New-York tribune., 1905-07-09
NICHOLAS M0URAVIEEF.
Pen Sketch of Russio's Principal
Peace Com missioner.


has made - her principal plenipotentiary for the
negotiation a Washington OF peace with Japan.
For. since the Car coulc bring himself ap-
point NJ wirte, the statesman who commands a
greater degree of respect and confidence among
the Japanese and everywhere abroad thar any
Other Muscovite digntary. better selection could
possibly De made than thar OF Count Nicholas
Aourav eT. former Minister o. Justice. member Of
nc Hague Tribunal and now Ambassador at
Rome Il IS not only tnat he is a man Of strons
ard enlightened character. with pronounced views
which he Is ret afraid To express man bold Wig
orous and jusJ-Aut re IS also "a Mouravief that is
n say. member ~ t,lat family which Russia is
Indebted Tor ITS possession the Eastern portion
% Asia And since II q Mouravief " no won
for The Russian Crown IT'S great dependency in the
Far orient il in way fitting that it should
he a Mouravief who should assume charge as Mus
covte Prnipoentiary of those negotiations that are
destined II tile japanese have their way. TO compel
the Withdrawal Of Russia behind the Auur-
The MouravieGs have played notable role IN
the history Of Russia especially since the DAYS OF
Peter the Great. one of the best known members
OF the family the seven, eenth century was that
Michael Mouravfef the poet and historian who
was selected by Catherine the Great 10 direct the
education OF her and who after the acces-
sion 10 the throne OF his pupil Alexander l.
created by him Senator and Minister Of Public In
strucrion. Another Of them achieved fame as a
traveller in the early part OF the nineteenth
tu1y. third was. I have just described. the
conqueror OF Eastern Siberia. and as a reward for
i
right 10 add the word "Amurski'' TO his patro-
nymic And ii may further be noted that it was
this same MOuravieff who in command of A Rus
sian squadron OF twelve nen-of-var, appeared in
the bay OF Toxic Immediately after the departure
OF Commodore Perry. and Al the point Of
his guns compelled the reluctant japanese 10
grant 10 the Gar the same treaty rights as
unose Whlch they had accorded TO the United
States He finally relieved from mis- most
as Governor General Of Siberia and reIegated TO
comparative disgrace. IN CONSEQUENCE OF the sIspi
eon 20 which he was subjected Of having facilitated
tle escape from penal servitude Of his cousin
Michael Bakunin. the founder and father Of Mill
-slL indeed, Count MOuravien Amurski was even
charged with certain amount Of syulpatlv for
me evolutionary aims Of mis- cousin and OF the
4aller io-oWers For IL of that the
famous Russian man Of letters, Alexander Herzen
himself a revoiutionisr. wrote that he wa Tho
sJrangest mixture Cf democracy with Tartar t.---
amy and OF liberalism with despotic views that he
had ever encountered. It must be confessed thar
he mas not been by any means the only member OF
ms family 10 whom liberal views have been
ascrtbed- In fact. I can recall no less than ten
Aoura2iefs who We're sent TO Siberia in chains "a
TeFoiltlonisJs' while another hanged as a con-
spirator by Emperor Nicholas / in 1925 his offence
having consisted in heading the movement thar
called on the new Gar 10 fulfil the pledges made
by his brother TO grant 10 the people a constitI,-
The fortunes Of the Mou-aviens date back TO the
fifteenth century when, as mobiles Of Moscow they
~ff- s-7AN estates III llle province Of NOVgOrOG
from the Grand Duke Ivan Vasiliyfrcb and an,ong
those who figure in Russian history are General
Alexander Nicholavitch MouraviefT. who after bav-
lAs Deem one Of the commanders in the Crinean
War acted Is one Of the principal coIIaborators of
emperor Alexander II in the scheme for the eman-
cipauon Of the serfs- Another General NouravierT
% greatly olst--lished himself in the conquest Of
The Caucasus THAI ,.-c1olas invested MIN with the
1li-e u Prince Mourn r. Karski. Then there were
The Michael MoUravien who was the dictator of
4g is
denly as Minister Of Foreign Affairs in 1917 and
no" llls other grandson, Count Nicholas Moura-
Flen who has been appointed chief Russian Dlent-
PotehtiaFy IN the negotiations for peace with
Japan.
A nephew Jf the eonqueror of Fastar, S,,.a ~,
hpec-a- Ambassador differs from most other Rus
slan statesmen and diplomats in that he is friend
q P-~Aeily- he takes the ground that the latter
Is more wholesome and more polite than secrecy
men minister Of Justice he made his chief OBJ
Ject II life interest. not only Russian societ,,
olt also the people at large, in the plans and
projects Of the -rnnent. He insisted on the
publication in The Official Gazette not merely
OF al The new laws enacted by the Senate and by
the Council OF the Empire. but also OF the motives
and objects Of their enactment, as well as of a
brief review OF the debate the subject in the
Council Of State and OF the Senate. He opposed
with all his might trials behind closed doors. urged
that Justice should be administered in the full
light OF day. and throughout his long term of Office
as tie head Of the Department OF Justice strove
under The most discouraging and adverse circunl-
stances TO compel government officials throughout
the empire keep within the provisions OF the law
OF the land. He insisted on resigning mis- post
Minister q Justice when The dictatorship OF Gen
eral Trepor inaUgurated last spring. being Of
the opinion that what Russia needed above every
thing else observance OF the laws by the
officers Of the government, whose tendency has
always been 10 exceed their authority. a tendency
10 which fresh impetus is lent by the institution
of such q thing s 2 dictatorship, which IS estab
Mshed IN defiance of law and virtually means a
suspension Of all statutory rights and prerogatives
he has been. ever since the murder Of Alexander
II the most persistent and relentless foe OF the
rihHsrs Indeed ne won his appointment Min
lister Of Justice by the skill and energy which he
displayed as prosecutor in chief the assassns OF
that monarch But he has, far as II is possible
u DO SO in Russia. fought the terrorists in the
open and endeavored. in all cases that were not
taken out OF hands. give the nihilists fair
t-laL The consequence IS that the revoutionists
regard him with respect and, although he is their
20 would not 7 believe. harm him.
Mouravicn shares with NJ Witte the conviction
that u constitution is unsuited the Russian peo-
pie Ia IT'S present condition. and that the auto
cratic principle IN the hands OF a liberal and Just
sovereign IS the best form Of government for Rus
sia. long the immense bulk Of the population
remain unable 10 either read write These IDEAS
likewise those OF Russia-s statesmen who are
regarded rs The most liberal and mos enlightened
aud as best acquainted with the circumstances Of
ther country. Let me add. in conclusion. that he
s. nephew of. bu- has nothing n common with
t.at General Count IguatieT who was for many
yesrs MuscOvite Ambassador ar Constantinople
wler@ me- known The Father Of Lies " hen
asked on cUe occasion. court ball al St Peters
bury hy The late Car Alexander. 10 how he had