New-York tribune., 1907-11-01
THE CZAR'S REIGN.
AnniUersary To-day of His Acccs-
sion to the Throne.

F,nnsror Nicholas to-day celebrates the thir-
toenth anniversary OF his accession TO the throne
and enters upon tae fourteenth year Of his reign.
II has been extremely troubled and eventful
reign and although there seems a tendency to
disparage the present Car a weaker ruler than
the majority of his predecessors, yet the fact re-
mains that in history his tenure Of the throne
will figure as epoch making The disastrous war
with Japan, resulting il the destruction Of the
prestige of Russia great military and Saval
rover such national disasters in fact. as result
ed in the loss by Napoleon III of the crown of
france in 1870, have in no sense impaired the
foundations of the throne of Emperor Nicholas.
and the instructions which have been taking
place in various portions of his empire must be
regarded merely incidental to the sudden trans
formation of his rule from absolute monarchy
into a constitutional and parliamentary government
which he has brought about
History Will record Of Emperor Nicholas that in
tie face Of almost nsuperable obstacles raised by
the corrupt bureaucracy. by the Orthodox Church
and by all sorts of other reactionary interests, he
has abandoned his autoCracy to his people as
medieval and of date and has endowed the
Russian nation with constitution and a parlia-
n1ent. II not TO be expected that these inno-
vatons would work at once smoothly and without
friction in an empire where the bulk of the popu-
latjon is literate, and where the government Off
cials upon whom the Emperor was obliged to rely
for the execution Of his DEGREES the people OF
all others interested in frustrating them. The
birth of most other constitutions in Europe has
Of riot and sangUinary rebellion. There was no
reason why Russia should prove exception to
The rule. BY and by things will quiet down. the
bureaucracy and the other reactonary influences
will become resigned to the inevitable. the people
will become accustomed to the new order of things
and Injured 10 the of the civic rights now
placsd within their reach by Nicholas H. and for
the sake Of Russia it may be hoped that he may
live long enough TO witness the accomplishment
Of the task which he 10 himself when he
ascended his throne Just thirteen years ago.
Nicholas has been described posanimous. as
lacking in character and IN decision and as per-
oitting himself TO he swayed by all sorts Of diverse
roIitical winds aud even hy spiritism Christian
science and other fads of the kind. Yet an
fronartial retrospect Of the last thirteen years
,onId suffice tc set all these allegations at rest as
foolish SANDERS He has persisted in his deter
,nination to convert Russia from absolute into
constitutional monarchy, in spite Of every obsta-
Gle and disbursement He has initiated many
ether humane and enlightened reforms. which in
co,,rsa Of time will come 70 be honestly exc
cuted hv Nuscovte officials than has hitherto been
the case and he IS likewise responsible for the
orrss+ ,Asca congresses at The Hague which while
bAv cannot be said 10 have fulfilled their object of
doing away with war. have at any rate contributed
IN no small measure to mitigate its horrors. AS for
his lack Of courage a man who consCientously
rrIrsues what he believes to be a righteous aim, in
spite Of daily threats and hourly danger of death
in fits most sudden and frightful form. for himself
for his wife and for his little children-that IS to
say for those dearer 20 him than his own iife-can
certainly not be said to he lacking in pluck How
many ere there of my readers, living in security
and free from anxiety 20 personal safety in this
country who would be willing 70 assume the role
of the Car with all the peril by which It IS.
rounded