Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1913-05-23

who had foretold IN the year 1913 that
the future held greatness for Russia
and after ruin for her adversary,
Poland. Indeed, 1t seemed somewhat
doubtful whether Russia could even
maintain her independence. The story
" Of how line of men, resolute to shrink
from no means, even the most shame
full, In the pursuit of their end, built
- up after the havoc Of the Mongol fury
new sttte around the obscure city of Moscow,
Is one Of the most remarkable in history. Yet in
1911 all their work seemed undone Ivan w,
prematurely aged worn out broken-hearted, hav-
Ing murdered his eldest son in fit Of maniacal
fury passed away In circumstances Of the utmost
horror in 1884. For the next twenty years the
real ruler Of Muscoyy was Ivans great minister
Boris Godunov, one Of the new men" whom his
reforming zeal had called to the front Godunoy
was in many ways an excellent ruler-he was
perhaps the most enlightened Of the pre-Petrine
monarchs of Russia. But the great mobiles dis
liked him, and there Is little doubt that he
cleared his path to the throne by making away
with Dmitri the halfbrother Of the nominal Car
Feodor l., and his natural heir The great family
Of the Romanoffs stood near the throne, for Fec
doris mother had been Romanof. While Fec
dor lived Godunov dared not attack them, but
when the weak monarch died In 1898 and the
minister, despite his more or less feigned reluc-
lily was banshed.
Suspicion was the bane Of the otherwise bene-
fetal rule Of Boris. Finally, an adYenturer named
Gregory Otrepev gave out that he was Prince
Dmitri, who had escaped from the assassins Of
Boris, and raised a formidable insurTection. aided
by Sigismund Ill., king Of Poland In the midst
of the war Boris died and the fatal period Of
troubles OF Russia began
The supposed Dmitri soon overthrow the
youthful Feodor H.. son of Boris. He proved an
admirable ruler, but he was a Roman Catholic
and was murdered by the mobiles. shuiski one
Of the conspirators was elected Car under the
title Of Vasill ", but obtained no firm footing.
Revolt everywhere broke out. sprang up in every
direction raised armies Of miscellaneous rufhans
and Polish adventurers, and spread terror and
devastation to the gates OF Moscow. For years
this anarchy lasted The worst Of the pretenders
was "the Thief" whose lair was at Tushino near
Moscow, but everywhere the wretched country
was overrun and wasted by gangs Of Cossacks
l. e.. robbers. The desoation was fearful; in
i've years the fruits Of century of effort ap
peared to have been hopelessly lost The wretch
ed Shuish purchased, by the surrender Of terri
tory in the Baltic provinces, the aid Of Sweden;
but the result was to bring about Polish inva-
sion. In 1909 Smolensk was beseged next year
the great Polish general Zolkiewski, defeated
and captured Shuiski, entered Moscow, and pro
claimed Wladislaw, son of Sigismund H., czar
BY skful diplomacy he occupied the Kremln,
and gained some measure Of support for Wladis-
law
Russia seemed lost Smolensk held out with
bitter desperation for two years. but was at last
taken. THE Thief" was murdered but his fol-
lowers held together and contested the posses
sion Of Moscow desperately with the Poles Half
the wretched city was destroyed in the course
of the struggle but the famous Trotsa monastery
near the capital resisted Siege after siege dur
ing the anarchy and refused to submit.
Here the movement to put an end to the pre-
vailing misery first took definite shape. The
abbot, Donyslus and the administrator, Abraham
Palitsin, took the lead. IN October, 1911 letters
were sent all over Russia calling upon the peo-
pie to unite in defense of their religion Mini
Novgorod, led by Kuzma Mimi, master butcher,
at once responded with enthusiasm. Kazan,
Jealous Of Mini Novgorod, held back but all
down the Yolga the towns joined the movement
and men and money came pouring into the
patriot city Prince Dmitr MikbaiIovich Poz
harski, brave noble who had consistently op
posed the Poles and had been wounded almost
20 death in the fighting round Moscow, was elect