The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-10-22

Philadelphia, Oct Zl.-EX-MlnlSler
Charles Emory Smith. who, during the
time he represented the United States
at ST. Petersburg, had ample oppor-
tunity to observe the personal charac-
ter of the car. talked Interestingly to-
day, when asked by an Associated
to the effect the death of the car
would have on the Russian empire.
MIR. Smith said:
1.-THE impending death Of the car
would, in my opinion, be a serious mis-
fortune for Russia and for Europe. 1t
is not probable that there will be any
marked change in the conservative
part of the imperial government The
policy of the present reign has been
wise, prudent and firm. 1t is likely to
be followed. But, in the nature of the
case, with a new and untried sover-
eign, there must be solicitude until the
lines are settled. AS to Russia inter
nally, the present emperor has given
her tranquility and stability. There is
little discomfort no agitation and gen.
eral devotion to the crown on the part
of all classes. Unexpected change nee
essarily breeds anxiety, but it finds a
loyal public temper, and with wise
counsels it will be easy to move for
ward without disturbances.
Upright and Earnest.
Alexander III has been an upright
and earnest ruler, less commanding
than Nicolas, less liberal than Alexan-
der II, he has been well balanced. His
personalities have inspired confidence
both at home and abroad. He has been
steadfast conscientious and straight
forward. He mas shared the reaction
airy tendency which followed the as
saSsination of his father and which
has been unfortunate in some of its de-
Velopments. But with his firm poliss
he has united a. strong sense of jus
fice. During the famine of 1891 and
1892 some extreme socialistic articles,
imputed to Count Tolstoi. found their
way into print. Tolstoi was engaged
in relief work, and some of the min
listers of the empire thought it unwise
to let him go among the peasants,
preaching his revolutionary ideas, and
they advised that he be placed undl-
arrest This action was greatly de-
nounced.
IAN English friend of mine, just at
that time, visited at Tolstoi's home
Whenever the clatter of hoofs was
heard on the road it was supposed to
be the squadron of soldiers to make
the arrest. AS a matter of fact, the
emperor refused to accept the advice
to place restrictions upon Tolstoi, say
ing that while his doctrines were
wrong, he was doing a good and hui
name work and must not be Interrupt
ted in it.
A Russian Of Russians.
s'No one could see the pure and beau
tfful domestic life of the emperor or Of
his laborious devotion to the response
bilities of crown or of his manifest de-
sire to promote the welfare of his peo-
pie without great respect for him. He
has been a Russian of Russians in his
feeling and aimed to develop the ma
tional spirit of his people But he has
Joined with this national sentiment a
deep personal sense of right and duty"
In an article which appeared in to-
days Press, Mr.. Smith writes Of the
car as follows:
1.-The sudden and swift collapse of
The car in the very prime of life seems
strange and almost incredible. He is
only 49 years old. He had the stalwart
figure and physical prowess of the Ro-
snanoffs. Standing six feet two, we'll
proportional. the very picture of ro-
bust health, about the strongest man
IN Russia, living a well ordered life, he
seemed the last of the living sovereigns
on whom dread disease would lay a
fatal hand. His moral rectitude and
rugged manhood. His character and
impulses have inspired loyalty and de-
Votion at home and respect and con-
fdence abroad. For years, he has been
the sheet anchor of peace in Europe.
AS crown prince he won soldierly laur-
els i'm the Rtsso-TurkiSh war, but as
emperor he has been supremacy devoted
TO continental peace and has been the
surest and potent force in maintaining
IT. In one hand he moderated the i'm
pulsive arlor of France and with the
other he warned and checked the ag-
gressive tendency of Germany. He
restrained the hostile spirit of others
self. If he had been restless and
ambitious of military glory and
ACKNOWLEDGMENT he might easily have
applied the torch which would have put
Europe afiame. But he held a steady
hand over the great powers, and re-
fused to be disturbed and diverted by
the pitiful squabbles of the Balkan
states Calm, cool, firm and self-pos-
seased. he has conserved the equil7 b.
rum and peace of Europe.
His Own Master.
.sSlow in coming to conclusions. a
nlodder rather than genius when his
determination was reached ne was firm
\ and gresolute in enforcing il He has n
strong will He has oeen his own mas
ter. Ready always to give counsel, he
has himself been unmistakaoiy the
emperor. Though rarely surprising the
world with any striking or daring
policy. he has quietly and steadily
wrought out a change in the position of
Russia which has lifted her from a
secondary place, and made her the
arbiter of European peace. Curiously
enough. with ali the Russian censorship
and restriction. the most active and
potent agent in leading the car away
from the CID foreign influence was a
journalist Kalkoff the chief of the
Moscow Gazette, was one of the ablest
and most powerful editors of any
country Russian Horace Greeley
and the alliance Of the car and Kali
koff shook the universal intellectual and
x:.,lnrfaatic domination of Rissrnarclr