, 1896-06-27
Spectator, 30th nay.)

The Coronation of the Gar was completed
at II o'clock on Tuesday amidst a magnifcen3
ecclesiastical ceremonial. the new Monarch,
according to precedent, first browning himself
and then his ~conSort, who, it will be remem-
bered, is Princess Nix of Hesse, grand
daughter of our Queen. The pictorial
accounts forwarded over tie wires to the
London papers blaze with jewels and uni
forms and ladies' dresses, the di ,play Of
diamonds in particular being described as
surprising all precedent, but the central scene
of the ceremonial shows the figure Of the
young Car after the actual Coronation, and
just before he had been touched with the
holy chrism, standing upright and alone in
the Cathedral while the entire congrega ION
knelt, as did also the vast crowds outside,
and indeed all Russia, which, warned of the
moment by the electric telegraph and tn
sound of cannon, was to the furthest limits OF
the Empire Swarming into the churches. No
effort was spared to make the ceremonial as
religious as possible, aud one striking Incl
don't in 1.-THE admission of the Gar as a
oonsecrated person into the 'sanctuary,' or
Holy of Holies behind the altar, which is
closed to lay m9n-is said 70 have made a
deep impression upon his Majesty himself.
The crowd of ecclesiasticS was great, sixty
of the highest dignity being present, besides
a multitude OF foreign Patriarchs and
Bishops, among whom, it will he II Dted, the
Bishop of Peterborough was assigned the
highest place, lie taking precedence even Of
the Papal Nuncio. One would like, as one
reads the stately descriptions of stately pomps,
to exchange them for the briefest report, if IT
were but truthful. Of tile Cars own thoughts,
but that gate is closed by a will higher than
fbok &c E1 roma All ua RnOw jC contained
in the two adjec;iyes, the Car was impressed
but calm.
The first act of the Sovereign, now crown
ed, has been to announce publicly his prefer
snce for NJ. de White, the giant Minister of
Finance. who has put the Russian Treasury
straight, who has determined, it is believed,
to introduce a gold standard, an immen>"
operation, the effects of which will be felt by
every class in the Empire, and who arranged
that singular coup, the guarantee for The
Chinese loan. He has not been created
Chncellor, but has been made 'Secretary
of State"-that is, we presume, first among
the Enperor's Ministers-in a highly III lla-
tory decree. He is of German or Dutch
descent, and he must be a strong man, whose
favour with the Emperor may profoundly
affect the policy of the next few years.
Still, it must not be forgotten that the power
of deciding on advice rests with the Emperor
alone, and that hie is as yet to Europe an
unknown mind. He must have sanctioned,
but the Treasury probably suggested, the
remissiols Of penal sentences aud of arrears
of taxes with which the Gear endeavours to
difuse satisfaction at his Coronation among
all classes of his subjects. An order restrict
ing the censorship, or exchanging it for a
strong Press law, would have done more for
Russia but upon that subject til" policy of
the Government seems 10 oe un~h t~ngeabIe.
Until it is changed there cn be no final
check upon subordinate oppression or official
corruptiOu