The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-06-02
poBEDoNOs1sEFF LETTERS
Important Letters Published Ia Leading
Histo1ql Journal Reveals Important
EvcntT in Russla's Political History
Struggle Was For Supremacy.

ptf of Important letters Wfittsn by tne
late Constantine Pobedonostseif while
procurator general o. the Holy Synod,
are now appearing Ia the Archiye, the
leading historical Journal Of Russia.
These particular letters deal with mo.
mentous events Immediately following
the assassination Of Alexander II and
sheds new light upon the constitution
drafted BY Louis MelikoG. II has been
fairly well established that Alexander
III at the time Of bis assassination was
about to proclaim the constitution
drafted by Melikof who was then yir.
tual director Of Russia, establishing
Parliamentary institutions In the en-
pirc, The death of the empire was even
ascribed to 4 reactionafy plot that has
as the ultimate object the prevention
Of the PRONUNCIATION Of new constitu.
,ion. Pobedonostseif's letters fully con.
firm the existence Of this constitution
and give complete and authentic "details
Of the intrigues following the accession
TO the throne Of the successor Of Alex
ander II as result Of which Pobedon-
ostsef succeeded In deferring the es-
tabiishment Of representative govern
ment In Russia for a quarter Of centu.
nv. or until Nicholas II created the
present parliament In 1905.
The first letter was written within q
few hours Of the death OF Alexander II,
and after the new Emperor Alexander
iii at late hour In the night, had sum
moved PobedonostseiK to the palace,
embraced him sobbingly and implored
him 70 remain his faithful friend. Po-
bedonostseif describes Alexander III as
= wrctched, IN and distracted child
whom he feared lacked the ilrmness Of
win necessary to resist the influence Of
tho gambler Melikoff.v PobcdonostseiT's
first step was to write letter urging
Alexander III to strike out on his own
rath,, and warning him against his un-
Gle, Grand Duke Constantine, whom Po-
bcdonostsefr wished to have banished
Immediately,
The letters take up almost Immediate
Il the history Of the constitution which
MelikoG to the horror OF Pobedonos.
tseiT, lost no time In pressing upon Al
cSandor III. The day after his acces.
sion tc the throne Melikotr presented
the project. and upon the margin Of
the draft the Emperor wrote the words,
very well written. He hesitated
however, about signing the decree and
called a council Of the ministers and
grand dukes for March n. 1881, OR con-
sultation. Pobedonostseir then gives
full account Of this hirtocial session in
the Winter Palace. Melikolf had draft.
Cd a proclamation creating a legislative
assembly and he urged the immediate
PRONUNCIATION thereof. lie was support.
ed BY q majority Of the council, inclu.
ding the grand Dukes. Pobedonostseff
made a Illuminating speech in which he
declared that those present, by advoca-
ting the reforms of Alexander II, were
really responsible for the murder Of this
ruler. He insisted that the time had
come 70 cause trembling before public
opinion, which was manufactured BY
Contemplate journalists the Emper-
or was greatly affected by this speech
and postponed his decision regarding
Melikotf's PROPOSAL for several weeks.
In the meantime General Bamnoff
had been appointed perfect Of st. Pc.
tersburg and he cooperated with Pobed,
onostseff by the pretended discovery of
q number Of plots aimed at the Empe-
ror. Pobedonostseif's narrative Of
these intrigues reads like the widest
fiction.
A second conference was held May
4, 1881, little less than two months
after the Emperor's accession. There
was another heated debate, Pobedonos.
tseff was again almost gone in the de-
fense Of the established order Of things
Melikoff and his allies were highly sat
istied at the outcome Of the confernence,
believing they had finally defeated Po-
bedonostseif, and that the constitution
was assured. But they were sadly mis-
taken. Within few weeks Pobedon-
ostseff won the Emperor completely
and he drafted the famous manifesto re-
flecting the slightest infringement up.
on the absolute power of the EMPEROR
the PRONUNCIATION Of which on May l2,
1881, was the signal for the fall Of Mel
ikotf and sealed the ascendancy Of Po-
hedonostseff, This continued unbroken