The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-08

A Career That StrilxfngIy Illustrates
he Irony of Fate.

"" AVN lllDuilC
The precarious health of an absolute
sovereign over many millions of subjects
In Europe anC Asia is a circumstance of
raomentous importance in current history.
Alexander Ill mas been neither an eniignt-
ened ruler nor a popular monarch, anu he
has no claims to distinction except his
vast resources or autocratic power; but,
devoid as ne Is of original genius and indi-
vldual force of character, he is the master
OF all the Russias. and his caprlces.
heavily in the scale OF human destiny. Rus
sla Is a country more distinctively Asiatic
than European, re~actionary in the tenden-
cies of government and under the bondage
OF race traditions. In one sense no ruler
is less a free agent than a car. whose
manner of governing is predetermined by
dynastic conditions and race instincts. Blu
while a czar is a slave to traditions. he is
also an autocrat by virtue of them. There
may be governing cabals in St. Petersburg.
but, powerful as they may become, they
are dependent upon his sovereign viii.
The career of Alexander III mas been a
despot's fate. The second son of Alexan-
der the Liberator, ne was constitutionally
incident. pleasure-loving and morose in
temper, and YVES educated as a soldier
without reference to the possibilities OF
succession. The death OF the Czarewitch.
a popular and accomplished prince. left
him at twenty heir to the throne and to
the responsibilities of state which were
profoundly distasteful to him.. His early
that he had taken the place of one en-
deared to the hearts Of Russians, and that
he could not be allowed In a campaign like
ly and 20 win the only thing for which
he really cared-a great military repu-
t tssssanoe Then Of ca Pls the sstnef tragic aes e.,
and the opening OF a gloomy and
harassing reign. during which ne has been
secret bullet and the exploding bomb. The
most powerful OF monarchs, he could not
return through the Great Morskaia Pros
pect from a requiem service in honor OF
his fathers memory without being a tar
get for assassins; nor Is he free TO visit
his capital unless an army is put in mo-
rounds OF his apartments in his secluded
palace fortress without having detectives
i@ronicai in the vicissitudes of royal fortune
than this contrast betwcen absolute
sovereignty over millions and abject help
mind in an atmosphere electric with sus-
picion?
The close of a reign fraught with unhap-
heralded by the regency OF the Czarewitch
IL the Car be compelled TO spend the win
ter at Corfu or sewhere in the Mediter-
ranean. His health evidently is in a criti-
cal stage. and his release from a sovereign
ty for which he has lacked both capacity
The appearance Of the Czarewitch upon
the scene as the coming ruler will non
| have any immediate effect upon Russian
destiny. The governing cabal. with the
army and the secret police behind him.
will continue to direct with iron hand do
nestle anu ,uipiomdtc poncles- Inc ulti-
mate effects canno be forecast, for the
world does not yet know what manner
OF man the Czarewitch is. II he be. like
his father, a dull. indolent and apathe tic
ruler there will be neither war In Europe
nor political progress in Russia. His preju-
dices and prepossessions will be determin-
ing influences precisely as his fathers
preferences for improved relations with
Great Britain have tended TO prolong the
truce between the two grear rivals for do
minion in Asia. but unless he Is a man
of original force of mind he cannot emanci-
pate himself from the race irslincts and
dynastic traditions which predetermine the
reign Of a car and impart 10 Ii a reac-
tionary. Asiatic trend