The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-02
THE CzAk's CHARACTER.
A Plain. Dull, Honest Man, who Did
Not Lfke War.

Eot h<fke " ar
LosDos. Nov. Ia notable obituary
sketch will appear in the TINES tomorrow.
The author Of the sketch of the dead en-
peror Vas on intimate terms of friendship
with the car, and he SAYS the car never
had the slightest sympathy with high cul-
ture. adding:
Indeed. the czar rather gloried in the
idea Of being Of the same rough texture as
the majority Of his subjects. and II be
knew he Was sometimes disrespectfuily
he regarded this epithet COM
pliment. His straightforward, abrupt
manner, savoring sometimes Of gruff-
ness. and his direct, unadorned
method of expression, harmonized well
with his rough-hewn, immobiie features
and somewhat sluggish movements. The
impression he generally made in CONVEX
sation vas that of a good, honest moder-
ately-lntelligent. strong wiiied man. who
might perhaps listen 10 explanations, but
who certainly would stand no nonsense
from his subordinetes nor anyone
else. Only those who have had the
privilege OF observing him in the
unrestrained intimacy OF his family. es-
peclally when romping with his children
or amusing himself with mis- four-footed
pets. could fully realiEe what simple.
kindly nature was concealed behind q by
no means sympathetic exterior"
The writer then aIludes TO the cars
strong anti-German feeling from the time
he was czarewirch, and says:
"But he always had pacific intentions.
He feared that Russia might be made the
victim of a coup d'etat OF the young kaiser,
and therefore thought IL advisable to make
persistent advances 10 France. But
his attitude was strangely exaggerated,
II not entirely misunderstood By France.
The czar was too autocratic to enjoy hear
ing the 'MarseiIlaise' in his own capital.
and too prudent 10 ally himself closely
with an importunate nation under a weak
governmet, which was quite ready to
make use of an entente for diplomatic
purposes. He had no intention of letting
himself be dragged into awar."
In leader on the death OF the car tho
Times says: His highest title to the graft
tude, alike of Russians and man
kind, is that he invariably strove
to preserve the peace of the world.
Whether his home policy was IS beneficial
as his foreign policy, we need not for
moment inquire; but We may be assured
that 1t was inspired by the same lofty
motive. and pursued with the same un-
hinching sense of duty.
STREAToR ILL.,. Nov. Rev. Ambrose
Vetta, pastor of tho Russian Greek Catholic
church, of Chicago, was in Streator today
TO hold services, and on hearing of the
death of the car said:
at is a mistake to think that this grand
man was not beloved by the majority of
his subjects. Alexander III. was a most
jealous and. take him all in all. just ruler
of the Russian people. The initial steps
In many reforms were inangurated during
his reign, the most important of which
IL the compulsory national public
school system. The czar was greatly
blamed for not giving his people q consti-
tutional form Of government, but they are
not ready for that yet. 1t would be a most
foolish thing 90 hand constitution TO
band of rowing Tartars. A foreign reporter
was once admitted 70 an audience with the
cxar, and bluntly asked him why be did
not grant his people a constitution.
The car replied They would not know
what to do with 10. II the dearest wish
of my heart could be achieved l would
make q republic out Of Russia today, in
stead OF an absolute monarchy. Ny peo-
pie are as children. We are young in our
national strength, and II is the youth and
strength of an unconth giant. Ny people
must be educated before they can govern
themselves So we truthfuily called the
cxar our little father. He loved Us, and
we loved him."
Prince Cantacuxene said that history
would in time paw its just tribute to the
merits of Alexander III. He had given