The morning news., 1894-10-21

gular and supreme influence exercised
over Alexander by his old tutor NJ. Pobie-
donostseff This man has always been a
conservative of the conservatives. In his
person has been manifest the very quint-
essence of the medieval spirit and the
present situation in Russia is undeniably
of his creation. Poibedonostseff was orig
inally a lawyer by profession but when
stll young man he decided to enter the
service of the national church, and he is
now one of its most distinguished prelates
his title being procurator of the holy
synod.
That this singular man is truly sincere
in spite of his conservatism and his ia
naticism, does not seem to be doubted by
any who have knowledge concerning him.
His piety, however, has never stood in the
way of his making Misrepresentation of
the most bare faced sort to his imperial
master and although he is hated by many
of the mobiles because of his superior in
fiuence over their ruler. yet on the whole
they consider his power something TO be
thankful for, because they have known all
along that he would never consent to any
thing like liberal policy on the part Of
the government. 1t was to the proeurator $
influence that the crusade against the
Jews was begun some time ago and not
withstanding the face that this crusade
abounded in cruel ties too severe to even
bear repetition, it is not doubted that
Pobiedonostseff was perfectly sincere in
his belief that expulsion Of the Jews was
necessary to the prosperity of the nation
Though the world has not known so much
about them, similar crusades have been
carried on against almost every other re-
ligious sect differing from the Greek
church. The Menonitee, the Stundists, the
Catholics, all have Jared alike and all have
Jared ILL
Alexander would not be a Romanoff if
his life had not been marked by many and
varied love affairs. There was one. how
ever of which he was a victim early in
life, and before his marriage. which IL II
had not been interrupted at the command
of his father might have changed the his
tory Of Europe,
1t was about six months before the death
of his elder brother and year and half
before he married the Princess Dagmar
that he fell violently in love with the
Princess Metcherski. then a maid of hon
or TO his mother, the late cZarina. This
young woman was of course a surprising
beauty. She was bright and Of unusually
delicate sensiblities Had she not pos
sessed all these characteristics. at least
in the minds of the chorniClers, no son Of
the imperial Russian house could have
been enamored of her. Alexander asked
her hand and she promised to marry him
Then word of the engagement was taken
to the old czar. lie said No" and most
emphatically, and the present czar was
sent abroad that he might get over his
attachment While he was gone the
princess was forced TO marry Prince Paul
Demidoi. He was a man whose social
eccentricities were 30 marked as to make
him noted character even in the Rus
sian capital, and the princess protested
with many tears against the match. con-
senting only when alleged proofs that her
imperial lover had given her up were pre-
scented 10 her. Later she found that these
proofs were fictitious and the mutual
affection between Alexander and herself
persisted FOR some years after his mar
riage 10 Dagmnr. who had been the ar
nanccd bride CT HIS elder brother. 10 is