Mohave County miner., 1905-12-09
Can 6e Traced Back Through 3e2 Years of Blood, Cruelty and
 Oppression.


 The Romanoff dynasty has ruled Russia for 392 years, or through near ly four whole centuries, marked by bloodshed, massacre, assassination, intrigue, conspiracy and war.
 In those four centuries the Roman offs fought wars with nearly every people in Europe. They fought Swed- en, subdued Poland, subjugated the Crimean provinces, overrun Livonia, dismembered Poland, and sent their Cossacks like a scourage across the Caucasus until they had conquered the center of Asia as far as the tomb of Tamerlane, and added all of Siberia to the realms of the Czar.
 In those four centuries the Roman offs fought wars with Sweden, Eng land, France, Italy, Prussia, Austria, Hungary, Turkey, China and Japan. They fought with and against Napol- con. They helped Prussia against France, and in turn joined France in crushing Prussia. Three times they tried to conquer Turkey. Twice they tried to invade Persia. Their hand has been against almost every nation, and ruler and people in Europe. They have been better hated and better feared than the members of any other reigning family that ever held a throne in Europe.
 And yet these same Romanoffs, whose throne has been washed with the blood of million murdered sub- jects, until it's steps were as crimson as the velvet canopy above it, found Russia horde of half-Oriental bar barians, and nodded the squat, stupid mass into modern nation, one of the recognized powers in the world. They developed commerce, established uni versailles, girdironed the empire with railroad, fostered religion, cultivated art and science.
 Their ships ply every sea. Their railroads cross two continents. They are rivals with England and the United States in many lines of commerce. Their lawyers are recognized in the international courts of the world, their scientists are quoted in every laboratory, their literature is in every modern library, and their music is recognized among the classics.
 The first Romanoff was Michael FeOdorovitz, who ascended the throne in 1913, after the assassination of Eco dor I, last of the house of Rurik, which had ruled for 700 years. He crushed rebellion and ruled until 1645 in comparative peace. He was succeeded by his son, Alexis W, who in his turn crushed rebellion by hanging, burn ing and torturing 1000 prisoners.
 Then came the son of Alexis, Eco dor III, who ruled from 1870 to 1882. He left two sons, Ivan V and Peter, half brothers. They ruled jointly, the real empress being Sophia, mother of Peter I. Sophia gave Russia the blood jest reign history had ever known up to that time. It all ended in 1696, when Ivan V died. Then Peter I as- serted himself and put his mother in convent.
 The history of modern Russia really dates from the reign of Peter I, for he was that most famous monarch of all Russia, Peter the Great. He signal ized his entry into power by behead- ing 5000 of his enemies. He was wonderful, enterprising, broadminded, cruel, bloodthirsty, who hanged, burn- ed, tortured and drowned his subjects until all Russia was one vast orgy of blood. And yet Peter the Great built St. Petersburg, established the con- merce of Russia, introduced modern culture and died after poisoning his own son.
 Catherine I, wife of Peter the Great, succeeded him in 1795. She was fa- nous as she was infamous. She was succeeded by Peter II, and then by Anne, daughter of Ivan. Anne was the first ruler of Russia to banish pris- oners to Siberia. She thus exiled 4O,- 900 of her subjects and sent 10000 more to the scaffold.
 Anne was followed by Ivan VI, who was exiled and then assassinated.
 A coup d'etat called Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, to the throne in TAI, and she reigned