Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-10

The Car Nicholas II celebrated on No
vember-1 the thirteenth anniversary OF his
acce ssion to the throne.
Thirteenth The son and successor
of Alexander III. he
Anniversary. MAS horn In 1868 and
assembled the throne in 1894. The
cars reign has been a troubled and
eventful one. and he has been the SUBJ
ject of much criticism. History, however
will show that Nicholas II is far
greater ruler than his critics admit. he
inherited the unfortunate condition which
aff1icts Russia; he did not create that con-
dition. The car is represented as weak.
timid, and even cowardly. man OF
straw In the hands of the nobility and the
bureaucrats. and swayed by spiritfsm and
other phantoms of the mind.
Nicholas II for fact has been strong
and forceful in the face of the most out
rageous fortune which has ever con-
fronted a monarch. He has been cour-
egeous and every hour Of his reign has
been menaced by the savage anarchist
who has sought with relentless fury to de-
stroy him, his wife and children. with the
dastarfly bomb He has withstood the
storm of war in which Russia has been
deprived of her great military prestige
and compelled to treat with Japan, once
her despised rival in the east. In the rev.
olution and reign of anarchy that fol-
lowed the car has stood firmly for his
people. and abandoning autocracy. has
granted them a-constitution and par
fiament. Besides, Nicholas II, it should
not be forgotten. Is the inspiration and
author of the two peace conferences at
The Hague, which are full OF promise of
peace in the future. The car is neither
weak. timid cowardly nor a subject of
spirftism. but a strong. fearless and pro-
grcssive ruler for whom history. despite
his critics. will reserve one Of its bright
est pages.
The Russian minister Of foreign affairs,
NJ. Tvoisky. recently interviewed with ref
erence to Russia's foreign
Foreign relations. said:
p.1.4; Eve have concluded
with our friends the Eng
Asia. We have made treaty with our
former adversaries, the japanese, who are
now our friends. This treaty. with the
Anglo Japanese alliance and the Franco
Japanese alliance, is the gauge of peace
in that part Of the world.
Russia needs rest, and will pursue a
pacific policy everywhere. I am happy to
say ! found In all my recent interviews
with heads Of states and statesmen that
the same wish reigned everywhere to live
as good friends and carry out the policy
of bringing happiness and prosperity to
people"
But it should not be concluded from
this peaceful utterance that all is peace in
Russia. Only recently Gen. Kristi while
hunting in the forest close to the cars
palace at Tsarskoe- Selo. and within a
short distance of the railroad connecting
with ST. Petersburg. arrested anarchists
in the act Of driving a shaft for the evil
6anf of h1oWin0 the raflrOa n
depot.
Under the impression of the past hor-
rors of the Russian revolution and the
present assassinations and acts of vio-
ience, Leon Tolstoi has written book to
be published soon. entitled do Not Kill "
The illustrious author maintains that the
law Of the gospel. being the law of love,
is all sufficient to overcome the beast in
man-"Do good do no evil. be good. do
not be wicked. abstain from all violence"
Such are the doctrines which compose his
hom1ly Tolstoi sees only the good In
man, not the evil which is inherent. 1t
will suffice, says Tolstoi. to apply the law
Of the Evangelus in Russia and. presto.
as II by magic, all will be peace, happi-
ness and good will among men.
Other philanthropists believe that this
object may be attained by education of
the masses which may
Reform by develop the moral and
intellectual faculties Of
Guuc"t1on' those in revolt against
society. Alas! experience does not show
that education has yet accomplished such
results, but, on the contrary. has only
awakened new ambitions and appetites
and developed an ardent thirst for the
unknown II the anarchists Of Russia
were illiterates some hope might lie In
I,,t f0r~ fQ l.
mated intellectual who Is the factor OF rev.
olution and anarchy. of which Gapon and
Gorky may be taken as the types.
M. Boucher in the Correspondent of DC.
tober % says:
"The disorderly strikes in France. the
tragic strikes in Russia, in Belgium and
Italy are characterized by the same de-
hrious doctrine and revolutionary fury
as recently manifested in the ineendiary
and sanguinary strikes OF Anvers and
fication in the future, governments are
sadly obliged in all these disorders to
oppose violence by violence; they cannot
abandon society to chaos. Russia has
understood this in the attempts to con-
stitute the first and second dumas and has
prof1ted by the knowledge in the consti-
tuition OF the third duma. which will
be established by the present elections.
Russia Is actively engaged In the re-es-
tablishment of her navy and the reform OF
Guided with Japan, and then with Eng
land will maintain her security provision
ally in Asia. Russia takes up her des-
tinies in Europe which were for a mo-
ment too widely scattered. She will re-
Ratn her prestige there In proportion as
che will render the action OF her d.
plomacy necessary"
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The elections for the third duma began
September Is, and terminated November
1. The elections are d.
Elections vided into three degrees.
The first extended from
CONCLUDED. September 15 to October
8. Four different categories took part in the
elections Of the first degree. namely: The
cur1a of peasants, the curia Of workmen.
two groups attached to the curia Of land
owners; the curia of lay proprietors and
that of the holders of church property.
The 10th of October commenced the
landholder and city elections. the second
degree On the Goth of October the
electoral college assembled in the county
towns of the province to elect 442 depu-
ties of the duma. the third degree. The
ecclesiastics represent every current OF
party principles. It has been said OF the
orthodox priests that they were radical
until the age OF forty and reactiona-y
after that point" But why, indeed. speci-
fly the priests? Is not the disposition to
conservatism, or reaction, If it pleases
you, a characteristic of advancing years
Has this not been the case Of almost
all well-balanced minds? What an abyss
between Gambetta at twenty and Gam
beta at forty! A question Of the triumph
Of reason over passion.
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