Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-03-29
THE PUPPET CAR.
HAS LITTLE POWER IN THE AT
FAIRS OF RUSSIAN EMPIRE.
Is a Mere Plaything in the Hands Of
the Romanoffs Among When
the Grand Duke Alexis
Reigns Supreme.

r ~ 04 CdnICIu tx
change, gives the following eranbic nic.
cure OF the real power of the much
talked-of czar.
Il who know my Russia well and the
powers thai be in that empire. am
amused at the reports of the pow9rs and
intentions of the present autocrat of all
the Russias which are often published
The simple fact is that no Mugcoyite en-
peror ever possessed less actual power
than that welded by his imperial maies-
ty Nicholas II.
He is a peaceably inclined young nom
arch and remarkably we'll intentioned:
but he is the sport of the house of
Romanoff and those who are all-power-
full in the councils of the empire. He
may think and he may dream; he may
desire and he may propose, but he can
not perform.
Correctly speaking, 1t is the emperor
alone who can declare war or who IAN
say: Let it be peace but to tell the
plain, unvarnished truth the present
car is but a puppet worked by stronger
hands who hold the strings.
1.-THE son is wholly unlike the father.
The Gar Alexander III. was not an 'ex-
ceptfpnally clever man, but he was q
man of great determination and tenac-
lty of purpose. He ruled; lone ruled
him. His ministers were ever a little
afraid Of him. He expected them to fol-
low his lead unhesitatingly. Never once
was he known to follow the lead of any
one of his ministers. He wa an honest
man and an outspoken one, and his in
| dignation at what he considered Bis
marck's duplicity would have ended in a
war between Russia and Germany had
he not eventually been convinced that
conclusions were a forgery.
"The Gar Alexander III. did not like
| Germany, neither did he like England.
He had, however, a favorable inclination
toward the United States, and a real
sympathy with France. But, above all,
he was Russian. He spoke French flu
emily, German indifferently and Eng
fish badly; but he was incensod at the
prevalence of the French language in
high and official society in st. Peters,
burg. In the latter days of his reign the
order went forth that in these circles
Russians should speak their own lam
guage and this order had to be obeyed.
while it cannot be said that the pres
ent car has anything of his fathers re-
ligious enthusiasm, he may be reck-
J oned among the religious monarchs Of
the age, and he has lately taken to writ
ing hymns.
."But the czarina is a religious enthu-
siast. Born a Lutheran, she, on her
marriage, had to embrace the faith Of
the Greek church. To-day her majesty
is more orthodox than the most ortho-
dox. So pure of mind, SO self-sacrific-
ing, 81 intensely spiritual is she that, in
another age, she would have won
| canonization.
"The czar worships her and her influ-
ence over him is tremendous. OF the
two she is decidedly the stronger, but
her influence over her husband excites
the anger and opposition of his family.
"The czarina's instincts are liberal
and progressive, and her husband, SO
great is his belief in her, would indorse
her views and policy un~hesitatingly
/ CIV IL " " lhOoC ouSuoJ lCl0lAOAo
of his, and that formidable council Of
mobiles. The c~zarina, all powerful with
her husband, proposes, and the czar's
uncles dispose.
"Of all the Romanoff relations the
most autocratic, and at the same time
the most powerful, is Grand Duke
Alexis. He is the Muscovite i%ncarnate,
beloved by the navy, of which he is the
chief; looked up to by the noblea, and
worshiped by the common people. His
brother, the late car alone, was strong
enough to soften his rough humors and
bend his powerful will.
after that little affair with a countess
Alexander III. intimated that absence
from Russia for a period would be high
ly beneficial for Alexis health. The So
journ abroad was but temporary, and
the grand duke returned with an infiu-
ence and power greater than before.
To-day they are, l should say, at their
height.
HE was ~antagonistie to the liberal
and pacific policy of M. White, and in
the end M. White was retired. He'll was
who induced the car to appoint Adj
miral Alexieff viceroy of the far east,
with powers never before given to any
one outside of the Imperial family.
HE entirely disapproves of the views
held by the c~zarina, and thwarts her in
every possible way. He has never, 1t is
understood, been in favor of peace, but
of war.
However well intentioned the car
may be, however much he may be under
the influence of his wife, who Is all for
peace, the last word will be with Grand
Duke Alexis"
Average Russian EaniIu