The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-23

during the past few months that the |
real rulers of Russia are a group of |
grand dukes, who, by one means or an
other, control the emperor and dominate
the policy Of the empire. No one has
attempted to point out who are these
mysterious individuals and what are
their motives and methods.
The late M. de Plehve was merely |
their representative, and very able ex-
ecutor he was of their stern and mex
orable policy. His tragic fate has pro-
duced temporary confusion and un-
certainty in. the plans OF his masters.
The uncertainty is not due to any re-
lenting in the tyrannical designs of the
real oppressors of Russia, but instead to
some natural reluctance on the part Of
the car to sanction still sterner
measures of repression.
The story of M. de Whites over
throw is the record of the triumph of
the grand ducal regime, which now con-
trolls Russia and which is responsible
for the present situation.
The grand dukes gained their ascen-
dancY over the emperor but gradually.
Neither de Witte nor Lamsdorff is an
expert courtier, and they were not able
to spend much time in sycophancy
or in safeguarding the emperor's
confidence in themselves. They were
undermined with elaborate and insidi-
GUS skill.
i Decline Of De White Policy.
Their danger first became apparent
when the car created the post of min
1ster Of commerce for Grand Duke Alex
ander. De Witte vigorously opposed
the project and, having failed, he was
indiscreet enough to make difficulties
in the financing of the new department.
Alexander soon demonstrated his SUI
perior influence at court, and the decline
of the de, Witte policy was rapid. It
became the aim Of the grand ducal
group to throw all possible political
power into the hands of de Plehve and
Alexieff. In this they succeeded COM
pletely.
Pc Plehye won his position by sheer
ability and force of character. He was
the. ideal executor of the reactionary
policy. He was honest, broad and i'm
placable. He was also cruel, merciless
and mistaken.
He filed the prisons. massacred the
and finally melted the only retaliation
available against tyranny in Russia
assassination. The wonder is that
man of his intelligence should have
brought upon himself so inevitable a
fate.
But those who supported him are still
mistaken in their policy. That they
are determined and INSCRIPTIONS men
goes without saying.
But the grand ducal policy has al
ready been carried too far. The murder
Of Plehve was not an isolated protest,
1t was one Of the signs that the limit Of
endurance has been reached.
Plunderers of Russia.
Intelligent Russia Is learning, fortu.
nately, to analyze the evil influences
OF which the emperor Is the victim. Hon
est reactionaries are becoming thoroly
alarmed by the crimes and corruption
Of the small group who have brought
the empire to the verge Of ruin. These
ri nrn 1T IRA h 2
the imperial family, near relatives of
tho car. They are:
Grand Duke Alexander Michaelovitch,
who married the emperor's favorite Sis
ter, Grand Duchess Xenie. 49,
Grand Dukes Vladimir, Alexis and
Serge, the brothers Of Alexander III.
These are the men whom the auto
GRAFT of all the Russias permits to WELD
his sceptre:
The domination Of their will over the
Nicholas has been accustomed to sub
ordinate himself to his uncles, and his
accession to the throne made no differ
ence. For the past year or two the in
fuence Of the brother in-law has in
creased above that of, the uncles, but
there has boon no rivalry in policy
among them.
Tall, dark. with aquiline features ant
sttrikingly handsome is Alexande
son Of the Grand Duke Michael ant
grandson Of Nicholas L. His mother wa
princess Of Baden, who was probabl,
NOT wholly, royal by blood, as the Rus
Alexander g upbringing was neithe
very happy nor very, luxurious. Hi
father was q strict disciplinarian, VIII
had large family, but very moderat
fortune. He married, when quite young
the emperor's sister,
Exposed Grand Duke Alexis.
They have six children and enjoy tn
distinction Of being almost the onI
grand ducal couple who live on terms o
loyalty to each other. Their home is a
Peterhof, near the palace Of the cza1
and they are in his company, every day
Alexander's first appointment wa
that Of vice admiral chief, under hi
uncle, Grand Duke Alexis. He resigne
this post after a short time, but he ha
now resumed it in addition to his cat
met place.
The resignation followed on quarre
arising from the laundering Of Rus
sian battleship in the Baltic about tie
years ago. Certain naval officers d.
clared that the vessel was unseaworth
and that her watertight bulkheads we1
shams, and they induced Alexander
procure tho emperor's consent to gel
eral inspection Of other ships.
The result was complete proof tha
Alexis and his friends had been diver
ing Shlpbulld1ng money to their oW
pockets and that the whole fleet sui
fered from inferior equipment. Th
highly placed thieves whom he ha
helped to expose soon made Alexander
place too hot to hold him, and he lef
the navy for few years. In his re
tirement he made up his mind to leav
hornets nests alone in future, and tt
day "help yourself'' is the recognize
system in both the departments wit
which he is connected. ID
In Thick Of Manchurian Gamble.
During recent years money has bt
come more and more important to Alex
ander. He has no private fortune; h
has q large family, and he is on tn
wrong side Of the throne. Under sue
circumstances the adventurer Bezobrt
zoff found him an easily enlisted coco1
spirator when he wanted an imperif
charter for the Yalu Timber compan.
and the grand duke was soon in til
thick of the whole Manchurian gambl
and at the head of the war party.
In character, Alexander is marrow
oplnlonated, arrogant and unscrupl
lous. He was solely responsible fe
the raid upon neutral shipping by th
volunteer fleet, and it is an open que
ton whether his real object was not t
embroil the powers.
Fortunately, Lamsdorff was able t
make the consequences so clear to th
czar's mind that he drew back. There