settled.
''As to Russia internally, the present
emperor has given her tranquility and
stability. There is little discomfort, no
agitation, and general devotion to the
crown on the part OF all CLASSES. An
unexpected change necessarily breeds
anxiety, but it finds loyal public tenn
per, and with wiee counses it will be
easy to move forward without jiaturb-
ancee.
Alexander III. has been an upright
and earnest ruler; less commanding
than Nicholas, less liberal than Alexsn
der IL, he has been we'll balanced. His
personalities have inspired confidence,
both at homo and abroad. He has been
steadfast, conscientious and straight
forward. He has shared the reactionary
tendency which followed the assassina-
ton OF his father, and which has been
unfortunate in come OF its developments.
but with his firm policy he has united
strong senee OF justice.
"During the famine of 1891 and 1892,
some extreme socialistic articles, im-
puted to Count Tolstoi, found their way
into print. Tolatoi was engaged in re.
lief work and some of the ministers OF
the empire thought it 1nwise TO let him
60 among the peasants. preaching his
revolutionary ideas. and they advised
that he be placed under arrest. This
action was greatly denounced. An
English friend OF mine, just at that
time, visited for some days at Tolstoi's
homo. Whenever the clstter of hoofa
was heard on the road it was supposed
to be squadron OF soldiers to make the
arrest. As O matter OF fact, the en-
peror rofused to accept the advice to
place restrictions upon Tolstoi, eaying
that while his doctrines we're wrong he
was doing great good and humane work
and was not to be interrupted in it.
No one could see anything of the
pure and beautiful domestic life OF the
emperor, or OF his laborious devotion to
the responsibilities of the crown, or his
manifest desire TO promote the welfare
of his people, without great respect for
him. He has been Russian of Rua.
SLAMS in his feeling. and has aimed to
develop the national spirit OF his peo-
pie. But he has joined with this ma
tional sentiment deep personal sense
OF right and duty"
| In an article which appeared in to.
days Press, Mr.. Smith writes OF the
czar az follows:
"The sudden and swift collapse OF the
czar in TIE very prime of life seems
strange and almost Incredible. He 10
only 40 years old. He has the stalwart
figure and physical prowess of the Ro-
manof officers; standing 6 feet 2, we'll
proportioned, the very picture OF robust
health, about the strongest man in Rus
sis, living q we'll ordered life, he seemed
the last OF the living sovereigns ON whom
dread disease would lay fatal hand. His
moral rectitude and his upright purpose
have matched his rugged manhood. His
character and impulses have inspired
loyalty and devotion at home and re-
spect and confidence abroad. For years
he has bsen the sheet anchor OF peace
in Europe. AS crown prince he won
soldierly laurels in the Russo~Turkisn
war, but as emperor he has bsen
snpremelF devoted to continental peace
and has been the sursst and most potent
force in maintaining it. With one hand
he moderated the impulsive ardor of
France, and with the other he warned
and checked the aggressive tendency of
Germany. He restrained the hostile
spirit OF others and renounced warlike
purposes himself. Had he been restless
and ambitious OF military glory and as-
grendizement. he might easily have ap-
piled the torch which would have set
Europe af1ame. But he had steady
hand over the great powers and refused
to be disturbed and diverted By the pit.
! iful squabbles of the Balkan states.
Calm. cool, firm and self-pcssesaed, he
has conserved the equilibrium and
peace of Europe.
SLOW in coming to conclusions,
| plodder rather than q genius, when his
determination was reached, he was firm
and rssolute in enforcing it. He has
strong will. He has been his own mag
ter. Ready always to give counsel, he
has himself been Enthusiastically emperor.
Though rarely surprising the world
with any striking or daring policy, he
has quietly and steadily wrought O
change in the position of Russia which
has lifted her from the secondary place
and made her the srbiter OF European
peace.
"Ouriously enough, with all the Rug
alan censorship and restriction, the most
active and potent agent in leading the
car away from the old foreign influence
was journalist. Kalkaoff, tho chief OF
the Moscow Gazette, was one OF the
ablest and most powerful editors of any
county, Russian Horace Greeley, and
the alliance of the czsr and Kalkeoff
shook the universal intellectual and
diplomatic domination OF Bismarck, and
from playing subordinate part to the
great German chancellor, advanced
Russia to the position of holding the
balance between adverse forces and die
tating the peace of Europe. The czar
pursued this policy with steady and
rational judgment.
There we're influences against him
that were bent on war. lie calmly
mastered and controlled them. He had
faith in himself. He was full of cour-
age. There ia prevailing idea that be
has lived in constant dread and anxiety,
but he In fataliat and ha uoovod