The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-18

who was probably not wholly roysl by
blood as the Russians put Il.
Alexanders upbringing was neither very
a strict disciplinarian, who had large family
but a very moderate fortune. He married,
when quite young the Emperor's sister.
They have six children and enjoy the dis.
tinction of being almost the only Grand ,lei
to each other. Their home is at Peterhof,
near the palace OF the Gar, and they arc
In his company every day.
Alexander's first appointment was that
Grand Duke Alexis. He resigned this post
after short time, but he has now resumed
1t in addition TO his Cabinet place.
The resignation followed on quarrel
arising from the laundering Of Russian
battleship in the Baltic about ten years
ago. Certain naval officers declared that
the vessel was unseaworthy and that her
watertight bulkheads were shams, and
they induced Alexander to procure the
Emperors consent to general inspection
of other ships.
The result was complete proof that Alexis
and his friends had been diverting ahip.
building money to their own pockets and
that the whole feet suffered from inferior
equipment, The highly placed thieves whom
he had helped to expose soon made Alex
ander's place too hot to hold him, and he
left the navy for q few years. In his retire.
ment he made up his mind to leave hornets
nests alone in future, and to-day help
yourself is the recognized system in both
the departments with which he 10 oon-
nected.
During recent years money has become
more and more important TO Alexanoer.
He has no private fortune; he has large
family, and he Is on the wrong side OF the
throne. Under such circumstances the ad-
venturer Bezobrazoff found him an easily
enlisted co-conspirator when he wanted an
imperial charter for the Yalu Timber Com
4 A.. n,.ta In n
thick of the whole Manchurian gamble.
voronzoff- Daschkoff the head OF the
Cars household, and Avelan. acting Min
lister Of Marine, Joined in the petition Tor
the charter. They became the nucleus OF
the S Es1 pT told h 5S the st.
correspondent Of THE SUN and it need not
be repeated here.
A year ago Alexander induced the EN-.
peror to create for him the Department OF
doubtedly intended to assist his specula-
tions In the Far East. Whites opposition,
as has been explained. brought about the
latter's downfall.
opinionated. arrogant and unscrupulous;
He was solely responsible for the raid
upon neutral shipping by the volunteer
fleet, and 1t Is an open question whether
his real object was not to embroil the Pow
| ers
Fortunately, Lamsdorf was able to make
the consequences so clear to the Cars
mind that he drew back. There is no sign,
however, that Ale1ander's recklessnees has
essened his influence with the Emperor.
Vladimir Is a man Of wholly different
stamp. It Is difficult to understand BY
what means he maintains his influence
over the Emperor, unless 1t be that ne rs
always been accustomed to look as his
seniors in knowledge of the world.
Vladimir and his two Sons, Cyril and
Boris. have established notorious records
by their profigate and dissolute lives. Their
habits of AHsaS Grand Dukes
whom Emperor Francis Joseph has re.
moved from the line Of succession, and
who have been driven from Vienna by
the decent sense OF their countrymen'
Alexis the head OF the fleet, is much
ouieter man. He has succeeded In keep
ing matrimonial bonds out OF his NOR
ganatic alliances, which are his chief pre-
Some Of the actresses at the, French
theatre are much beiewelled by him. II
was one OF his mistressee who recently
acted as go-between In Paris IN deal
for the purchase Of certain foreign snips
for Russia, She succeeded In collecting
cash commission Of $4,000, and then
the deal fell through. u
Serge, the youngest Of the three Il mill
tary governor of Moscow. he Ii the lead.
ing wbaiter Of the family, and ne VII
not allow Jew to pass the night IN the
city Of Moscow.
All three but Vladimir more especially,
are thieves Of public money and private
subscriptions. Money for the army Tor
toll in millions Of rubles as it passes through
their hands. Their hangers on. whose name
is legion, copy them with zeal.
The very church, built on the scene OF
the assassinatio ion OF the reforming Gar
Alexander II whose death was undoubtedly
ordered by his eactionary relatives, STANDS
uncompleted, although 1t was begun
twenty-five years ago, and the money was
subscribed several times over by the hus,
sian people No one expects that 1t will
be completed in this generation. 1t is the
murdered Cars sons, the three Grand
Dukes above named, who are the treasurers.
1t would seem conclusive to Western
Judgment mat in the situation which has
been described Russia finds herself face 70
face with an imminent and perilous crisis
OF all her destines. A political convulsion'
more or less violent and far reaching,
appears to be more than probable
But it must not be forgotten that cause
and effect are separated by greater distance
in Russia than in Western lands. He
would be the most foolish Of prophets who
attempted to forecast with any definiteness
the outcome of this crisis.
Anything may happen in Russia: 1t IN
usually the unexpected thing. The unoer-
tainty is intensified by the present inter-
regnum in the internal administration.
The appointment Of de Plehve's successor.
which may be made before this letter Ia
published, will be Of momentous impor-
lance, as indicating the latest attitude OF
the Emperor.
Should it become apparent that the Grand
Ducal cabal still controls the imperial
policy, then the immediate outlook for
Russia will indeed be critical. Unhappily
there are no indications that this sinister
| influence is waning.
But Russia is great in men and In patriot
ism. AS well as in natural resources. The con.
spiracy against her is becoming daily mort
clearly defined and better understood by
! Russians Of high degree, who love theit
country and who would rescue her from
plunderers and from impending disaster.
! II is becoming more and more evident that
only drastic remedies can accomplish her
salvation Courage to apply them is neoes-
sary and is not lacking, but the difficulties
| in the way are almost insuperable.
The dissatisfaction in high places il
greater in the provinces than in st. Peters
Burg. The army is by no means free from
! it.
Certain provincial Governors deplore the