The Washington times., 1921-10-30
NICHOLAS DOWNFALL
AMIDST REVOLT MEANT
NEW LIFE TO GERMANY
Peasants Did Not Realize That Strong Central
Power Behind Vast Armies Was Only Thing
That Would Keep Back TeutOn ArmieS-Re-
forms Were Sought During Wartime.

eral AleIief TO place the Gar under
arrest. They were under order TO
take him 10 Tsarkoie.Selo.
That evening the journey started.
Before leaving general headquar.
ters Nicholas III took leave OF the
troops In an order OF the day. In
which the following expressions OF
loyalty and exhortation that they
obey the provisional government
were clearly stated.
80 This unexampled war
must be conducted to a victorious
conclusion. Whoever dreams OF
peace and desires II In this moment
is traitor to his country and delivers
il to the enemy.
Fulfill your duty. protect our
dear and glorious country, submit
to the provisional government.
obey your chiefs. and remember
that any weakening in the service
only aids the enemy"
NOBLE, BUT FEEBLE.
Gifted by remarkable personal
qualities, the emperor was the in
carnation OF the most noble and
chivalrous traits of = the Russian
character; but he was feeble. Per
fectly loyal. he remained a slave
TO a word of honor. His fidelity
to the allies. which probably caused
his death, proved that. He scorned
lizIox~u,;o nro,adpra He WAS NM
made for the struggle; he was
broken by events.
Nicholas was modest and timid;
he doubted himself too much-the
cause of all his misfortune. His
first move was most often just.
He sought the counsels OF men
he believed more competent than
himself. He hesitated between their
divided opinions and finished often
by adopting those most contrary
to his own real convictions.
Tho empress, knowing well the
irresoIute character of her husband,
believed 1t her sacred duty to come
to his aid. Her influence on the
emperor was very great and almost
always unlucky. She made politics
a question Of sentiment and person
alities, allowing herself to be guided
too often by her sympathies and
antipathies. or by those Of her en-.
tourage.
EMPRESS MISTAKES.
OF an impulsive nature. the en-
nress was subject to infatuations
which caused her to place most i'm
plicit confidence in those she sin
cerely believed were entirely devoted
to the country and dynasty. These
people often were most unscrupu-
lous.
II Nicholas did not always sue
ceed in acting Justly 1t was the
fault of his advisers. who did every
thing possible to hide from him the
truth and to isolate him from his
people. All his initiative broke
against the passive resistance Of an
all powerful bureaucracy or was
bungled knowingly by those to
whom he entrusted the execution of
any task.
The emperor believed personal
initiative only a little thing COM
pared to the superior forces which
direct the course of events. This
mystical resignation is one Of the
most characteristic traits Of the
Russian nature.
The emperor would have liked to
work for the good of his country
and the amelioration of the condi.
ton of the peasants, but he was
misguided and did not find the
means to do so. He was well
guarded by those whose interest It
was to see that he succeeded In
nothing.
CZAREvITCH AGAIN STRICKEN.
While these exciting events were
taking place in Petrograd and at
the front the empress was suffering
the most severe nerve.racking ex.
periences at Tsarkoie-Selo. Added
to her fears on account of the politi-
cal situation was the anxiety for
the life Of Alexis. who was danger.
ously ILL., Three Of the grand
duchesses had fallen sick, and Marie
was the only one who could give
her distracted mother any help.
News Of the growth OF the agita.
ton and the open revolution ar.
rived daily at Tsarkoie-Selo, begin.
ming with March 10.
Her majesty broke her customary
rule and spoke to me OF political
events, saying that Protopof was ac-
cusing the Socialists OF attempting
by an active campaign of propa.
ganda near the railroads to keep
supplies from the city in order to
incite the people to revolution.
News that the soldiers had sided
with the revolutionists In Petrograd
anA ,AoN nouoral aanotttparu Cnn.