The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-08-11
GAR DECIDES
ON PEACE OR
WAR FOR RUSSIA
Is Absolute In Such Matters
Though He Advised With
His Ministers.
auTocRAcY NOT cuRTAlLED
He Has Been His Own Premier and
the Task Has Been Beyond His
Powers-Influence of Gregory
Rasputin, the Lay Brother.

Rasputin, the Lay Brother.
The car ordered mobilization after
advising with his ministers. 1t would
have been impossible to convene the
representative bodies, the duma and
the imperial council, in order to hear
from them and expression Of opinion
within the short term allowed for the
decision, writes Samuel N. Harper In
the Chicago Herald.
But such a step was probably not
even thought of or considered. Under
the fundamental laws, the Russian
constitution, war is delared and peace
signed by the sovereign; the czar is
the commander in chief of Russia's
armed forces. The autocratic au-
thority was not curtailed on these mat
tiers by the political reforms Of 1905.
which gave Russia the duma.
The duma votes the yearly conscrip-
ton and the appropriations for the
army and navy. Through the control
over the budget 1t has insisted on and
obtained reform and reorganization in
these departments. The work Of the
third duma will be more highly esti-
mated when the result of it's efforts in
this field become clear. The duma
gave particular attention to the prob
lem of re-establishing the shattered
army. Here it effected real progress.
although this was necessarily done
without much blowing of trumpets.
Gar Directs Foreign Foley.
The car directs Russia's foreign
policy. Each year his minister of for
eign affairs reports to the duma on
the state of Russias relation with
other powers. The minister always
prefaces the speech with the remark
that he has received the authority of
the covereign to make his statement.
The prerogative Of the car in mat
tiers of foreign relations is thus estab-
lished and carefully observed. The
duma debates on this report are. how
ever, always frank and critical. Such
debate took place only few months
ago. The present crisis was not an
ticipated, of course.
But opinions of the various parties
on the questions now at issue were
then voiced. The car is reported to
| have read the Duma Record with
great care; he has said himself that
he foii6ws the work of the duma with
great interest. He knew what attitude
the party leaders had taken of the
question of Russian policy in the near
East; but it was by his own authority
that the czar took the decision that
has led to war.
In foreign affairs the car has al
ways exercised his prerogative freely.
The present foreign minister, Mr..
Mr.. Sazonov, is a man of considerable
ability, a conscientious and able diplo-
mat. But he has been in poor health (;
| frequently he has had to take long
releases from duty. This has meant
! that the sovereign has exercised an
even greater and more personal con
troll over questions of foreign policy.
Is His Own Prime Minister.
The car has been his own prime
minister for over three years. He has
been taking the reins of government
more and more into his own hands
allowing his ministers to advise and
suggest, but reserving to himself &C.
tual decision and giving them only pro-
visional directions, with instructions
to report and then receive further
orders.
Apart from all question of particu
lar personality, the task assumed by
the car has been beyond his powers
More important, however, than this
the absence of an actual head to the
cabinet has opened wide field to per
sonal recriminations among the vari
Gus ministers. These countercharges
have been made to the ear of the soy
ereign.
This was a source of danger, an ele
ment of decentralization in the govern
ment But it led to most important
result, though it took some time fol
the result to come. The car learned
that conditions in the country were
not what he had been induced to be
lieve them to be; he became aware
OF the extent of the unrest and of some
of the causes back of the discomfort
The car became worried
Rasputln. the Monk.
The car tried to get other points Of
view. He realized that he had beer
considerably isolated Much has beer
written about certain lay brother
the monk Gregory Rasputin. He has
been at the court for some years, al
a kind Of spiritual adviser He is un
doubtediy fraud In many respects
but one must recognize In him quicl
and keen mind. He Is of peasant orr
gin.
It is asserted that he was In some
measure responsible for the imperia
decree of last March, in which the
car condemned the fiscal policy SC
long In force In Russia. which owed
It's success to an increasing consump
tor of alcohol by the people In thi:
connection Rasputin's presence at thu
court was interpreted by some as Z
great popular asset The decree had