New-York tribune., 1904-08-07
TIE czAR ANn RLs EnrIRE

'Ex-Attache," in an interesting contribution
70 this mornings Tribune. draws Us a sympa-
thenc and engaging sketch of Nicholas II, espe-
cially "a his relations 10 his empire. II is
largely, il is true, a picture of q e0od man
struggling against aGversities: but # that, as
Seneca says, is a spectacle upon which the gods
look with pleasure. i is surely not to be disre-
rarded by n,eu. The ,ot Of ruler is at best
l2yt IN easy or IN enviable one. 1t has its
pleasures. but it has also its penalties, and
heavy. indeed. they are Least eas- and least
cnviaole Is il where tie monarchs autocracy is
greatest ana the dependence Of the people upon
him for rights and righteousness is most COM
Y.eie Such is the case with the Russian Car
81 theory L not IN fact tie absolute autocrat
~ tie most populous Christian nation in the
world, ana tie ruler who of ail in the Christian
srolld doubtless feels NEST keoGly the pains and
;hc 9cr.,s % his high estate.
How is he bearing them? There arc those
who say it IS as a weakllng. Perhaps. but more
probably not. "Ex-AttGche" sets forth with
confidence The l,neaments CT q strong man, who
has dcra much and is doing more syainst an
opposition which might we'll crush any one not
cast IN heroic mould. It has long been
notorious that the Russian capital is the scene
II corrupt and selfish inuigues. Important
cficials Of army and state, even members of the
imperial family. are banded together for
graft" or for the perpetnation of abuses which
are profitable 10 them or are gratifying to their
passions. In no other land probably are in
sueCces 50 bad IN 10 other land Is the SOW
creign not only so opposed, but so grossly mis-
represented and maligled, even by those of his
own household. We have seen how other Cars
have acted under the strain-one hardened into
passive fatalism and one all bui driven mad.
This one, young and slight, has thus far shown
himself perhaps the strongest Of them all. At
least he mas in many important things had his
Own way against the hostile cabals, anu shows
as set no sign Of surrender or collapse
But will he endure 10 the end, and will he sue
ser is scarcely TO be expected; certainly not If
his designs are such as are imputed TO him by
the amateur policy makers OF the world It is
nos 10 be supposed. however, that Nicholas II
expects to remake Russia in a day. or would Il
L. could reInake il as completely as some sug.
gcst. IL must be remembered that it is Russia
he is governing. ana not some other laad
Americans and Engllshn:en and Germans may
theOEize and speculate npon the form OF gov
ernIreat Russia should have. They do so FROM
their point Of view, and the result is the sug
sestlon of system which would perhaps be al
rlghf for America or England or Germany. But
Russia is not one OF these. 1t is radically diff
fe-ent from them, aud its needs are different
lis ways are net as our ways. nor its thoughts
20 orr thoughts. AS sovereign Of one of these
Aic.ioias II might be cutie impossible As SOW
oseigD ef R1ssia lie may well Oe acceptable and
bcnereent Few monagchs in recent times have
ever beea pat Into such straits as those he nov
IA ~ without losing 1helr thrones. There seem: