The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-08-31
AUTOCRACY WAS THE
RUSSIANS CHOICE
The Romanoff Dynasty in Rus
STA Began with Popu-
lar Assent.
CONSTITUTION REFUSED
Masses Ones spurnsd IN Offer OF Leg
islstivs Body Such ~ They Are
Now Making Every Effort
20 oseurs.
Woman OF %.

From the National Geographic Magazine
From 1905 to it72 Russia groaned UNI
der the merciless sway OF the Mongoi
Tartars. Resistance was or no aNail
against the overwhelming numbers OF
the invading horde. the period ~ h'Iy
called In Russian history Inc nse -
Tears or The Age OF Woe" No otn-
err country OF Europe has ever beer SUD
j.cted TO such horrible and long contin-
ned suffering. The only alienation 10
the awful distress was found In the eI-
forts OF the royal Russian family-itself
tributary and a vassai. always weak,
hut determined and shrewd-io modiiy
the ferocity OF the conquerors ana 10
keep the sense OF from
sufferers with them In a common
and intolerable subsection. the people
looked az their only hope. when ht
last Prince Demetrius OF h Don Won
a decisive victory over the horde "a
made A. evident that It's final expulsion
was only the work OF patience y
time, the delirious gratitude OF the
people knew no bounds. They were
ready 10 swear themselves the subjects
-, n.ms,r,un and his heirs forever.
From 1859 TO 1854 three princes occu-
MED the throne-Ivan III. the GREAT
Wix.ili. and Ivan w. the Terrible. or.
more accurately rendering the Russian
adjective, monstrous. but always
mighty. always persistent In n pur-
nose. these three built up Russia from
its humiliation and weakness into glory
and strength. Before Ivan ~, the
maryelous madman. died he had made
himself n god In the minds OF his
people," Autocracy had received 4
fresh sanction In their absolute ana
w~hole-hearted submission.
people Chose First RemanoH.
suddenly the boy prince, Demetrtus'
the last heir OF Ivan. died. With him
the royal line OF Rurik became extinct
There followed thirty years or lawiess,
ness and anarchy. OF disastrous civil
and foreign MAR. AZ last. In 1913. q
great assembly. made up from every
rank and class In Russia, got together
An Moscow. A national assembly,
equally representative OF n nation
neither Russia nor Europe had eve
seen. This assembly. after long and
fierce contention. chose Michael Ro-
manoff as car. Not n single condition
did they impose upon that untried boy
OF IL thus unanimously elected ruler
When he appeared before them, upon
their knees they shouted "Promiss
that thou wilt Eraciously consent 10
rule over us" And No with ~autocratlc
power the dynasty OF the Romanons
was seated upon the imperial Russian
throne. There IL no other royal house
reignink Ia Europe today which ~
equal degree owes It's elevation To tbs
free voice Of the people. There II nc
other reIgning house that does not
trace It's origin back To some success
fui warrior and owe lis earliest sd-
vancement TO the sword. In every 9TH
err country. on some bloody plain, q
Hastings or "A Mhrchfield. william tbs
C~onqueror. h Hapsburgs. the Hohen'
zolierns. have carved for themselves
and their descendants a title To tbs
crown. The father OF Michael Roman
on was no brilliant soldier. only q
faithful parish priest, who was re-
nowned for piety and ability. and whc
because OF his noble qualities attained
high ecclesiastical distinction.
Upon the autocratic throne. thus
broad based upon the popular will
sovereign succeeded sovereign for mor'
than a century. On each monarch de
Volved the duty OF choosing his he'll
from among the male and female mem
beers OF the imperial family. Away,
tina choice was accepted by the ma
ton. Smallpox caused the sudder
death OF Peter H., In 1870. before M
had expressed any preference as TO hi
successor. There were then living fouI
descendants OF Michael Romanofr
Three OF them were women-Annl
Ivanovna. catharine Ivanoynn, Eliza
beth Petrovna-and a male infant n few
months old. Eight OF the most power
rui mobiles banded themselves together
in what they termed The High Score
Council" They obtained control OF tn,
army aud OF every department OF gov
eminent and administration.
They then offered the row to Anna
subject To the following conditions: O.