The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-21
Intimate Sketch of a Woman Who
Has Long Played an Important
Part in Russia

Of the land CT their adoption. At Berlin
II was realized that as long as Mus.
covttc yearnings for popular. forms of
government and for liberal institutions
were rcpressed there would be national
unrest In the land OF the Cars, and
n unrest. especially II judictuusly
tostered through Teuton and hypheur.
ated agencies, would furnish 30 much
grounds for p~reoccupation to the Gov.
eminent at Pctrograd as to render II
~apprehensivc of trouble with any for.
eisn Tower. especially with Germany.
That Is why the Russian bureau
crazy. 20 largely recruited from
sources OF German origin. has always.
In obedience to hints from t<rltn.
fought the liberalism Of Emperor
Nicholas. and Of his mother. IN h,s
dom!nlons. and why 1t put every con.
ceivable obstacle in their way, short
or fragrant d~isobediencc and omen
dehancc. In fact. II was not until
N'cnolas. realizing this. commenced 70
exclude the German and hyphenated
elements from all ranks OF the Gov
eminent administration, particularly
from the higher grades. which they
mad TO a great extent monopolized,
that the reforms which he had decreed.
largely at the instance OF his mother.
commenced to take shape and to re.
ceive bona fide execution.
the present war will complete Rus.
sias OF the German blight.
which has over been an ~insidious OBJ
stacle to her political and economic
development. ana it's disappearance
VIII leave h roa absolutely free
ana unobstructed to all those projects
OF reform which the Emperor and his
mother have in view. and which Mich
olas longs to bring about before he Is
called upon to lay down the crushing
burden Of rulership and to seek rest
with his fathers In the muusoleum
church Of st. Peter and ST. Paul. at
the mouth Of the Neva.
In Finland, too, Empress Marie has
ways sought to alleviate the lot OF
the people there. instead Of being. az
alleged by the Germans. responsible
for the restrictive measures inaugu-
rated IN the grand duchy. She has
never forgotten the fact that her
honeymoon was spent In Finland. and
mat some OF the happiest days Of her
married life were when she went on
with her husband and children sew
eral times a year. cruising in Finnish
waters, landing at all sorts Of pictur-
esque spots. 10 picnic and to enjoy
the scenery, getting into intimate and
homcly touch with the people.
Two or three years after Nicholas
mad succeeded to the throne he found
INA the Germans had taken advantage
OK The complete autonomy enjoyed BY
the grand duchy to carry on a very
vigorous anti-Russian pro-swedish
propaganda. and to establish them.
selves In all the various seaport md
centres Of industry in such a fashion
as 10 secure not merely a predominant
influence but a actua control of the
eeonomic and political life Of Finland.
This discovery caused the Emperor to
lend a willing ear to those of his nd
visers who argued with him that Il
would be better to Russia ize the
grand duchy than to permit II to be-
come wholly Gernu zed. and so he
gave his consent to measures which
Increased the authority of the Petro-
grad Government 10 Finland at the
expense Of her autonomy.
Opposition thereto on the part #
tho Firms led to furthe.- restrictive
measures. and it Is worthy OF note that
the Governors-General OF Finland who
acquired the most evil renown for the
harshness with which they enforced
this policy We're officials Who bore
Eerman names, indicative of the Teuton
blood ii their veins. The only MEM.
Der OF the imperial family who shared
views was the late Grand Duke
Sergius, who was. it must he con-
fessed. disposed to INSTRUMENTATION
rather than to liberalism and opposed
to any concession "a the nationalist
aspirations Of the Films. But after
his assassination the Emperor, largely
at the instance OF his mother, inaug-
urated a a more c%onciliatory policy
toward his Finnish subjects n d.
rected the new Governor-Generai.
Prince Obolenski. whom he had an.
pointed for the purpose. TO suspend
the execution of the mot unpopular |