The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-10-16
He Is Not the Tool of His Ministers, as Pop
ularly Supposed, But Ruler Who Has
a Hand in Every Affair of State.

ored a clause which was reasonable and
humane. and then the Emperor Quashed
their decision without hesitation The
question was; II Russian VINO IS Ortiz
OdoX only In name and something else
say LutheFan-in reality. asks a clergy
man OF his adopted church 10 admins
ter the sacrament 70 him on his death
bed, shLIld the minister be punishable
III he complied2 The council OF the en-
pire, by a considerable ma Orlty, an
SWeTed no and their arguments were
clear and forcibIe So plain was the
case that even the grand dukes took the
side o. the majority. But the Car, put
JIng Gown his foot said. "A clergyman
who shall administer the saCraments Of
his church 10 such a man shall be treat
ed IS q laWbreak er; 10 is crime ana
his decision has received the force OF
law. AS this declaration Of the imperial
viii was made after the manifesto, to
speak OF the Emperor's tolerant views
would be satirical
Martyred by Nicholas.
A tragic story. the hero Of which was
Bishop Meth0dius, one Of the pillars Of
the OLD Believers. will bring home the
cruelty of the system 10 the minds of
humane readers It has lately been
brought 10 the notice Of his majesty
without eliciting even an expression Of
regret. Born in CheIia biusk Methodius
was ordained a priest. and zealOusly
discharged The duties of his ONCE for
fifteen years before he was raised 20
the episcopal see of Tomsk. One day
the bishop administered the sacrame1ts
20 a man who, born in the state church,
had joined the community of Old Be
levers. This was precisely q case of
the type discussed in the council OF the
empire, and so harshIy provided for by
the Emperor himself. Methodius was
denounced, arrested. tried found guilty,
and condemned 10 Punishment in 81
IBERIA; and the sentence was carried out
with ruthless brutality. With irons on
mis- feet. peuned up together with muir
derers and other criminals of the worst
type, ne was sent by etape from prison
10 prison, TO the government Of IakutsS.
Through the intercession OF an infiu-
entail cO-religi0nist. ne was allowed 10
stay in the capital of that province
but soon afterward, at the iustigati5n
OF a dignitary of the state church. Ne
thodius was bauished 10 Nilyuisk, in
northeastern Siberia, a place inhabited
by savages The aged bishOp-he was
seveuJy-eight years old-was then set
astride a horse and tied down TO the
animal and told that he must ride thus
to his new place OF exile, about 200
miles distant. This sentence Is death
by torture said MethOdtus flock. And
they were not mistaken. The old man
tave up the ghost on the road, but when
where. and how ne died and was buried
has never been made known
Real Rulers of Russia.
Who. then. it may be asked. influences
the autOcrat whose personal rule is thus
absOIute2 If his ministers are but his
organs, and even his wOmen-fOlk are
powerless to move him. whose is the
spirit that animates him? The answer
lies on the surface. In the sweeping
theories Of auUocracy, which he has
made his own. NJ. Pobedon0stsen ana
Prince Meshtshersl1y, the Torquemada
and Cagliostro of contemporary Russia,
were his teachers. Their abstract
aphorisms and personal appeals en-
gendered a faith and fervor In the
spirit OF their plastic pupil which have
become second nature and he now
measures every new idea by its bearing
upon auUOcraCy. The teaching of these
masters is backed by certain grand
dukes, who form a sort of secret council
like that which regulates the life OF the
great Lama of Tibet Under Alexander
III they had no part 10 play for that
monarch kept them In their places
Nicholas H. on the contrary. is easily
sWayed by these self-seeking members
OF his family. They paint their plans IN
the hues OF his own dreams. present
him with motives which appeal 90 MS
EreIudices, and always 01en their at
tack by gross hattery, They are con