The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-10-17
THE ozARs REsoRIPT.
An Interesting Anecdote in Regard
to Its Origin.

81 do not know Gar Nicholas H."
says "An Englisbman in Paris" in
the Illustrated London News, "even
by sight. Much as / love my pro-
fession and willing as / should be
to incur certain risks in fulfilling
my duties, | am not sufficiently
heroic to put my head into a moose
for the sake Of what might prove
most interesting copy, which, how
ever, | should have no opportunity
OF correcting in proof. or course
the words putting my head into a
noose' must not be taken literally,
for they would not hang me il |
ventured into Russia, but they
might make it extremely unpleas
ant for me on account of a series of
contributions | wrote for contem-
porary on the occasion OF Alexander
the Thirds death. That much |
was given to understand when | in
tended to 20 to Nicholas the Sec
ond's coronation, and | considered
that absence on my part would
prove the better part OF valour
During the Sovereign's visit TO
England and France, l was I'M
fortunately prevented from seeing
him,
"In spite Of this, l feel thorough
ly sympathetic to him, and believe
hat he is we'll meaning to degree,
in the sense OF an autocrat, but
the sense of philosopher and
tctical philanthropist. My good
i'll is not based upon instinct, but
or very authenticated information
sui lied by two keen observers, one
o. W ON has known the Gar for
years, and allowing for
th,, .espective positions, rather
Dtl1ately. Nevertheless, l was not
prepared for what happened the
othel day, and consequently felt dis
poset. to look upon the new famous
'rescript as 'un coup de tete' of a
ruler who, young though he be,
feels intensely the responsibilities Of
his verJ eAal.ad station.
'ln one OF my surmises l was
right, il The other | was mistaken.
The feel z of great responsibility
is there, but it has virtually grown
up with the son OF Alexander Ill. ;
aud the document that startled the
whole Of the civilised world was the
outcome OF it, the long and care
fully matured outcome; not the sud
den resolve of another Hamlet, pro-
foundry conscious tina, the world
was all wrong, and the equally sud
den resolution at least to endeavour
to set it right. That document,
said my informant, foreign diplo.
matist Of high standing, lis the re-
suit Of years and years Of cogit alton.
AS yet am unable to give you the
reason for its appearance at the
present moment, but you must rest
assured that such reason exists in
the Czar's mind. In little while,
if the Powers should accept a pre-
lminary conference, that reason will
be apparent enough
'Yet l was not convinced, and
suggested that the Cars grand.
father-the Princess of Wales faith
might have had some share in it
Il know that Christian TX. is one OF
the cleverest diplomatists OF the day
and that he was not only Alexander
the Thirds constant mentor, but
also of his son, and that by his own
confession, Count MuravieH, while
at Copenhagen, owed him many
valuable lessons in statecraft.' You
are correct in what you say,' replied
my informant. King Christian il
not. only sound diplomatst, blu,
had his lot not been cast on throne
would have been one Of the most
brilliant in Europe; but His Majesty
in addition to being diplomatist
of very&high order, is also al
eminently practical man, and this