Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-08-15
NICHOLAS III
Car Of Russia

NZdI OF Russia
Nicholas, II, Car Of All the Rus.
sias, is the youngest Of the three mon
archs here considered. He was born.
In st. Petersburg on May Is, 1868,
and is the eldest 0 OF Alexander'III.
Ia good part OF his education was re-
ceived under the tutorship Of Charles
Heath, an Englishman. He had a GER
tain amount Of military training but
his %inclinations did not turn in that
direction. He vas Of a quiet. dispo-
sition and did not join the gayeties OF
most young men Of his rank. He be
came Gar on November 4, 1894, by.
the death OF his father.
like his grandfather, Alexander III,
out, however, does not possess his
grandfather's liberal qualities. While
processing to be a humanitarian-and
mis- acts have carried out his words by
many reforms he has instituted In.
Russia-at times he is apparently the
most hard .hearted Of m0narchs. His
great-grendfather, Alexander l, was
lchivalrous, sentimental and philoso-
phic, but cunning.
The fear Of the Nihilists has always
preyed upon his mind and he has new
er been free from the appalling cloud
which has hung over his house since
the assassination I Alexander II in
1881. who on the day Of his death had
signed an ukase creating a number Of
consultative commissions which would
probably have led to an assembly OF
notables.
Upon ascending the throne his faith
err at ono took the sterner policy Of
administration, Cancelled the ukase
and ruled with an iron hand. His
n idea of government was one ma
ton, n language and one religion,
and under this idea Russia became
more a land Of oppression than ever.
Nicholas has been hating between
the views Of his father and his grand.
father, but is inclined toward a more
liberal form of government.
The Gar of Russia Is not q man Of
strong judgment, but relies greatly
upon his advisers. There are differ
ent opinions az to his mental capac-
ity, some saying that he is far above
the average, and others even assert
ing that he is dull witted, His per-
sonal bravery has been questioned.
Three years before his ascension to,
the throne fanatical japanese po-
liceman at Otsu attempted to assassi.
nate him and succeeded in wounding
him on the head. It has been charg-
ed that he showed cowardice on this
occasion.
One Of the most common sayings In
st. Petersburg is TN no constitution
al State is the practical influence Of
the head of the government SO slight
as in the a%utocracy of Russia" So it
rests entirely on the personality Of
the ruler whether he exerts an influ-
ence on the people or not. The Gear
has little personality to commend it.
self to an impulsive people. The
Radicals and the Liberals who consti-
tute the greater part Of the so-called
Intelligence" leave the personality
OF the Car out of the question alto
gether, claiming that q change Of
conditions without q change OF sys-
TEN is impossible. So personality
does not count SO much there as 1t
does in Germany, according to this
theory. rs
The strongest point in the person.
atty Of Nicholas II Is his exceedingly
handsome and sympathetic face and
his air Of melancholy resignation. But
there are those who express doubts
as to the sincerity Of the Cars good
nature, which they assert Is entirely
assumed. Notwithstanding this Opin-
ion, his close associates insist that he
Is childlike in his kindness and fasci-
mating in his personal discourse. He
does not appear to be suspicious. He
will hear naught against n of his
counselors. but is ever ready to hear
good Of him.
In the affairs Of government he ap-
pears to be entirely dependent upon
his ministers and taking advantage
OF this helplessness, some of them i'm
pose upon him. An evidence Of his
childlike confidence is shown iby the
fact. that threatening letters have
been smuggled into his pockets and
even into his bed without raising a
suspicion on his part that his body
servants might be concerned In the
transaction.
But others say that this so-called
confidence is not so real as 1t seems,
for the Car, when receiving a report,
sits In the shadow while he who
makes It is required to sit in the full
light, 80 that his face may be studied.
He has evidently not been too fond 81
some Of his counselors, for, If the
Kaiser had his bismarck. SO, too, the
Car had his Plehve. The Kaiser did
not care for Bismarck. and he rid thim-
self Of him by his own strength. The
Car did not care for Plehve, but he
feared him and was ruled by him un-
til the bomb of an assassin blew him
into eternity.
Certain adventures have imposed
upon the Car. Thus Philippe was to
suggest to the Czaritza the birth Of a
boy and Bezobrazoy had the spirits
recommend g certain firm OF COM
tractors for the construction Of q
bridge.
In spite. Of his protestations for
peace he allowed his country to en-
gage IN a disastrous war with Japan.
Also, in spite Of. his bureaucratic aut-
ocracy he has granted constitutional
reforms which have changed the en-.
tire political complexion Of Russia.
His consort is Princess Alx Of Hes
sc, . granddaughter Of Queen Vic