New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-04
THE C/1HS ILLNESS.

The prccariuu- health Of IN abS0lui" soV"r-
cign over many millions of subjects In Europe
ana Asia is u circumstance Of momcn'ou> i'm
porrancr in current history. Alexander III has
been neither IN enlightened ruler nor a popular
monarch and he has no claims To distinction
EXCEPT his vast resources of autocratic power;
hut devoid ~ he i Of original genius AMI indi-
yldual force of character. hc is the master Of all
the Russias, and his capriceS. prcjuiiceS ami
sympaihirs have weighed heavily in the scale of
human destiny Russia j. a country more dis
tlnctivcly Aslatlc than European, rcacionaly in
the tendencies Of government and under the
bondage of race traditions. In one sense no
ruler Is less free agent than 4 car who's"
manner Of governing is predetermined 10y dynaS-
tie conditions and race instincts. But while Il
car IS a slave 10 traditions. he is also IN auto
crai by virtue Of them There may be- governing
cabals in 81. Petersburg, but. powerful they
may become. they are dependent upon his soycl-
cisn will.
The career Of Alexander III has been mclan-
choly illustration Of the irony of drspot's fate.
The second son Of Alexander the ILbcrator. he
was constitulonally ndolent. pcasurcloving
and morOSc in temper, and was educated rs
Il soldier without reference to the possibilities
Of succession. The death Of the Czarewilch
popular and accomplished prince. left him M
twenty heir 10 the throne. and 10 the rcspon-
sibilities Of state which were profoundly dis
tasteful TO him. His early manhood WAS EN-
Uttered by the knowledge that he had taken
the place Of endcarcd 10 the hearts OF
Russians. and that he could not be allowed in
a campaign like that OF the Balkan to expose
himself freely and 10 win the only thing for
which he really cared Il great military reputa-
ton. Then came the tragic catastrophe of his
fathers death and the opening of Il gloomy and
harassing reign. during which he has been
dcmncd To live in daily dread Of the secret bull
let and the exploding bomb. The most powerful
Of monarchs, he could not return through the
Great Morskaia Prospect from Il requiem ser
vice In honor Of his fathers memory without
being Il target for asSassins nor is he free TO
visit his capital unless IN army Is put in motion
10 protect him: nor can he make the rounds Of
his apartments in his secluded palace fortress
without having detectives DIGGING his steps. l.
there anything more ironica In the vcissiiudcs
Of royal fortune than this contrast between alb
sOlute sovereignty over millions and abjcct help
lcssness 10 enjoy Il moments peace of mind in
an atmosphere electric with suspicion.
The close Of reign fraught with unhappincss
and baleful memories will he hcraldcd by the
Regency Of the Czarcwitch if the Car bc com
PEELED 10 spend the winter In Corfu or elsewhere
In the Mediterranean. His health evidently Is
In critical stage, and his release from sovcr
eighty for which he has lacked both capacity
and disposition cannot long be deferred The
appearance Of the Czarcwitch upon the scene
as the coming ruler will not have any immcdi-
ate effect upon Russian DESTINY The governing
cabal, with the army and the secret police be.