Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-01
CAREER OF THE GEAR.
His Policy as the Head of All the
Russias.


Alexander III. Alexandrovitch, emperor
of all the Russias, who died today, was the
second son Of Alexander II. He was born
March TO- 1875. and received a regular uni
versity education as well as training in
military affairs. Upon the death OF his
elder brother, Nicholas in 1865, the sue
cession to the throne fell upon Alexander,
and in 1856 he married his brothers fiancee,
Princess Dagmar, the daughter of King
Christian of Denmark. During the Turko-
Russian war Alexander served in a subor-
dirate command, and operated against the
Turkish positions at Rustchuk, Rasgrad
and Shumla. After the loss of Plevna his
troops were kept inactive until the fall
Of 1877, when, Ii Is stated, only the master
ly biunders Of the Turkish generals pre-
vented them from being totally defeated.
Alexander ii was assassinated on the 18th
Of March, 1881, and on the following day
Alexander I'll was proclaimed emperor. At
that time he was thirty-six years of age,
and IL was said of him that he had his
grandfather's energy and his fathers hu-
manity. Immediately upon his accession
to the throne the executive committee of
the nihilists published proclamation JUS
tifying their action In executing The
tyrant," and warning the newly crowned
Alexander III that he must be just The
nihilists demanded a complete amnesty,
the election Of popular legislative assem-
bly, by the universal suffrage and consti-
1t was threatened that If the assassins of
the late car were put to death further acts
Of vengeance would follow. Alexander III
was not disturbed by threats. He deter
mined on a reactionary course. The as
sassins were tried found guilty and exc
cuted. His fathers conservative ministers,
with whom In early life, while under the
influence of a liberal leader, he had quar-
relied. were retained. At first there was
some semblance- OF the western cabinet of
responsible ministers.
In April. 1881. Alexander III published a
manifesto announcing his policy. He knew
perfectly well that many abuses needed
correction. Corruption was rampant. He
appointed committees to examine into the
land frauds. and in the autumn of 1851
many high officials received their dismiss
sion. The same year the car investigated
the condition of the police service but 1t
retained the character of a secret and all
powerful inquisition, as Ii had under the
reign OF Alexander II,
The press censorship was also maintained
and the repression of the nihilists was con-
tinued. In spite Of the reactionary ten
dency of the emperor's policy, he succeeded
In reforming abuses. and would probably
have accomplished a great deal more in
that direction if he could have had his own
way and followed his best inclinations.
NfhiIist Disturbances.
The nihilists continued to be a source of
disturbance to the car, and in 1887 band
of conspirators was discovered among the
cadets of the naval school at st. Peters
burg and young officers of the navy, who
had recently been students in the school.
Many arrests were made. and subsequently
a large number of persons of the middle
class were arrested, as well as large land
holders and men of rank. Others escaped
from the country. In April of that year a
man and woman were seized by the police
on the streets of st. Petersburg while in
the act of throwing grenades at the en-
perorS carriage. The trials of the persons
arrested resulted in the sentence of death
of a number and long terms of imprison-
ment for the others.
The Jewish Laws,
The car In 1889 ratified Count Tolstois
reform project, which was ostensibly de-
signed for the benefit of the peasantry.
This project involved changes in the method
meht undertook to apply the laws against
the Jews that had been allowed to become
a dead letter. Jews in villages were COM
PEELED to take up their residences In the
cities. Licenses of artisans and the right
to carry on trade In various places were
withdrawn. The professions and the gov
eminent service were closed altogether to
persons of this faith. These DEGREES cost
ship. The emigration of great numbers of
Jews followed. the persecution of the
Jews was only part of a general policy of
expressing all foreigners and dissenters
from the orthodox faith.
The car displayed great activity in re-
ieving the persons afflicted by the famine
OF lSg1-'y2.