The Press., 1894-11-08
(New York Tribune.) DEATH OF THE GEAR.

Russia mourns sovereign who had all the characteristic Slav instincts, traits and aspirations, yet was withal man of peace, and made many sacrifices in order to avert European war. The end of melancholy reign has been invested with elements of pathos by a hopeless struggle with mortal disease, and the sympathies of the world have been naturally excited. Nowhere are those sympathies keener than in America, where it is always grate- fully remembered that Russia was more friendly to the United States during the civil conflict than any other European power.
 The death of Alexander III (Nov. 1st) Is less tragic than his life has been. Stricken with an incurable disease, which defied the resources of surgery and medi- cal science, he has closed his reign in peace and quiet, with his wife and chil- dren about him, like the humblest peas ant in his realm. Perhaps the only weeks of reign overshadowed with suspicion and apprehension when he had ceased to dread assassination were those at the close, when the invincible conqueror had set seal upon him winch protected him against conspiracy. Then at last he was left to die in peace, without menace of violence. Before his illness was known to be mortal he reigned like De Quincey's Caesars, with sword suspended by a
 
 an autocrat, to convince himself that he was ever secure against assassins. Start ling as was the catastrophe of his faith CTS death, it was less tragic than his own life as monarch encompassed with sen tinels and detectives, an army on guard when he entered his capital or made a railway journey, and his fortress palace a hiding-place.
 In the retrospect of such reign per sonal characteristics and imperial policies are of slight importance in comparison with the ominous significance of the czar's destiny as a hunted sovereign. A brave soldier he undoubtedly was, and, bred in barrack and camp, he could have only one idea of government, and that was martial law. Warned hy the fate of Alexander the Liberator, he set his face sternly against liberal tendencies in government, convinced that Russia was more Asiatic than European and that the old reaction ary ways were best He allowed cabals and triumvirateS to govern the empire be- cause that course was predetermined by race traditions and dynastic precedents, and because also he lacked the strength of character required for any new depart ure. Indolent by nature and disinclined to undertake the arduous business of gov ernng on original lines, he was power fully influenced by caprice and his person. al relations with the reigning families in Europe, sacrificing in the Balkan great interests won by terrible campaigning, and reconciling the Slav to Germany on the one hand and on the other to Great Britain, Russia's only rival in Asia.
 All these characteristics of the czar have strongly swayed the destinies of mil lions of subjects with whom loyalty is fanatical religion. But in the perspective which is opened by a retrospect of his reign these influences of a weak and vacil- lating nature upon race ambitions and na- tional fortunes pass almost without ob- servation, and the great fact of an auto cratic rulers unceasing struggle with assassins and conspirators looms up in commanding importance. The secret his tory of the reign, if it could be written in detail, would be one of the most amazing chapters of history. For parallels to it, one would need to revert to the reign of Commodus or to Caligula's sleepless nights and solitary wanderings in his pal ace. The Caesars were temporarily re- leased from fear of violent death when they were crowned, for it was not until their crimes had made them odious, or their policies had melted military revolt or palace intrigue that their lives hung upon the caprices of a jealous slave or a restless pretorian guard. Alexander III from the opening of his reign was har- assed by morbid dread of assassination. At last comes Death, the cynical scene shifter, alike indifferent whether life is comedy or tragedy, and rings down the curtain.