The Meeker herald., 1906-03-31
THE PUPPET CAR.
HAs LITTLE POWER m THE Az
1AIRs or RUSSIAN EMPIRE.
Il More Plaything In the Hands Of
The Romanonst Among Whom
the Grand Duke Alexis
1signs Supreme.

A student of Russian affairs. writing
. few weeks ago. reports an eastern ex-
change. gives the following graphic pic
ture of the real power OF the much
talked-of car.
II who know my Russia we'll and the
powers that be in that empire. am
amused at the reports of the powers and
intentions of the present autocrat of all
the Russias which are often published.
The simple fact is that no Muscovite en-
peror ever possessed less actual power
than that welded by his imperial males
ty Nicholas II.
arch and remarkably well mentioned:
but he Is the sport Of the house OF
Romanof and those who are ail-power-
full In the councils Of the empire. He
may think and he may dream; he may
desire and he may propose. but he can
not perform.
Correctly speaking. It 10 the emperor
alone who can declare war or who can
say: Let 1t be peace. but to tell the
plain, unvarnished truth the present
car Is but a puppet worked by stronger
hands who hold the strings.
THE son il wholly unlike the father.
The Gar Alexander III. was not an e1-
ceptionally clever man. but he was
man OF great determination and tenac-
ity of purpose. He ruled; none ruled
him. His ministen were ever little
afraid of him. He expected them to fol-
low his lead unhesitatingly Never once
was he known to follow the lead of any
one of his ministers. He was an honest
man and an outspoken one. and his In
dignation at what he considered Bis
marcks duplicity would have ended In
war between Russia and Germany had
he not eventually been convinced that
the documents upon which he based his
conclusions were a forgery.
1.-The Car Alexander III. did not like
Germany, neither did he like England.
He had, however, a favorable inclination
toward the United States, and real
sympathy with France. But, above all.
he was Russian. He spoke French fiu-
entity, German indinerenuy and Ens-
lish badly: but he was incersed at the
prevalence Of the French language in
high and oficial society In ST. Peters
burg. In the latter days Of his reign the
order went forth that In these circles
Russians should speak their own Ian
guage and this order had to be obeyed.
while 1t cannot be said that the pres
ont car has anything Of his fathers re-
ligious enthusiasm, he may be reck-
oned among the religious monarchs of
the age, and he has lately taken to writ
ing hymns.
But the cxarina 10 . religious enthu-
sias&. Born . Lutheran. she. on her
marriage, had to embrace the faith OF
the Greek church. To-day her majss'y
n more orthodox than the most orthn-
dox. 80 pure Of mind, SO self-sacrific-
ing. 80 intensely spiritual IL she that. in
another age, she would have won
canonization.
1.-THE czar worships her and her infiu-
ence over him 10 tremendous. or the
two she u decidedly the stronger. but
her influence over her husband excites
the anger and opposition of his family
1.-THE czarina's instincts are liberal
and progressive, and her husband. so
great 10 his belief in her, would tndorse
her views and policy unhesitatingly
were 1t not for those august relations
OF his, and that formidable council OF
mobiles. The czarina, all powerful with
her husband, proposes. and the cars
uncles dispose. m
.Of all the Romano& relations the
most autocratic. and at the same time
The most powerful. IL Grand Duke
Alexis. He is the Muscovite incarnate.
beloved by the navy. Of which he is the
chief; looked up to BY the mobiles. and
worshiped by the common people HIS
brother, the late car alone, was strong
enough to soften his rough humors and
bend his powerful will.
After that little affair with countess
Alexander III. intimated that absence
from Russia for . period would be high
ly beneficial for Alexis health. The So
iourn abroad was but temporary, and
the grand duke returned with an infiu-
ence and power greater than before.
To-day they are. should ray. at their
height.
.He was antagonistic to the liberal
and pacific policy Of n. Witte, and In
the end M. Witte was retired. He 1t was
who induced the car to appoint Ad-
miral AlexiefH viceroy Of the far east.
with powers never before given to any
one outside Of the imperial family.
~He entirely dirapproves OF the views
held by the czarina. and thwarts her in
every possible way. He has never. 1t is
understood, been In favor Of peace, but
of war.
However well intentioned the car
may be, however much he may be under
the influence Of his wife. who Is all for
peace, the last word will be with Grand
Duke Alexis"