The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-08-11

an enormous influence in the peasant
villages. One could say: The car has
close to him peasant, man of the
people. with whom he takes counsel.
If Rasputin did have share In coun-
selling this decree, this is about the
only act OF his that deserves COM
mendation
Rasputin has been an important in
fiuence in Russian politics. He repre-
sents an interesting fact The prerog-
alive of the Russian car has been to
secure his advice from unofficial as
well as official counsellors, The con-
slant recourse to unofficial advisers,
especially since the more definite or
ganization of a cabinet of ministers,
would seem to be on the authority Of
the sovereign himself.
The present car has been calling
in outsiders to very large measure.
perhaps with this very idea in mind.
He has done this especially since he as
sumed more control over the details
of administration, since he has in fact
tried to be his own prime minister.
his choice of advisers.
Has Had Difficult Relan.
The present car has had difficult
reign. 1t started most inauspiciously
with the frightful accident that at
tended his coronation Through the
carelessness of his officials hundreds
of peasants and workmen who flocked
to celebrate the occasion we're crushed
to death on the field where they were
gathered to receive the gifts that were
to be distributed.
At the very beginning of his reign
he antagonized large section of his
people. Members of local provincial
councils petitioned that provision be
made by which the voice of the peo-
pie could more surely reach the SOY
ereign, shut in as they believed him to
be by a wall of bureaucrats. They
were told, when their delegation re-
ceived a personal reception by the
car, to drop these "senseless dreams"
Some persons seem to have the fac
Guilty of needlessly antagonizing., In
many case an extreme timidity would
seem to account for what appears to
be futile tactlessness. The present
car is very tfmid and diffident He
always reads from notes when he has
to make an important announcement.
Careful With His Manifestos.
The cars manifestos are always
carefully prepared official documents.
They show the penmarks of the chan
celery. And as he been noted, the
czar has seldom made spontaneous
utterance of important political con-
tent. His speeches are written out
| and read by him with the paper in
hand. But one document has come
down to the student Of Russian his
tory which gives valuable material on
this question of the personality and
character of the car.
In 1905, after the car had promised
to institute duma, he called a confer
not only his ministers, but members of
! the imperial family, members of the
| imperial council-then a consultative
body-and several outsiders, including
the great Russian historian, Klyuchev-
sky. The car presided over the meet
| ings of this conference in person
The conference was secret, but q
stenographic report of the discussions
was made and printed, and distributed
| to the members. At last one member
was indiscreet, and a copy of this-re
| port got into the hands of a German
| publisher The document is now &C
cessible to the public
Showed Keen Insight
The czar asked the members of the
| conference to speak out their minds
without reserve, and they did so. The
most important point of discussion
was how to organize the new duma In
| such a way as not to limit the author
| ity of the autecratic sovereign.
At that moment it was intended that
the duma lave only a consultative
voice in legislation. The car listened
to the various opinions expressed, as
point after point was discussed, and
| often by a single word determined
which view should prevail. Only al
one time did he make a statement oil
any length, and that speech was ex
tremely short. His Judgment in de
| Gliding which view on a given point
| should become law showed a keenel
insight into problems of statesman
ship than he has generally been cred
tied with abroad. But the initiative
did not come from him.