The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-02

that the young Car attempted TO cheek
or control his foreign Minister, who mad
exercised unlimited authority In the con-
duct OF his office. Lobanof had been
IL different 10 any Of the gentier innu-
ences Of human sympathy In the eNecu-
ton OF his political plans. lie might
have put a step TO the Armenian mas
sacres by n word at any moment, but IL
did not suit his purpose. The authentc
story OF the horrors suffered by the
Christian subjects Of the sultan was
brought to the knowledge or the Gu
few weeks ago for the first time. lie
was appalled, by the awful record, ana
ordered a complete reversal Of the Rus
sian policy towards Turkey. II required
ell Of Lobanons influence with the youns
sovereign to prevent literal execution
Of his Instructions, and a sudden ana
drastic solution Of the Turkish prop
lem.
lie succeeded, however in persuading
the Car 10 re content with a slsht
odincatlon or the policy toward turkey
This new element of difficulty IN carry
ing out his vast plan for RUSSIAN uo'ii-
nation may have been one OF the imme-
date causes OF Lobanous suuueH S"i-
lapse ana death.
Tho critics OF Lobanon have for sumo
months been saying that. while ne haa
AN the ambition or General isnatieH' ne
mad none OF those generous impulses "hich
gave the leader of the SlaYonic party
sucn a rrm hold upon the heart OF Russia;
That he had head without heart, with
ont scruple and that he was menaS-
inc and sinister portent % the pee'
or the world.
have had exceptional facilities for
STUDYING the recent career or THIS re-
,nsrKable man. and 7 do not agree with
this estimate. lie was. in nv Judgmens -
the greatest statesman In the service oil
MS own or any other country. lie set
nimscfr a Napcle0r1C task. ana ne oetel-
mined 70 accomplish It within the next
two years. He spared himself in moth
ing. Although past throe-score and ten
ms ambition was to raise the splendor
or Russian prestige high above that OF
an rivals before he finished his seventy
nfth year / do not believe nc contem-
plated using any weapons save those Of
peace lie scorned 20 resort 70 the sword,
not because he had any conscientious
scrupIes. for his sacrifice OF the Armen-
fans showed that he was indifferent TO
human life But because no put higher
value upon the triumph OF his skill in
statccraft lie was in diplomacy the same
stamp or man that Napoleon was in
war.
10 would be an easy prophecy that his
great projects for Russia will die with
him No man stands ready 10 take his
place His genius his force OF character
are not possessed by any Russian whom
the world knows to-day. Lobanohs am
btion, however. was nor FOR HIMSELF
nor dM II represent himself alone. He
was tho leader and representative Of the
russian Court party. a small but rather
vague body I'm the empire which was
really more powerful than the Gar him
self
I,obanon's policy Is sufficiently well de-
fined for rs possible execution by hands
less resoiute. less capable than his. Even
Raro Morenheim. the Russian Amhassa-
dor AZ Paris MIGHT safely he intrusted 10
carry out rs general features.
IN England Inhanons death Is re-
sardod I'M 1Inlomatic circles as an unex-
pecfod removal % n distinct peril 20 This
country. II VII do more 70 restore cour-
ago N the faiut-hearted British statesman
than any personal event which could have
rannGned. n viii not be surprising n
news should come OF decisive British 90
ton IN ConsfantfnoDlo as one 81 The first
cnocts 81 the nasTing away n man
whom Lord Salisbury feared more than
any ofTer IN Europe.