Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-08-20
GEAR DECIDES a
ON PEACE OR
4 WAR FOR RUSSIA
80. =. 4 ID !. q
Is Absolute In Such Matters
Though He Advised With
His Ministers.
AUTOCRACY NOT CURTAILED
He Has Been His Own Premier and
the Task Has Been Beyond His
Powers-Infiuence Of Gregory
Rasputln, 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 car 10
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 1908,
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 It 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 its efforts In
this field become clear. The duma
gave particular attention to the prob
lem OF re-establishing the shattered
army. Here 1t effected real progress,
although this was necessarily done
without much blowing of trumpets.
nirarfa EoradIn EOlicU
The car directs Russia's foreign
policy. Each year his minister of for
eign affairs reports to the duma on
the state of Russia's 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
a debate took place only a 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 follows 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 II 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, 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
10 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 a particu-
lar personally. the task assumed by
the czar has been beyond his powers.
| More important, however, than this.
the absence of an actual head to the
sonal determinations among the vari-
| Gus ministers. These countercharges
have been made TO the ear of the SOW
| ereign.
This was a source Of danger. an ele-
ment of decentralization In the govern.
result, though 1t took some time for
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 ear tried TO get other points Of
view. He realized that he had been
considerably isolated. Much has been
written about a certain lay brother,
the monk Gregory Rasputin. He has
been at the court for some years, as
a kind Of spiritual adviser. He is I'M
doubtedly fraud in many respects;
but one must recognize in him a quick
and keen mind. He is of peasant orr
gin.
II Is asserted that he was In some
measure responsible for the imperial
decree of last March, In which the