The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-09-01
AUTOCRACY WAS The
RUSSIANS CHOICE
The RomanoH Dynasty in Rus
STA Began with Popu-
lar Assent.
CONSTITUTION REFUSED
Masses Once Spurned an Offer of Leg
:slative Body Such as They Are
Now Making Every Effort
to Secure.
From the National Geographic Magazine.
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From the National Geographic Magazine.
From 1905 to 1872 Russia groaned UNI
der the merciless sway of the Mongol
rartars. Resistance was of no avail
againGa the overwhelming numbers of
the invading horde. The period is fifty
called in Russian history The Age of
Tears" or 1.-The Age of VICE. No 9TH
er country of Europe has ever been sub
iected to such horrible and long contin-
ued suffering. The only alienation to
the awful distress was found IN the Ell
forts of the royal Russian family-itself
but determined and shrewd-to modify
the ferocity of the conquerors n to
keep the sense of nationality from
dying. Upon their princes, fellow
sufferers with them in q common
and intolerable subjection, the people
ooked as their only hope. When at
last Prince Demetrius of the Don Won
n decisive victory over the horde and
made it evident that its final expulsion
was only the work Of patience and
sime, the delirious gratitude of the
people knew no bounds. They were
ready to swear themselves the subjects
of Demetrius and his heirs forever.
From 1862 to 1885,. three princes occu-
pied the throne-Ivan Ill. the Great,
Wissili, n Ivan ~. Ii Terrible, Or,
more accurately rendering the Russian
adjective, monstrous, but always
mighty, always persistent in n pur-
pose, these three built up Russia from
it's humiliation and weakness into glory
and strength. Before Ivan ~, the
marvellous mailman. died he had made
himself a god in the minds of his
people," Autocracy had received a
fresh sanction in their absolute and
whole-hearted submission.
People Chose First Romanoff.
Suddenly the boy prince. Demetrius,
tine last heir of Ivan, died. With him
the royal line Of Rurik became extinct.
There followed thirty years of lawless-
ness md anarchy, of disastrous civil
and foreign war. At last, in 1913, a
great assembly, made up from every
rank and class in Russia, got together
in Moscow. A national
equally representative Of a nation.
neither Russia nor Europe had ever
seen. This assembly, after long and
fierce contention, chose Michael Ro-
manoff as car. Not a single condition
did they impose upon that untried boy
When he appeared before them, upon
their knees they shouted, Promise
that thou wilt graciously consent to
rule over u.s." And SO with autocratic
power the dynasty Of the Romanoffs
was seated upon the imperial Russian
throne. There is no other royal house
reigning in Europe today which in
equal degree owes it's elevation to the
free voice of the people. There is no
other reigning house that does not
race it's origin back to ON success
ful warrior and owe its earliest adj
vancement to the sword. In every 9TH
er country, on some bloody plain, a
Hastings or a Marchfield, William the
.Conqueror, the Hapsburgs, the Hohen-
zollerns, have carved for themselves
and their descendants a title to the
crown. The father of Michael Roman
off was no brilliant soldier, only a
faithful parish priest, who was re-
'nowned for piety and ability, and Who
because of his noble qualities attained
high ecclesiastical distinction.
broad based upon the popular will,
sovereign succeeded sovereign for more
than a century. On each monarch de-
Volved the duty of choosing his heir
from among the male and female mem
bers of the imperial family. Always
that choice was accepted by the ma
ton. Smallpox caused the sudden
death of Peter H.. in 1880. before he
had expressed any preference as to his
successor. There were Their living four
descendants Of Michael Romanoff.
Three of hem were women-Anna
I%vanovna, Catharine Ivanovna, Eliza
beth Petrovna-and a male infant a few
months old. Eight of the most power
ful mobiles banded themselves together
In what they termed 1.-The High Secret
Council" They obtained control of the
army and of every department OF gov
and administration.
They:then offered the crown to Anna.
subject to the following conditions: a.