Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-15
CHAPTER vu (continued)

1.-TWO years later, in 1914, a few
weeks before the breaking out of
the present war, another deputy,
this time a clergyman, Father Filonenko,
spoke about Rasputin in the duma, and
did so in the following strong terms:
"As a faithful and devoted son of our
holy Orthodox church, 1 consider it my
painful duty to mention once more what
has already been discussed here by so
many orators better than myself, and
to recur to a subject which is at pres
ent talked of at the corner of every
street, in every town and in every viii
lage, no matter how distant and how far
from any civilized center in our vast
empire. We find ourselves compelled
to look upon this uneXplainable influence
of a common adventurer, belonging to
the worst type of those sectarians whom
until now we have known by the name
of Khlystys, and despised accordingly.
We are obliged to reckon with this in
fluence of a man upon whom all the
sane elements in our society look with
contempt"
Wherein the Menace of Rasputin Lay
On that same day another deputy be-
longing to the group of ultra-conserva-
tives. Prince Mansyreff also spoke
about Rasputin, with perhaps even more
energy than any one had ever done be-
lore In the Qulnd. SAID lne pTlHCe'
''The adventure of Illiodore ended in
ridicule, but we have now in his place
another ADVENTURE, with the personality
of whom are connected the most nefa-
rious and disgusting rumors, the most
unnatural and contemplate crimes. II
is useless to mention his name; every
one knows who he is, and of whom
am talking. He has been let loose on
our society TO acquire some influence
over it by men even more shameless
than he is himself; one has used him
to terrorize all those who have dared
to express their opinions against the cur
rents which prevail at present in our
administrative circles. This adventur-
err. whenever he travels and whenever
ne arrives in St. Petersburg, is met at
the railway station by the highest dig
nitaries Of the church; before him pray.
as they would do to God, unfortunate
hysterical ladies of the highest social
circles This individual, who only seeks
the satisfaction of the lowest instinct
of a low nature, has introduced himself
into the very heart of our country and
of our society, and we find and feel
everywhere his disgusting and filthy in
fluence"
A few DAYS after this memorable ST.
ting of the duma the government issued
instructions to the press never to men
ion Rasputin's name or to speak of any
subject connected with him in the news
Dapers. AS soon as this became known
the Octobrists put down on the order
Of the day in the duma an Interpolation
on the matter. and Mr.. Goutschkoff in
moving It exclaimed:
Park and dangerous days havc ar
-.-rd and the conscience of the Russian
natIcn has been deeply moved by the
events Of the last few months, and is
lrotcstinE againS: the appearance
q. u-st us Of symptoms proving that
o.. 500 returning to the darkest periods
OF ro middle ages. It has cried out
III. hings are going wrong in our
80. and that danger threatens our
ID e :o'y national deals"
Tr.lcr Lwoff seconded the motion. and
asked the government 10 explain who
was this strange personality who hau
been taken under the special protection
If the administration. who was consid-
red as too sacred to be subjected to the
.riticism OF the press. and who had beer,
Dut upon such q pedestal that no one
vas allowed 20 touch or even TO APP
roach him
would not have quoted these speeches
but for the fact that they all bore on
he same point. the one that I have
ried to make clear to the mind OF my
readers. This point is that the danger
which Rasputin undoubtedly personI-
led in Russian society at large did not
proceed from his own personality, but
IRON, the character of the men who sur
-ounded him, who had made out of him
heir tool and who were trying through
lim to rule Russia and to push il into
Inc arms of Germany. There is nU
loubt that Germany had been carefully
following all the phases of the drama
which eliminated in the assassination
IF the prophet" and had been helping
" her subsidies the underhand and mys-
crious work of men like Mr.. Manussc-
vitsch Maniuloff and his satellites. and
ike mir. Sturmer. Sturmer believed
,uite earnestly that he would secure i'm
mortality for his name and for his work
he contriyed to conclude a peace when