The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-10-22
CHAnIEs EMOi,Y AMITR
Reviews the Life nnd Reign of the czaf.
The Arblter OF Europe.

The Arblter Of Europe.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. Oct 2l.-Ex.sIin-
iSter Charles Emory Smith. who, during
the time he represented the United
States at St. Petersburg, had ample OPP
portunity 10 observe the personal and
political characteristics Of the car,
talked Interestingly to-day when asked
BY an Associated Press reporter for his
impressions as 70 the effect the death OF
the czar would have on the RuEsiau
empire.
Mr.. Smith said: "The impending
death Of the car would, In my opinion,
be serious misfortune for Russia aud
for Europe. II 10 not probable that
there will be any marked change in the
conservative attitude Of the imperial
government The policy Of the pre-.
sent reign has been 40 wise. prudent
aud frm that It 10 likely 10 be followed.
But In the natureo tho case, with new
and untried sovereign, there must be
solicitude until the lines are settled.
AZ to Russia internally the present en-
peror has given her tranquility and sta
,bility. There Is little discomfort, no
agitation aud general devotion to the
crown on the part OF all classes. Unex'
pected change necessarily breeds anxi-
ETY., but 1t finds loyal public temper,
and with wise councils 1t will be easy TO
move forward without disturbance.
AN UPRIGHT AND EARNEST RULER.
alexander III has been an upright
aud earnest ruler. Less commanding
than Nicholas, less liberal than Alexan-
der II, he has been we'll balanced. His
personal qualities have inspired devo-
ton ut home and confidence abroad.
lie has boon sincere, steadfast, conscien-
tious and straightforward. He has
shared the reaGtionary tendency which
followed the assassination Of his father,
and which has been unfortunate in
some OF his developments, but with his
firm policy, he has united q strong
sense OF justice.
mo one could see anything OF the
pure and beautiful domestic life Of the
EN- peror or his laborious devotion to the
responsibilities OF the crown, or his
manifest desire to promote the welfare
OF his people without great respect for
him. He has been Russian OF Rus
SLAMS In his feeling and has aimed to
develop the national spirit OF his peo-
pie. But he has joined with this ma
tional sentiment deep personal sense
Of right and duty"
In an editorial which appears in to-
days Press, Mr.. Smith writes OF the
car as follows:
THE STRONGEST MAN IN RUSSIA.
"Tho sudden aud swift collapse of the
czar in the very prime Of life seems
strange and almost incredible. He is
only forty-nine years old. He had tn e
stalwart figure and physical powers OF
tho RomanotIs. Standing six feet two.
we'll proportioned, the very picture Of
| robust health, rcputed to be the strong
est man in Russia, abstemious, living
well ordered life, he seemed the last Of
tho living sovereigns upon whom dread
| disease would lay its fatal hand. His
moral rectitude aud his upright pur-
pose have matched his rugged manhood.
| His character and impulses have In.
spired loyalty aud devotion at home and
respect and confidence abroad. For
years he has been the sheet anchor oi
peace in Europe.
"As crown prince he won soldierly
laurels In the Russo-Turkish war, but
as emperor he has been supremely de.
voted to continental peace and has been
the surest and most potent force IN
maintaining 1t. With one hand he
moderated tho impulsive ardor Of
Franco and with the other he warned
and checked the aggressive tendency OF
Germany. He restrained tho hostile
spirit OF others and renounced war-like
purposes himself. Had he been rest.
| less and ambitious OF military glory and
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, he might easily have
applied tho torch which would have set
| Europe aflame. But he held steady
hand ovcr the great powers, aud re-
fused TO be disturbed or diverted by
tho pItiiul squabbles OF the Balkan
states. Calm, cool, firm and selt-poised,
ho conserved the equilibrium and peace
of Europe.
THE ApfTER OF EUROPEAN PEACE.
"slow in cdlning to conclusions, q
plodder rather than genius, when his
determination was reached, no was
firm and resolute in enforcing it. He
has strong will. He has been his own
master. Ready always, to listen to
counsel, he has himself been unmistak.
ably the emperor. Though rarely sur
prising the world with any striking or
daring policy, he has quietly aud steadi'
| ly wrought out a change in the position
Of Ruspin, which has lifted her from 0
secondary place and made her the arbt'
ter OF tho European peace.
"Curiously enough, with all the Rus
sian censorship and restriction, the
most active and potent agent In leading
tho car away from the old foreign In.
Auences was q journalist Katkotf. tho
chief Of the Moscow Gazette, was one Of
the ablest and most powerful editors OF
any country-a Russian Horace Greeley
and the alliance Of tho czar and Kat.
kof shook tho universal intellectual
and diplomatic domination OF Bismarck,
and, from playing subordinate part TO
tho great German chancellor, advanced
Russia to the position OF holding the
balance between adverse forces and die
tating tho peace OF Europe. The czar
pursued this policy with steady and
rational judgment. There were In.
duencos about him that were bent upon
war. He firmly mastered and controlled
them. He had faith in himself. lie
was full OF courage.
ALEXANDER A FATALIsT.
"Thero Is u prevailing idea that no
has lived in constant dread and anxiety,
but ho is n iatalist and he has moved
o,,,nIy fo,word with tho conviction that