New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-17

have dreamed OF ascribng such shortcomings as
these TO the father OF the present autocrat.
Prince Sergius whose lovely Hessian wife has
failed in any degree to soften his austerty or
TO render him amenable to progressive
ideas and Western enlightenment, occupies the
post OF Governor General of Moscow and OF
COMMUNICATIVE Chief OF the military conscrip-
ton within the limits OF which that city is
situated; and Moscow has from time i'm
memorial been the headquarters OF everything
that Is Pan Slavst. reactonary and anti-foreign
III Russia. He therefore Yields power and
exercises an influence which would have to be
taken into serious consideration in the event of
any crisis with regard TO the succession to the
throne. added to which Il must be remembered
that the most unfrendly relations have long
existed between the two brothers Vladimir and
Sergius who are scarcely Oh speaking terms with
each other
The next heir to the throne hitherto been
the present Emperor second brother George
whose position as Czarewitch is. according to tire
present statutes of the house Of Romanoff. in no
wise altered or affected by the birth Of little
Princess Olga But he is now in the last stages Of
consumption. and is not expected to survive the
winter, his recovery being declared by the most
eminent medical authorities in Europe beyond
the bounds of possibility. AS the latest dis
patches from the Caucasus where he is re-
siding declare that he is in a state Of coma
resulting from a succession of hemorrhages Of
the lungs. It is doubtful even whether his rights
to the throne would ever be taken into serious
consideration
His younger and only remaining brother Is the
Grand-duke Michel the favorite Of his late
father, and. according TO all accounts. the most
promising Of all the children of the late En-
peror Unfortunately he too. is declared to
be afflicted with the same fell malady that has
proved 50 fatal to the entire Romanoff family.
namely. consumption and under the crcum-
stances it is doubtful whether he would live
sufficiently long to marry and provide an heir
70 the throne: for he is barely seventeen years
Of age. and although this would obviate the
necessity Of a regency, since sixteen is re-
garaed as constituting the maj0rity-,hst Is to
say. the years Of discretion for Russian En-
peror-ye. il is evident that his youth and in
experience would necessarily render him for the
first period of his reign. at any rate tool and
instrument in the hands Of whoever or his
uncles would manage to secure possession Of
his ear. his mind and his person.
OF course II Is within the power Of tine young
Car Nicholas 50 to amend the existing statutes
Of his house 10 appoint his daughter. just born,
as heir - the throne. There is nothing TO pre-
vent him rom doing So and II cannot be denied
that Expresses in Russia have always displayed
infinitely greater capacity for government than
the Czar~. But it is most improbable that he
would venture upon radical departure one
so calculated 10 stir up strife, not only among his
subjects. but also among the members Of his i'm
mediate family. and there is but small likelihood
Of his altering in her favor the existing statutes
OF succession which give her right To the
throne until there Is Grand-duke Of the In
perial family left.
II is worth while to remember that Nicholas
II is surrounded by Nihilists and desperate con-
spirators Of every kind bent numbering him
in the same atrocious fashion as they did his
grandfather. Alexander III. and that his life
hangs by A mere thread. Under the c.rcum-
stances Il cannot be denied that there Is every
reason for the gravest apprehensions on the
part Of the Russians with regard to the success
sion to the Crown EX-ATTACHE.