The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-11-07
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Personal Character Of Alexander III In.
volved In Much Mystery.

sia, than Of any of his contemporaries
among the monarchs Of Europe. He has
been described as a man of marked intelli-
gence and of stupid dullness, as man Of
great kindness and of ferocious cruelty; it
has been stated that he personally read
the newspapers every day, and that he
rarely, If ever, glanced at newspaper; It
has been declared that the real facts re-
garding the condition of his unhappy sub
jects were sedulously kept from him, and
that he was personally well acquainted
with all the troubles; the cruelties of ST.
IBERIA, it has been claimed repeatedly, were
perpetrated entirely without his knowl-
edge, and it has also been said that he has
not only been cognizant of these cruelties,
but that he has rejoiced in them.
All this being true, it must be obvious
to the reader that anything like an accu-
existed is out of the question. His char
acter can only be viewed as through
mist, or from so great distance as to rem
der its features only family distinguish
able. The details of his life are equally
obscure. How many attempts We're made
to kill him, who made them and what
were the circumstances surrounding them
will probably never be known to the world
at large. He was the second son of Gear
Alexander II. He was born March 10, 1S45.
His mother was the Princess Maria, ,daugh-
ter of the late Grand Duke of Hesse-
Darmstadt.
Being the second son, Alexander orig
inally had little prospect of ascending the
throne. His education, therefore, was
somewhat neglected, and his life down to
his twentieth year was uneventful, but
when Nicolas, the Oldest son, died, April
| "A, 1885, at the age of 20, everything was
lschanged with Alexander. Nicolas was en-
gagged to be married to the Princess Dag
mar; daughter Of the King of Denmark
and sister of the Princess Alexandra, who
married Albert Edward of England, Vic
toria's Oldest son. Nicolas was a man Of
kindly disposition, and for member Of
the imperial Romanofs of Russia pos
sessed of much culture.
| Alexander seems to have been a young
man Of unusually morose and obstinate
disposition. He was in love with Princess
| Metchereki, who was one of his mothers
maids of honor. Shew beautiful girl,
and Alexander had told her of his passion.
Alexander II was not pleased with this
and sent his son away. During his alb
sence his sweetheart was forced to accept
an offer Of marriage from Paul Demidoff,
| prince of San Donate, and SO, when the
| elder brother died and 1t was decided that
| for reasons of state Alexander should
marry the Princess Dagmar, he made no
determined opposition.
4 The marriage took place Nov Q, 1863,
| and although authorities conflict about
almost everything else pertaining to the
life of Alexander III there is no doubt
| that the married life of the couple was al
most an ideal one, notwithstanding the
unusual circumstances which led to their
union. Gear Alexander III was killed by q
nihilist bomb March 18, 1881, and his son
i succsedsd him Immediately % Gear Alex
ander III.
During the years that he had been heir
apparent he seems to have neglected no
opportunity to fit himself for the exalted
and arduous duties that were before him.
Whether'his design was to 30 rule Russia
as to make its people happy and proper
GUS or simply to strengthen the Russian
throne Ia q question upon which there are
vital and radical differences of opinion.
Certain it is that he changed the policy Of
ais father, who had freed the serfs and
had In many ways indicated desire to
prepare his country for a more liberal ad-
ministration of the government, one that
should in some degree conform to modern
IDEAS. The administration Of Alexander
III tended altogether toward stricter
1rawing Of the lines and more severe re-
preston In every direction. eAe
The secret police of Russia-always the
most perfect system of espionage in the
world-became under Alexander III more
Argus eyed than ever before. The cause
of popular education, which had received
some encouragement under the father,
was crushed by the rule Of the son; the
press, which, though restricted, had q
faint semblancs Of freedom under the old.
was fettered absolutely under the new
regime; Siberia. bad enough always, be-
came the horror Of the century; the Jews,
whose lot was never o pleasant one In
Russia, became the subjects OF the most
malevolent persecution.
But 1t u not necessary to 60 into details
regarding these matters. They are known
Of all the world, and the facts may be
summed up IN Q sentence or two: What
ever the personal character Of Alexander
LII may have been, the administration Of
the government during his reign was hard
and cruel ip the extseme. His policy re
gardins not only those Who favored fresI
nGht end freer eoveFaSpe1ts but also to'
z |R6fd d1l ~ upb5ecfe not oe Rpssiap blood,
4 WaH veprassiye to tho lnst dsGrse-in
s Wogds y vas fog PspGlnyinm and cute
elqaAq lal1I
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