The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-07-27
4 BOY WANTED.
Ths Political Destiny of Russia
New Hinges on the Birth fan
Heir to The Gar.

St Petersburg, July %. All Russia
IS anxiously awaiting news from the
! Peterhof. where the stork is expected
to aIight within the next few days.
People outside Of this country cannot
comprehend the eageruess Of the Rus
SANS for an heir to the throne. The
birth OF another child to the Gar and
Czarina will have q deep political
Significance that carn"t fail to have a
direct bearing upon Russia's future
policy. Tf son IS born. he will In
course of time become Emperor OF
Russia, and will be reared under the
poliSical iafuence of the present Gar,
shus practically insuring q continua-
ton OF the policy OF Nicholas IL.
Tf the expected belr proves to be a
daughter the position of Nicholas II,
which IS, already weakened by the
coarse of events in Manchuria, Will be
rendered pgecarious. While the gov
arnnent of Russia is an absolute here
ditary monarchy, and While the will
of the Gear is Law. yet he cannot trans
fer his throne to his daughter. There
are certain rules Of government which
the sovereigns of the present reigning
bouse have acknowledged to be bind
One of these is the Law OF sue
cession to the throne, which, accord
mig TO decree Of the Emperor Paul,
or the year 1797,. is that OF regular
descent, by right OF primogen.ture.
with preference of male heirs. Under
this ineyorabIe rule none of the Cars
four children will ever occupy his
ttfhrone. for they are all daughters. The
eldest daughter OF the Gear is Olga,
born Nov. Is, 1895. His second child
Tas Ta5iana born in June II, 1897 ;
his thiyd was Marie, born June rs
asea. and the fourth was Anastasaa,
born June Is, 1901.
Ore powerful reason for wishing 8
son born TO the Gar is to have a
peaceful succession. II Nicholas IL,
s;Elonld die before son is born to him,
his successor would be his brother,
the Grand Duke Michael, born IN
1878. But Michael is regarded as an
invalid, and it is feared that II Memo
! las passes away without an helr She
empire may be rent by strife pesWeen
4 his four uncles for the throne.
Since the outbreak OF hostih6les
with Japan the rivalries OF the re-
actionary element and its opponents
have kept things in constant turmoil.
This situation, almost intolerable as
it is. to the Gar, exists only because
ne has no male heir. The reacsionary
party in his cabinet are able to daunr
Z his misfortune in his face. because 1t
IS well known that in the event OF MS
death the crown will pass to his broth
er Michael, who is directly Under
the Influence of the Dowager Empress.
) She is a woman in the prime OF life,
born so command, and one of the most
bitter opponents of the Liberal ideas
OF her son, the present Gar.
Consequently all the hopes OF Nlcno-
last center in the event about to take
place at the Peterhof, which ne prays
fervently will add son of his house
held and give TO Russia direct sheIr
TO the throne. Should son be born
the Dowager Empress power would
be reduced to nothing IN moment.
The Gar will then be Gar IN fact
as in name. and the ministers who
now openly defy him, oppose his will,
5 and refuse to execute his policy. vii!
be brought to his feet. The birth OF
another daughter, however, WILL
bring him only the keenest disappo'ns-
rnent and make his situation so un-
bsarable that his abdication OF the
Shrone would be no surprise.