Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-10-23
RUSSIAN OF RUSSIANS
S what Ex.Minisier Smith Says Of the Gal
whom He Admired.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct %. - Ex- Minister
Charles E. Smith, who, during the time he
represented the United States at St.
Petersburg, had ample opportunity to OBJ
serve the personal and political character
sites of the car, talked in an interesting
fashion when asked by a reporter for his
IMPRESSIONS as to the effect the death OF
the car would have on the Russian en-
pire Mr.. Smith said:
THE death of tho car would, In my
opinion, be serious misfortune for Rus
sia and for Europe. 1t is not probable
that there will be any marked change in
the conservative attitude of the imperial
government. The peace policy of the pres
ent reign has been SO wise, prudent and
firm that it is likely to be followed
But with new and untried sovereign
there must be solicitude until the lines are
settled As to Russia internationally, the
present emperor has given her tranquility
and stability.
A Strong Sense of Justice.
alexander III has been an upright
and earnest ruler. Less commanding
than Nicholas, less liberal than Alex
ander II, he has been ell-balanced. His
at home and confidence abroad. He has
been sincere, steadfast, conscientious and
straightforward. He has shared the reac-
tionary tendency which followed the as
sassination of his father, and which has
been unfortunate in some of its develop
ments but with his firm policy he has
united a strong sense of justice.
mo one could see anything of the beam
tiful domestic life of the emperor, or of his
laborious devotion to the responsible, ,ities
of the crown, or of his manifest desire to
promote the welfare of his people, without
great respect for MIN. He has teen a
Russian of Russians in his feeling, and
has aimed to develop the national spirit of
his people. But he has joined W ith this
national sentiment deep person al sense
Of right and duty.
Almost Beyond Comprehensf IN.
"The sudden and swift collapse Of the car
in the very prime Of life seems STIR lnge and
almost incredible. He is only 40, ears old.
He had the stalwart figure and physical
prowess of the Romanoffs. Standing 6ft.
2in., well proportioned, the very picture of
robust health, rep'Ngl to be th,s strongest
man in Russia, pruuent, living model
life, he seemed the last of the living SOW
ereigns upon whom dread dis ease would
lay its fatal hands.
'His moral rectitude and lhis upright
purpose have matched his rugged man
hood His character and impulses have
inspired loyalty and devotion at home and
respect and confidence abroad. For years
he has been the sheet anchor ofspeace in
Europe AS crown prince he won soldierly
laurels in the Russo Turkish wan but as
emperor he has been devoted to conti-
mental peace and has been the sru,est and
most potent force in maintaining it.
with one hand he moderated the i'm
pulsive ardor of France, and with the
other he warned and checked th e aggres-
sive tendency of Germany. He restrained
the hostile spirit of others, and renounccd
warlike 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 afame. But he held steady
hand over the great powers.
30 Lifted to First Place.
Though rarely surprising the world
with any daring or striking policy, he has
quietly and steadily wrought out change
in the position in Russia which has lifted
her from Il secondary place and made her
5ho arbitor Of European peace.
"Curious!y enough, with all the Russian
censorship and restriction, the most active
and potent agent in leading the car from
tho old foreign influences was q journal
ist, Katkoff, the chief of the Moscow Ga
zette, who was one of the ablesU and most
powerful editors of any country and the
alliance of the czar and Katkoff shook the
universal intellectual and diplomatic DOM
ination of Bismarck, and, from playing IA
subordinate part to the great German
chancellor advanced Russia to the posi-
lion of holding the balance between ad-
verse forces and debating the peace of
Europe. The czar pursued this policy with
steady and rational judgment.
'There is a prevailing idea that he has
lived in constant dread and anxiety. But
he is fatalist and he has moved calmly
forward with the conviction that his des-
Tiny, whatever it might be, could not be
changed Doubtless precautions have con-
stantly been taken for his safety, but they
have been the measures of those about
him rather than his own. His great serv-
ice to mankind has been as the peacemaker
Of Europe.
What will follow his death no one can
yet tell The heir to the throne is only 26.
His opinions and tendencies are largely n
matter of conjecture. 1t is to be hoped
that when he comes to the throne the in
duences about him will be of wholesome
character, and that, with broader liber-
alism, he will maintain the attitude of
Russia as conservator of peace. In that
direction and in his own blamcless life the
car leaves worthy example"
Made Sure Of Il.
CHELSEA, Mass, Oct. 22-Mr. and Mrs