New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-29
"Mr. Romanof"
A Protest Against Contempucu
Treatment of the Late Gar
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Tribune is usually such an a
mirable exemplar Of journalistic good tsss.
and good manners that was surprised n
read in its columns the cable news from PEI.
rograd descriptive Of the occupations OF IL
ex-Czar and his family while in duress a
not harsh captivity. To make jest Of tbs
fallen fortunes Of once mighty ruler, Who
whatever the faults and fsilings sll.s,d
against him, has always been recognized
even by his enemies. as a man Of good intsr.
tions and amiable character, is unchivslrous
to the verge OF indecency. especially xhsu
the female members of his family ara
dragged into the picture Of his humiliation
The Russian Provisional Government would
have lost nothing in the estimation Of mod.
crate and right-thinking persons By treating
the ex-Czsr and his family with all resscss-
BILE consideration and respect. To bekss,
toward them on the lines OF the leading spir:u
of The Terror Of France, when they held Iacis
and Marie Antoinette captive before sentis,
/ them to the scsffold, is to cause a revulsio,
of sympathy. And for the papers 10 scot
/
rolf" and to describe their simple pursuit.
while held captive is only to add to that
feeling.
There is no suggestion that the Gar rim.
self was anything but loyal 20 the Russian
cause. II was, alas! his German wife who
dragged him into the mselstrom Of court
intrigue and brought about his downfall
And even the ex-Empress is entitled to re.
spectful consideration and should not b
made a shaft for the vulgar accusations I
have seen in some papers in connection with
the odious pseudo monk Rasputin.
Character of the Former Empress
Those who are acquainted with the facts
know quite we'll that the ex-Empress ia
woman Of exemplary moral character and
that her sole reason for associating with
that defunct charlatan and libertine-ecn.
corning whose personal character she wa .
kept dscreetly in the dark by Nine. Vim.
bova and others of her entourage-sss her
intense anxiety concerning the health and
even the life of her only and adorsd son.
She is a deeply religious not 10 say super.
stitious woman, and she sincerely believed IN
the pious and miraculous pretensions Of Rss-
putin. That she also sympathized with the
German cause and sought to bring about %
untimely peace there can be no doubt. But
if her offence in this respect was great 30 is
J her punishment, and to make her and her
husband and charming young daughters OBJ
jects of derision and contempt is altogether
lacking in either justice or msgnsnimity.
The allegations concerning letters from
her and her daughters to Rasputin discov-
cred among the mans papers or the court
archives may be and will be dismissed by all
those who, like myself, know the facts as
an abominable invention. 1t might well be
urged on the Petrograd authorities that they
I should behave toward the imprisoned ruler
and his family with due respect and eonsid-
Grafton for their misfortunes, if they cannot
permit them to seek asylum in France,
or better still, in Great Britain among their
relatives, for the Car is the nephew Of
Queen Alexandra of England and the Czsrins
is granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
Let me add that regard the treatment OF
other members of the Romanof family, not
ably that great patriot and soldier, the
Grand Duke Nicholas, as little short OF
abominabie, and there are many thousands
in this country, as well as Great Britain and
France. wro share that view. lie could ana
would have saved the country had he been
appointed regent and commander in chief
by the Provisional Government The army
would have followed him implicitly, and the
Allies would have retained in Russia po-
tent aid to complete victory over German
militarism and sutocrscy. Instead Russia
is drifting toward anarchy, and bitter pun
ishment may be in store for her at the
hands of Japan, assisted by China on the east
and the Central Powers on the west.
ERNEST J. HART
New York, May q, 1917.