New-York tribune., 1899-07-23

Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch may be
congratulated on the fact that his brother. the
Emperor. in his ukase of July IL proclaiming |
him heir TO the throne of Russia has pointedly |
neglected to invest him with the title of Czaro-
WITT 1t is title that to the students of Mus
coyite history bears an ominous sound being
associated in their minds with every species OF
tragedy and unhappness. Indeed, would
be almost tempted to believe that the very fact
OF a prince being styled Czarowtz is sufficient
70 mark him out a victim of Fate
Although the word Czarowitz means son /
OF the Car" yet there have been times when /
It has been borne by the brother Of the Car. |
although the latter has had several sons living
at the time. Like the dignity Of the Prince of
Wales in Great Britain, and that OF Prince or
Princess Of the Asturias in Spain. IL is conferred
by the sovereign act of royal or imperial
favor instead Of being assumed as a right OF
birth and inheritance. and the Gar is at liberty
e he wishes TO appoint some other prince Of his
family rather than his eldest CzaroNitz
II he sees fit. Thus Emperor Paul. although he
proclaimed his eldest son Alexander heir TO the /
throne in 1884 conferred the title of Czarowitz
upon his second son. Constantine in 1899. to
reward his distinguished services in the Italian
campaign and Constantine continued 10 bear il
not only throughout the reign Of his elder
brother. Alexander. but likewise during part
OF the reign of his younger brother Nicho-
las although the latter had fewer than three /
sons the eldest Of them fourteen years old, at
the time Of his (Constantines) death
NOT ALWAYS HEIRS TO THE CROWN
The first occasion that mention Of a Caro- |
witz is made in the history Of Russia is the
tragic tale Of Ivan " killing in fit Of tenn
porary passion his favorite son. thu one object
q Err1r,.
who was 50 justly surnamed The Terrible" is
Oh record as having become well nigh insane
with grief and despair when n realized that
he had slain his CZarowitz Coming down 10
more familiar days. hnd Peter the Great ad-
ministering poison TO his son the Czarowitz
Alexis. nominaMy punishment for treason,
but in reality because the Prince hated the
Western ways OF his father and openly pro-
claimed his intention of abOlishing as soon as he
came 10 the throne all the Occidental reforms
introduced by the founder Of modern Russia /
There are few more dramatic pages IN Mus
covIte annals than those describing the closing
scenes VI this drama acted by the Emperor and
his heir IN the dungeons os the Kremlin Of Mos
COW and IL the presence Of the leading digni- 1
taries of the realm
From that time forth nothing more was heard
Of Czarowitzes until near the end Of the last
century. when Catherine II conferred the title
upon her son Paul IN the interva! between
his nomination and the death Of Peter the
Great the throne occupied by the En-
presses Catherine I. Elizabeth and Catherine
IL who may be said TO have owed their eeva-
tion to might rather than TO right. while Peter
II regned by virtue Of the first Catherine
testament Ivan VI by that Of Anne and Peter
III by the nomination Of Empress Elizabeth.
IL is almost inpossi BILE describe the cruelties
TO which the Czarowitz Paul subjected
by his mother. Empress Catherine who hated
him during the latter part Of her reign
with such bitter hatred that his life was
in constant danger. She repeatedly sought TO
have him put out Of the way and left a Will
disinheriting him in favor Of his eldest son,
Alexander who was her favOrite This dOcu-
rDent however. was burned Immediately after
her death by Count Kurakin friend of Paul
and the latter ascended the throne. There IS
but little doubt that the crueties which he had
been subjected to by his mother had impaired
his mind and that ne insane during por-
ton Of his brief reign, which was brought to
close by MS assassination with the conniv-
ance Of his two eldest sons. During his lucid
moments he. however. did two very sensible
things He restored to liberty the Polish pa
triot Kosciusko. who Their upon came TO this
country and spent number of years at West
Point on the Hudson, and ne repealed the de-
cree of Peter the Great which made the in
heritance Of the throne dependent upon the Will
Of the raigning sovereign and endowed Russia
with the laws Of succession that remain IN force
to-day Inasmuch there IS no constitution
in Russia and the rulers Of that country are
in every sense Of the word autocrats. both