The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15

purpose to abolish the system of land slav-
cry in holy Russia. 1t was the force that
Alexander III, the father of Nicholas-the
hand that could crush the iron shoe of one
of his cavalry horses with a moderate con-
traction of the muscles.
When Nicholas III succeeded his ponderouS
sire 1t became apparent at once that new
order OF things was at hand. The young
ruler, upon whom the bureaucracy had at
temped to cast the doubt of insanity, and
whose physical dissolution they predicted
with the utmost assurance as an event of
the immediate future, announced with the
calmness of master that he intended to
govern the empire directly as far as might
be. Then began series of rigid inquiries
into the workings of administrative depart
ments and government enterprises The
ober-procurator of the holy synod, had es-
tablished system Of religious terrorism for
state ends. A curb was placed upon the &C
tivities Of the Russia Torquemada. Then
the Car found out that the political con-
Wet system was a disgrace to Russia; and
the discovery was followed by radical adj
ministrative reforms, eliminating in the
complete adjustment of that system of po-
litical exile that had appalled, the civilized
world.
Then last year began the systematic riots
of the students, which grew I'm proportions
until they involved the bulk of the popu-
lation in half the districts in the empire
The minister Of war and of the gendarmerie
put down the disturbances with a heavy
hand. When semblance of peace had
been restored, the Car inquired into the
causes of the disturbances. 1t appeared
TO Nicholas III that the minister of educa-
tion and of public worship had been car
rying things with too high a hand, and
that he had treated intellectual independ-
as prima facie evidences OF rebellious in
tentions. The minister was deposed by
personal order of the Gar and a man OF a
broader and more generous type put in his
place.
Then the Car decided to go further. He
argued that the violent demonstrations
that had agtated the empire were outward
manifestations of an inward disease in the
body polite. Nicholas III, who was a stu
dent of men before he became Car, made
up his mind that he would diagnose the
of the conditions that underlie the symp-
toms. When the bureaucracy became
aware of his intentions it held up its hands
the Car could think Of coming into actual
physical contact with his subjects Such a
proceeding would deal deathblow to the
doctrine that God Is high in heaven and
the Gar is far away" upon which they
had based their system of administration
hitherto. Besides. IL the Car inquired OF
ton would establish a precedent of COM
plant that would be the first step in the
direction of popular government.
Or and hs BY
The din failed to confuse the Car, who
had had mapped out a clear course OF conduct let
Tor himself. He was Gar IN name, ne
would be Car in fact
So the great project. which undoubtedly
is designed TO serve as the beginning of
radical internal reform In Russia, was put
under way. At the personal invitation OF
the official who has been an object of ven
GRAFTON bordering upon religious worship
to millions of Russians, but who as man
has been almost a myth, Russians of vari-
Gus classes will appear in the imperial
study TO utter their complaints in the i'm
perial ear. Not only the bureaucracy OF
Russia. but the enlightened portion of the
entire world, will await with eagerness
the dictum that is being formulated In that
study by a man who takes the business OF
being Emperor with intense seriousness.
That dictum may mark the opening OF a
new political era for the Russian empire
| an era that Is foreshadowed dimly by the
universal spirit Of restless speculation and
| demand for better things that animates the
| growing mass OF educated and patriotic
Russians.