Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-09-08
RUSSIAN VIEW OF THE GEAR
Ills MRjcsty's Spirit of "Se1f-
ExaItatIOn,o

The Quarterly Review contains a strik-
ing article on Nicholas H., which is
written, we arc told in a footnote, by
Russian official in high position. The
article takes up what to English readers
VIII be the novel position that the Car
| himself, and not his ministers, is ac-
tually as well as nominaly responsible
for the mistakes in domestic and foreign
policy which have been made during his
reign. In reproducing some Of the state
mehts made in support of this view, we
DO not assume any responsibility for
their accuracy, though the fact that the
article appears In The Quarterly Re
view is evidence that the writer is n
responsible person The writer begins
with an account Of the bad impression
made by the car at his first public in
tcrview with the State Council. and af-
ter describing his meeting with the re-
prosentatives of the Zemstvos a few days
/ later, in which. with an assumption Of
severity, he met their expression Of
| hope that his confidence might not be
confined to the bureaucracy with com
nand to them 90 put away chimerical
notions, says:
Between those two public appearances
of Nicholas II, mY that snort period Of
suggestion during which the Impressions
able youth had been made not so much
to believe rs to feel that he was Co.'s
lieutenant. tho earthly counterpart OF his
divine Master From that time for
ward his Majesty has been nlled witn
/ spirit Of solf-cXnltation which has
gone on gaining strength. in accordanc &c
with tho psychological law that pride
usurps as much space as sorvllty H.
ready to yield. Nikolal Alcxandrovitch
soon began to look upon himself as tho
center of the world the pcacenaker of
mankind. tho torchbearer of civilization
J n "a ri 4 =
races. and the dispenser Of almost cvcry
blessing to his own happy people. TAX
ing seriously this his imaginary mission,
he has mcddlcd continuously rnd dill
gently in every affair of state, domestic
and foreign, thwarting the course of
/ Justice. undermining legality, Empower
! his subjects, hoJs'ing his forvent love of
peace and yet plmrnig his ,ax-bur-
doncd people into the horrors of n sang
uinary and needless war"
/ The article then goes on to point ont
that tho Car has been unfortunate in
his choice Of advisers. NJ. Spiaguine,
the minister Of public instruction. who
was assassinatcd IN April II. 1904. vas
| intellectually Bocotan. but socially
agreeable; he WAS a courtier who AIT
tered the car and oppressed the people.
NJ. de Plehvc Is described as an official
who is tolerably Instructed. possesses an
| intricate acquaintance with tho seamy
side of human nature knows how to
| 'ouch deitlN the Hght CORDS or senti-
neht, prejudice. or passion ana can Keep
ms heau IN inc most Alarming Crisis
M ue WIN" lali is attrouted 10 MS
uhWlilihRnesS 10 play the courtlor'
"He not only spoke freely to Nicholas
Il'' put refused TO change ms opinion IN
accoruahcc win IN" Emprors dcslres
u" also ucchhod I" dup" the iprcicn
powers. your Majesty Nledg 'u your
Word 10 oNacuato Manchurla' ana ire
world pehoVed you. Knssia VIII now
lose all credit ana perhaps not even gam
Manchuria, II 1t please your Majesty t"
prcak mat pledge war also Will follow
ana we SorclY need peace. besides Man
churia is useless to us therefore can
not be a party to this policy. Thus
plainly spoke the finance minister, heed
less of courtly phras"oloey. 'Witte is
n naughty dictator, who gives himself
the air OF an emperor. So spoke tho
courtiors among themselves and % his
Majesty through the Grand Dukes. And
the autocrat wrathful that a subject
should oppose his wishes and refuse Il
cooperate with him ln prof esSing ic
work for peace while provoking Sar, dis
"IIe is ever struggling with phantoms
fighting with winlmills convorsing will
saints, or consulting tho spirits OF Tho
dead. But of the means Mt hand foi
helping his people or letting them heir
themselves he never avails himself
Books he has long ago ceased TO read
and sound advice he is incapable o.
listening to. His ministers he receives