The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-12-07
The Car in His Time Of Trial.

Since General Gordon stood In guard
In the citadel of Khartum, know of
no human situation 30 charged with
pathos and tragedy, so calculated to
thrill the heart of mankind, as that
presented at Peterhof today. The
parallel, both political and personal,
Is terribly complete. The lone, slight
figure of the Car, as he stands alone
at Peterhof confronting the ever-ris.
ing flood of anarchy, which threatens
to submerge Russia, bears a singular
resemblance to the heroic form which
now sleeps somewhere in the far
Sudan. The resemblance in height,
complexion and color of the eyes and
hair is remarkable, but 1t is still more
marked in the supreme and dominat-
Ing characteristic. Since General
Gordon gave me copy of Thomas a
Kempis, as he bade me his last fare
well, / have met no man who was i'm
bued 10 the same extent with the
spirit of simple religious faith as the
present Emperor. tits the sole secret
of the marvellous composure and
cheerful calm which Is the amaze
ment, the envy and the inspiration of
all those who are admitted to the
confidence of the Car. Call it fatal.
lem, mysticism, fanaticism, If you
will, 1t has at least secured today for
Russia, In the midst Of an atmosphere
that Is hot with fever, one cool head
and one stout heart unaffected by the
delirium and the telrors of the revo-
lutionai y storm. The throne may be
reeling, but its occupant Is neither
sick nor giddy nor afraid. His only
fear that he may fail in understand
ing what Is the will of God. If that
be quite clear, then "though He slay
me yet will / trust in Him" Nothing
Is more exact that the parallel be-
tweenthe Car of the Duma and Gen.
eral Gordon in 1885. Both men began
to rule, the one in Russia, the other
Sudan, on very different lines. Gordon
was once Governor General of the
Egypt an oppressor. Nicholas IL, in
his tender youth, was made to pose as
the inAexible champion Of the ancient
autocracy. Now there is nothing
which he is not willing to do to save
his people aud to save Russia He
has voluntarily limited his autocracy,
and he is prepared to go much further
in that direction-indeed, TO 20 as far
as anyone-so soon as he is clear to
his duty. He is Gordon in his selfess
devotion to what he sees to be right.
But he has not Gordon's magnificent
assurance as to his insight into the
divine councils which was the inspira-
tion of his genius. Neither is he, as
Gordon was, man of restless energy
and indomitable will Hence, his very
excessive conscientiousness and nat
ur al modesty lead to hesitation, the
parent of delay; and that delay,
which rendered possible the Japanese
war, has been the chief contributing
cause TO the excessive danger of the
present crisis. Allowances should be
made for the Wis inertia of the bureau
cratic machine. Even Peter the Great
could NOT speed 1t up beyond a certain
point, and Nicholas Ii has neither the
demonic energy nor the ruthless will
OF his great predecessor.
The peace of reform In Russia In
the last twelve months has been
abnormally rapid, and neither the
Emperor nor his councillors realized
the deadly urgency of instant decis-
ion and resolute action. Hence, the |
avalanche of revolution desce nding |
upon the glazler of official routine |
finds 1t often easier to destroy and |
overwhelm than to quicken the speed |
of the glacial progress.
But although the Emperor post poned
till after the eleventh hour the con-
cessions which he had personally |
assured me, two months before, he |
was firmly resolved to make, 1t is still |
possible II may have not been too late.
Round the Emperor now, definitely |
embarked upon the new era of con- |
stltutional liberty, there should rally |
every man VINO has heart 10 feel, a |
head to reflect, or wife and children |
whom he cares TO save from the hor-
rors of anarchy From "The Russian |
Situation as 1t Was In November"
by W. T. Stead, in the American |
MOnthlV Review of Reviews ffr he.