The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-22
THE CAR A GOOD MAN
Charles Emory Smith Calls
Him the Peaeemaker.
HIS PRIVATE LIFE SHAMELESS.
He Was . FstsItst, and Dfdn't worry
Mach About SfhfIfsm-Czarewfteh
wanted 90 Visit America

PHrrApEIPHrA. Oct 2i.-Fx- Minister
Charles Emory Smith. who during the
time he represented the United States a.
ST. Petersburg had ample opportunity to
observe the personal characteristics Of the
car. talked interestingly today when
asked by an Associated Press reporter for
his Impressions as to the effect the death
Of the czsr will have in the Russian en-
pire. He SAID:
The impending death of The car
would, In my opinion, be . serious mis-
fortune for Russia and for Europe. Is Is
not probable that there will De any marked
change in the conservative policy Of the i'm
periai government. The policy of the
present reign has been wise. prudent and
nrm. It is likely 10 be followed. bat. in
the nature OF the case, with a new and
untried sovereign there must DO solicitude
until the lines are settled.
AS 10 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 ali classes. The un-
pected change necessarily breeds anxiety.
but 1t finds a loyal public temper, and
with wise counseis it will be easy to move
forward without disturbances.
Alexander III. has been an upright
and earnest ruler. less commanding than
Nicholas, less liberal than Alexander H.,
bus he has been well balanced. His per-
sonalities have inspired confidence both NJ
home and abroad. He has been steadfast,
conscientious and Straightforward. He
has shared the reactionary tendency
which followed the assassination of his
father, and which has been unfortunate
in some of its developments, but with his
firm policy he has united a strong sense of
Justice
During the famine of 1891 and 1892
some extreme sociaiistic articles imputed
to- Count Tolstoi found their way .nto
print Tolstoi was engaged in relief work.
and some OF the ministers OF the empire
thought IL unwise To let him go 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 ct
Tolstoi's home. Whenever the clatter OF
hoofs was heard on the road IL was sup
posed 10 be a squadron of soldiers to make
the arrest. As matter of fact. the EN-
peror refused TO accept the advice to place
restrictions upon Toistoi. saying that
while his doctrines were wrong, he was
doing good and.humane work, and was
not to be interrupted in it.
mo one could see anything of the pure
and beautiful domestic life of the emperor,
or of his laborious devotion TO the respon-
sibiiities of the crown, or of his manifest
desire to promote the welfare of his people,
without great respect for him. He has
been the Russian of Russians in his feel
ings. and has aimed TO develop the no
tional spirit of his people. But he mas
Joined with this national sentiment deep
personal sense Of right and daty."
In an article which appeared in today's
Press Mr.. Smith writes of the car as fol-
lows:
THE sudden and swift collapse of the
czar In the very prime of life seems strange
and almost incredible. He /. only 40
years old. He had the stslwsrt figure and
physical proves of the Romanof officers.
Standing feet ?. well proportioned, the
very picture of robust health. about the
strongest man in Russia, living well
ordered LIE. he seemed the last of living
sovereigns on whom the dread disease
would lay fatal hands. His moral recti-
tude and his upright purpose have
matched his rugged manhood. His char
acter and impulses have inspired loyalty
and devotion at home and respect and
confidence abroad. For years he has been
tho sheet anchor of peace in Europe. As
crown prince he won soldierly laurels in
the so-Turkish war. but as emperor
he has been supremely devoted to CONT
mental peace. and has been the surest and
most potent force in maintaining it,
With one hand he moderated the i'm
pulsive srdor of France, and with the
other he warned and checked the agrees
sive tendency of Germany. He restrained
the hostile spirit OF others. and
renouneed warliks purposes himself Had
he been restless and ambitious of military
glory and aggrandizement he might easily
have applied the torch which would have
set Europe aiame. but he held a steady
hand over the great powers and refused TO
be disturbed and diverted by the pitiful
squabbles OF the Balkan states. Calm,
cool. firm and self-possessed, he has con-
served the equilibrium and peace of
Europe. Slow IN coming to conclusions,
q plodder rather than a genius. when his
determination was reached he was firm
and resolats In enforcing Ii. He has a
strong will. lie has been his own master
Ready always to receive counsel, he has
himself been unmistskably emperor.
Though rarely surprising the world with
any striking or daring policy he has quiet y
and steadily wrought out a change in the
position OF Russia which has lifted her
from secondary place and made her the
arhiter Of European peace.
"Curionsiy enough, with all the Russian
censorship and restriction. the most active
and potent agent in leading the cxar away
from the old foreign influence was a
journalist. katkRou. the chief of the
Moscow Gdsetic. was one of the ahlest and
most powerful editors Of any country, s
Russian Horace Greeley. and the alliance
OF the car and kaikaoif shook the uni
vcrssl intellectual and diplomatic domino
tion Of Bismarck. and from playing a
subordinate part 90 the great German
chancellor advanced Russia 10 the post
tion Of holding tue balance between ad-
verse forces and debating the peace o;
Europe. The cxar pursued this policy
with steady and rational judgment. There
were influences against him that we're bent
on war. lie warmly mastered and con-
irolled them. lie had faith In himself
lie was full 81 courage. There IS q prevail.
ing idea that no has lived In constant
dread and an xlsty, but be Is a fstsiiSt, and
he has moved calmly forward with the
conviction thAs his destiny. whatever i;
might Re. could not be changed. Doubt
less precautions have constantly been
taken for his safety. bat they have been
the measures Of those about him raEheE
than his own.
Ills great service 10 mankind has been
IS the peRcemAker os Europe, What val
follow his death no one can yet tell The
heir - the throne Is only ~ UniIl he
m ade his tour of the world. three years
Aso, be had never appeared ia any indie
peadens pablo part. His opinions and
tendencies are largely matter Of cor jec-
l. al ~ - ssEss1