Evening star., 1918-06-27
ASSASSINATION OF .
FORMER EMPEROR
AFFIRMED BY KIEV

AffIhMEU 81 klEv
Continued from First PageD
sian heir-apparent gave evidence of
timtdity.
Succeeded to Throne in 1894.
He succeeded to the throne on Novem-
ber ], 1894, at the death of his father,
and within few weeks thereafter mar
ried Princess Alexandra AliX. afterward
known as Alexandra Feodorovna. daugh-
ter of the Grand Duke Of Hesse. by
whom he had four daughters-the Grand
Duchesses Olga, Tatiana. Marie and
Anastasia-and one son, the Grand Duke
Alexis, heir apparent to the Russian
throne up to the time of his fathers alb
dication. Emperor Nicholas coronation
at Moscow a year and a half later was
attended by festival in which 1000
persons were trampled to death.
The autocratic ruler OF many mil
lions of Russians was twenty-siX
years old when he succeeded to the
throne. His lack of experience in
the rough affairs of the world and the
limitations of his early training in
the secluded Russian court had failed
to qualify him in any way to fill the
role of an autocrat Instead of WELD
ing the scepter with firm hand. he
succumbed at once to the stupefying
Influences of the bureaucratic forces
which dictated Russian policies.
He aIienated the love and loyalty
of the Russian people within a short
time after his accession as emperor by
rebuking a delegation from the Rus
sian zemstvos, who gathered at the
Winter Palace to greet the new SOW
ereign and brought a memorial in
which they suggested that the law be
enforced with equal justice to all and
limited at an extension of constitu-
tional rights to the people.
Held Responsible for War.
By some Nicholas was held largely
| responsible for the Russo-Japanese
war on the ground that he permitted
his favorites to develop the aggressive
policy in Manchuria and Korea which
aroused Japan to hostilities. He was
accused of hindering preparations for
the war. of meddling with Gen. kuro-
patkin. his commander. but is credited
in some quarters with having by his
firm tnsfstence saved Russia from pay
ing an indemnity to Japan after peace
was proclaimed.
The constitutional reforms in Rus
sia inaugurated by Nicholas were at
trfbuted to the growth of a democratic
spirit among the Russian people and
to internal dissensions caused by the
revelations Of official incompetence and
III lHc war with >JaDan, A
general strike in Petrograd in Sep
tember. 1905. gave the emperor warn
ing of the danger of a revolution, and
to prevent this. he issued in October
ukase promising a representative
assembly and other reforms.
Election of radical dumas. as the
RUSSIAN constitutional assembly is
known. apparently aroused in Mich
olas fears OF what might develop from
popular government and they were
soon prorogued. Restriction Of suf-
frage resulted and more conserya-
tive duma was elected.
Russ Ambitions Suffer Check.
Adoption of a policy of fostering the
development Of Slav nationalities in
the Balkans led Nicholas into a clash
with Austria-Hungary, and when the
German emperor aligned himself be-
side Austria lin shining armor," Rus
sian ambitions suffered check. To
what extent Nicholas dictated the
policy of challenging Austrian ag-
gressions upon Serbia which led to
the great war that began in 1914 is
not revealed, but he is said to have
insisted that Germany should not be
permitted to awe Russia second
time.
Soon after the beginning of the war
the emperor proclaimed the autonomy
of reunited Poland. and in this, as
aggression, he was in line with the
development of Russian liberalism.
After months of continuous disaster
to the Russian arms. Nicholas took
command of the Russian armies from
Grand Duke Nicholas in September,
1915. His command. however, was re-
garded as only nominal.
Although the influences leading to
the revolution of March, 1917, which
forced his abdfcation. were various
and some of them obscure. it was evil
dent that the leaders of Russian lib
eral thought blamed the emperor for
failure to prosecute the war success
fully, for continuing the rule of the
bureaucrats and for the. growth of
pro-German influence at the Russian
court. which were undermining Rus
sia'S war strength. There was a bitter
struggle between the duma and the
reactionary party, a shortage of food
lack of supplies for the army, neglect
OF precaution and organization Some
of these were attributed by the liberal
leaders to dark forces" at the court.
One of these for which the emperor
was held personally responsible was
the mysterious power exercised by
Gregory Rasputin. the mystic monk,
who had obtained great ascendency
over both emperor and empress. One
explanation was that Rasputin had
fostered in the emperor's mind by de-
ception. the belief that the health
of his only son, the Grand Duke
Alexis, depended upon Rasputins
good offices and presence at the court.
Protests against the monks power
and presence and against the mys-
ticism and superstition that enyeloped
the Russian throne were suppressed.
The resentment eliminated in the
murder of Rasputin and was famed
to renewed flame by the honors paid
him after death, including burial in
a chapel on the grounds of the en-
peror's palace at Petrograd
Since his overthrow the former en-
>peror has been held a virtual pris-
oner in Sibeian towns. Recently it