Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-26
EX-CzAR WAS STUPID,
PETULANT MIGRATE
is Gross INcompetency Made
Him Easy Tool of Kaiser in
Wrecking Russia.

Nicholas Romanof, the former Tar
Of Russia. has hcen executed bN order oi
a local Soviet, and the act was approved
by the Nl-RusSian Congress Of Sovlrts.
This report has been definitely cont rmcd
The life Of this last of tie Tzars was
fully discussed at the moment Of his
ahdication n year ago, but II is well 10
repeat some of the main facts about hIs
character, for he was part and parcel Of
the Kind of thing against which the allied
nations arc still fighting irresponsible
individuals playing with the peace 81 the
world and human lives. Nicholas was a
very sorry figure, except IN his own
estimation He thought ne was opposing
hs near and clever relative, Wilhelm,
while in fact he was being used hy the
latter who knew how q avail himself OF
the many weak traits IN Nicholas charac-
ter while making him believe that BY
cooperating the two were working for a
world Of peace Had Wiihnlm~ scheme
succeeded continual Europe might have
beet. at pCaCc for q certain period IN
Inundated or pohced hy German gtu larmcs
and other methods.
BETRAYAL Nor DELIBERATE.
Nicholas did not deliberately betray
Russia. either icforc or during he present
war He did not think Of Russia Russia
meant nothing y hIm except as the
territorial support of his dynasty lie
did not have the ability or Intelligence
to see bevond his own self II stupidity
ii critical moments really amounts ~
treason. as many very convincingly argue.
then he was guilty ot hctrAying the Rus
sian people For many of the acts COM
mlttcd hv him can hc explained only a>
the result ol sheer stupidity
The writer recalls remark made to
him some 10 years ago by q prominent
Russian. This man said quite frankly
that the Tar did rct have the ability q
Intellect 10 fill an important position.
lie was commonly referred TO lis the
Little Colonel
Ilke all weak and ircapa! u men Who
throueh accident have fallen ,uto position,
| of responsibility, and also reallzc thor
weakness ard incapaciiN Nicholas con
staH+ly rcScrfcd to the mere show Of
strc1 9Th Having The unlimited power of
an a4tocrat hc could generally carry
tho dav though carh time with greater
. difficulty often his decisions were.
clcariS dlctated t'y personal plque, whore
. tc had made a snap judgment. 70 which
his attention had been called hy the more
capai lc and honest ot hls ministers
/ The result had been the dismissal IF the
honest and really loyal seryit,r and q
stubborn adherence u the policy that
mad been questioned.
NICHOLAS IMPOSSIBLE MAsTER.
Nicholas was q difficult master under
! whom 20 serve. and many 81 Russia
recent statesmen became dI>crcdItcd py
their attempts to serve under him. irving
al the same time to serve tho bc>t interests
Of their country The most outstanding
example Of TINS was probably Count
Witte. He was looked upon by many
as a strong pro-Cerman even after the
/ outbreak OF the war The explanation
would seem TO be that Count Wtte
made frantic efforts, during his lon6
official career, 10 block the game Of the
Kaiser who was constantly working
his weak relative Wilhelm catered to
Nicholas vanity, but always was able
10 take advantage Of his stupidity
/ he recent book hv one OF the most
competent authorities on Russia and
eastern European affairs, the Eclipse Of
Russia hy DR.. i. J. Dillon, IS iii part
the memoirs cf Count Witte. as dictated
70 Dr. Dillon during their close and in
innate friendship ard common efforts
Here one finds the above explanation
Of many Of Count Whites acts and
policies.
NO SENSE OF GRATITUDE.
Nicholas apparently had no sense Of
gratitude, At one time a Russian friend
was offered a ministry under the 0 d
regime lie told the writer frankly why
he refused, saying that ne could not
serve under man who would turn on q
/ most loyal servant, and kick him out
without moment notice Count WIttc
again Was one of the most prominent
examples Of how the former Tar treated
those who tired 10 work 9Ith him. for
the good Of the country lie incurred the
hatred Of the Tar, and was pushed aside
some I3 years ago, though all recognized
IN him one Of Russia most capable
administrators
The famous Trepof, the Watchdog
Of the former Tar, whatever may have
been his political record, was one of the
most faithful Of the monarchs servants
He was, III tact, a mere servant Of the
sovereign StolypIn, the Russian Prime
Minister from 1906 to 1911 was shot ia a
kiey Theater, in the presence Of the Tar
The latter had to be told By one of the
bolder Of his entolTage that he should
visit the man at his hospital The Tar
made q hurried call, and then ordered
that the program Of festivities in which
be was participating be continued
OPENLY INsULTED TIE DUMA.
Wnen the third Duma had completed
its fVe-year term, il w3s about to adjourn
without any expression Of approval
from the sovereign. 1t had to petition for
an audience The writer was in the Duma
lobby later that afternoon when the
deputies returned from the palace One
man. prominent conservative, said to
him: 1t would be charitable TO say that
he was drunk when he received as after
his luncheon. For his manner and remarks
were an insult 10 the Duma is an in
stitution, and to some Of US q direct, and
We believe deliberate personal insult +"
In the autumn Of 1915 the writer
visited the Russian front The former
Tar was then Commander-in-ch 1t
happened that be had just left for Pet
rograd when the writer arrived at head