Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-07-29
TIE LATE MINISTER pLEHvE.

outside world as the ''most powerful man
in Russia" the imam behind the
throne" the black shadow that cast
sinister gloom over all the domestic
economy of the Russian Empire. A
man of no charm of character, of abso-
lutely no social brilliancy, of no accom-
plishments other than those of ceaseless
labor and indefatigable perseverance, he
became in the minds of those whom he
persecuted to the death the personihca-
ton of mans relentless hatred and pitt
less vengeance.
Plehve was born in 184S, into family
that was once noble, but retained little
or nothing of It's ancient glory except its
name. 1t was not long before he had
made himself factor in the legal world
of the city. He was thought to be
clever, and that attribute, added to un-
ceasing labor, soon brought him into
favor with his sIperiors, who compli-
mented themselves, they thought, In
giving rapid promotion to the saturnine
young lawyer. He occupied i'll rapid
succession the posts of procurator in
Vladimir, Tula and Volgogda. Soon
after he became an imperial counsel at
the courts of Warsaw, and there dis
tipguished himself in remarkable man
ner.
DESPITE the fact that he has much to
thank the Poles for by reason Of the
kindness of one of the Polish aristo-
Gratis. Plehve here began that unrelent-
ing warfare against Poland that ceaseu
only with his death. His zeal to please
the Russian government carried him so
far as to persecute the very family in
which he had, as young, poverty strlck-
en- nobleman, found aid and encourage
ment.
After short time he was called to
St. Petersburg and made procurator OF
the courts of that city. 1t was part
of his business TO make daily reports
to the Car on the work accomplished
in the effort to stamp out nihilism. His
energy in hunting down and arresllng
the men who made an attempt to blow
ND the Winter palace was terrific. He
searched for them in every nook and
corner. He tortured them, and his suc-
cess brought him. into high favor at
court.
But for all the vigilance of the police
and the st. Petersburg procurator Car
Alexander II, was assassinated.
After that Plehve was made first
chief of the State police and president
of a commission which was appointed
to bring back order to the empire and
confidence to the ruling class. He set to
work en- his task with fervor and in.
tensity of purpose scarcely equaled by
Peter the Great himself A reign OF
terror was inaugurated in Russia. Hun
dreds of highly educated and prosperous
Russian citizens were banished to 81
IBERIA or sent to the prisons with relent-
less persecution.
He maintained his policy was Russia
for the Russians, and in fnrthering 1t
banished German colonists in Russia,
the nobility in the provinces on the
Baltic and the Jews. One of the in
stitutions inaugurated by Plehve at that
time was the class of presidents to whom
was given authority to terrorize the
people in ways they we're left to devise.
In 1884 he was made assistant minister
of the interior.
NJ. Won Plehve was appointed minis
ter of the interior April Is, 1902, sue
ceeding NJ. Sipiaguiue, who was assas-
sinated April l6, 1902, by a student
named Balmashoff. Several plots to as
sassinate him had, according to reports,
been discovered during the last two
years, which period has been marked by
strong political rivalry between the In
terror minister and the former minister
of finance, NJ. Witte, now president o.
the committee of ministers.
I, NJ. Won Plehve was not scholar, bu
from his youth he had been brought uE
> in official circles, and he slowly bu
- surely pushed himself ahead. The edu
Gated youths of Russia are said to have
- been bitterly opposed to NJ. Won Plehve
I owing, it has been claimed, to his turn
ing on his own people and to the drastic
changes which he inaugurated or advo
Gated. He is said to have regarded thu
common people as either dangerou
criminals TO be repressed, or as innocent
= to be ignored.
Won Plehye was largely of Polisl
blood, yet, it is alleged, no man in Russi
has so signslized himeslf for severit
against the Poles as NJ. Won Plehve. H
was regarded as being in many ways tn
= = power behind the throne, and was dread
ed on account of his control of the thir
(secret) section of police, and also OWN
u ), the fact that he controlled the press
Russia. through the censors, who, it h'
been understood, did NJ. Won Plehve
, bidding without question.
E In MAY 1903, NJ. Won Plehve was a.
poipted president of theimperial commi
sion appointed to carry out the Emperor
" reform decree. NIL,
= What part, if any, NJ. Won Plehve a
tuallv played in the Kishenef massaS
will probably never be known, but b
Il enemies have claimed that he had ~
its knowledge of the events leading there
through his political friend and age
Kroushevan, known as the most extren
re anti-Semite in Russia and properletolr.
0 ei the Bessarabetz, newspaper OF MS
In. h0UG