The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-23
4 TERRIBLE PORTRAIT.
Nicholas II. Described by the An nymous
Auth3r OF THE Tsar."

hutU1T VI " Inc Ithr.'
From the National Reuiem for My.
Fate. which Itself is sightless. makes a
point Of binding its destined victims. Ana
chief among those victims is Nicholas III.
Our Car Ia one Of those typical rulers sent
in periods OF national transition to peoples
foredoomed to be stung into pulling down
the tottering fabric OF the past. The mis-
chievousness Of such . mans influence IL
generally In inverse ratio TO the lethargy
OF his people. reaction here being proper
Tomato to action. In Nicholas II. 1t kept
pace with the growth OF the disease OF his
will until 1t reached it's present point and
became unbearable. For many years he
was characterized by weakness Of will.
which 10 now brought into painful relief by
a oonvulsive craving for strength The
feeblenees is evidenced in his chronic state,
the dtful force in his t-snsitory moods.
Thus. while incapable OF perseverance, in
personal conduct. or Of system In public
policy. he Is characterized by extreme OBJ
stinaoy In small things. He has also grad
ually lost much OF the power of voluntary
attention In which ten years ago he was not
deficient, 90 that he ia often now unable to
suppress for time the activity Of certain
nervous centers. in order to sharpen his
perception Of 4 group OF ideas. Emotions.
too. which move the normal man pro-
foundly touch him but lightly and for a
very short time. Hence ftlulness Is his
substitute for steadiness, impulse for will,
and mood for character. He thinks with
the ideas Of others, acts at their instigation,
or else by impulse, and likes them less for
their qualities than for their manifest dis
nv at<l n L..
aggeration, therefore, to affirm that he ID
constant only in his Inconsistency.
That ailment has been aggravated by in
judicious but we'll meant efforts to cure It,
soft feminine voice, uttering loving words
and bracing celebrations ia the language
OF Shakespeare, stimulated him to en-
deAvors which took q wrong direction.
With average intelligence even Russian
Agnes sorsl might, perhaps, have helped
him to coordinate the scattered elements Of
volition and get him credit for political
wisdom; without it Deianira could but
With that Fate which she fondly
fancies she Is out-maneuvering.
The leader OF the nation during this tor
rtbls crisis Is siokly youth Of arrested do
velopment and morbid will, whose inability
to govern might perhaps pass unnoticed
il be would but allow any man Of intellect
or will power to grapple with the jarring
elements. This. however, he refuses TO
permit, while sllotting to obscure soldiers
and seamen, tricksters and money grab
beers share Of the supreme power. to the
detI1nent OF the nation. The mental and
moral impotency OF this we'll mentioned
rnarplot. who cannot be said to have had
even experience. unless ten years Of uni
form failure could impart it, is one OF the !
Of conversation in town and !
Even the rough and ready droshky
drivers say OF him that he has been thrust
among rulers like pestle among spoons. /
Yet appraised Of his impotence by the Boudoir /
Council he wishes TO will, and takes the Volt |
lion for the deed No occurrence, no event
makes lasting impression on his mind
Abroad our armies may be scattered, our
ships sunk. our credit ruined: he is serene
IL spite Of it all. At home the whole frame
work Of society may be going to pieces.
Nicholas sits still and fondly annotates
State papers, a very Narcissus Of the nkpot.