Omaha daily bee., 1894-10-22
IMPRESSIONS OF rnE GEAR.
Charles Emory Smith Talks of Ills Obscrva-
tIon While Minister to Russia.

L.
Petersburg, had ample opportunity to OBJ
serve the personal and political character
istics Of the czar, talked Interestingly today
when asked by an Associated press reporter
for his impressions as to the effect the death
of the car would have on the Russian em-
pire. Mr.. Smith said:
The impending death of the czar could 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 part Of the imperial government
Ihe policy of the present reign has been wise,
prudent and firm. 1t is likely to be fol-
lowed. But in the nature Of the case. with
a new, untried sovereign, there must be solicit
tule until the lines are settled. AS to Rus
sias internal affairs, the present emperor
has given her tranquility and stability.
There is little discomfort, no agitation and
general devotion to the crown on the part
Of all classes. Unexpected change neces-
sarily breeds anxiety. but it finds loyal
puOllc temper, and with wise cOunsels IL will
be easy to move forward without disturb
ances. Alexander Ill has been an upright
and earnest ruler, less commanding than
Nicholas, less liberal than Alexander III. He
has been well balanced. His personalities
abroad. He has been steadfast. conscien-
tlOus and straightforward. He has shared
the reactionary tendency which followed the
assassination of his father and which has
DtSh uulOTluHHle IN some oil It's developments,
but with his policy he has united strong
sense OF justice During the famine of
lS9l-92, some extreme socialistic articles,
imputed to Count Tolstoi found their way
into print Tolstoi was engaged in relief
work and some of the ministers of the en-
pire thought it unwise to let him go about
among the peasants preaching his revOlu-
tionary ideas and they advised that he be
placed under house arrest. This action was
greatly denounced.
can English friend of nina t1,a.
time visited for some days at Tolstoi's home
whenever the Clatter of hoofs was heard
on the road it was supposed TO be the squad
ron OF soldiers to make the arrest As a
matter of fact the emperor refused to accept
the advice TO place restrictions upon Tolstoi
saying that while his doctrines were wrong
ne was doing a good and humane work and
must not be interrupted in 1t.
mo one could see anything of the pure
and beautiful domestic life of the emperor
or of his laborious devotion to the RESPONSE
blllties of the crown, or his manifest desire
to promote the welfare of his people with
out great respect for him. He has been
Russian of Russians in his feeling and has
aimed TO develop the national spirit of his
people. but he has Joined with this national
sentiment deep personal sense of right
and duty"
In an editorial which appeared in today's
fress. Mr.. Smith writes of the czar as fol-
lows: The sudden and swift collapse of
the czar in the very prime Of life seems
strange and almost Incredible He is ONLY
~ years old, He had the stalwart figure
anu physical prowess of the Romanofrs
Standing six feet two, well proportioned the
very picture of robust health about the
strongest man in Russia, living II weit-urs-
dered life. he seemed the last of the living
soVereiEns upon whom dread disease would
lay its fatal hand. His moral rectitude and
his upright purpose have matched his rugged
manhood. His character and impulses have
inspired loyalty and devotion at home and
respect and confidence abroad For wears
ne mas been the sheet anchor of peace in
Europe AS crown prince, ne won soldierly
laures in the Russo Turkish war hut as en-
peror he has been supremely devoted to con-
tlnental peace and has been the surest and
most potent force in maintaining it, With
one hand he moderated the im:.ulsve ardor
OF France and with the other he warned and
checked the aggressive tendency of Germany
lie restrained the hostile spirit of Others
and renounced warlke purposes Had he
been restless ambitious of military glory and
ACKNOWLEDGMENT he might easily have anplied
the torch which would have set Enrone
aname. But he had steady hand over the
great powers and refused TO be disturbed and
diverted by the pitiful squabbIes of the Bal
kan states, Calm, cool and self-possesse1 he
Eurone P'"o' "a
Slow in coming to conclusions, a plodder
rdther thah a genius, when his determine
tion was reached he was firm and resolute
in enforcing it. He has a strong will, He
has been his own master Ready aIvavs
to give counsel. He has himself been unmis.
takably the emperor. Though rarely sur
prlslng the world with any striking or dar-
ing policy, he has quietly and steadily
wrought out change in the position of
RUSSIA. which has lifted her from a second
ary place and made her the arbiter of
european peace. Curiously enough with all
the Russian censorship and restriction, the
most active and potent agent in leading
the car away from the old foreign influence
was a journalist KalkOff, the chief of the
'aosco" Gazette, was one Of the ablest and
most powerful editors of any countrv-a
Russian Horace GreeIey-and the alliance of
the czar, and Kalkoff shook the universal
intellectual and diplomatic domination of
bismarck and from playing a subordinate
part TO the great German chancellor. adj
vanced Russia to the position Of holding
the balance between adverse forces and
debating the peace Of Europe. The car
pursued this policy with steady and rational
judgment There were influences against
MN that were bent upon war. He warmly
mastered and controlled them He had
faith in himself He was full Of courage.
There is a prevailing idea that he has lived
in constant dread and anxiety. But he is
fatalst and he has moved calmly forward
with the conviction that his destiny, what
ever It might De, could not be changed
Doubtless precautions have constantly been
TAKEN lot MS saiety, nut they have been the
measures of those about him rather than
his own.
"His great service to mankind has been
as the peacemaker Of Europe. What will
follow his death no one can yet tell Tho
heir to the throne is only 26 Until he
made his tour Of the world three years ago
he had never appeared in any independent
public part His opinions and tendencies are
largely matter Of conjecture. He lacks the
physical proportions of the Romanoff official
but within the last three years he has
materially improved and he possesses amlable
and gracious qualities. 1t Is to be hoped
that when he comes to the throne that the
influences will be Of a wholesome character
In that direction and In his own bIameIess
life the dying c2ar leaves a worthy example" !"
With reference to published statements
that the czarewitch is unfriendly TO America
Mr. Smith says this is a mistake which
should be corrected. AS a matter Of fact be-
fore the heir of the throne started on his
tour of 1891, which took him to China and
Japan. his representatives visited Mr.. Smith
at the legation and asked for information
about this country, stating 1t was the desire
Of the czarewitch to visit the United States
The idea was finally abandoned when ii was
found the trip would consume too much time
CzHr Worked increasingly.