The Washington times., 1921-10-23

hNoAA~toa w eao'h >~s'~N~
sions which the Duma asked. He
believed the moment badly chosen
and that Il was dangerous to attempt
reforms In the midst Of such tre-
held personally to his sutocratic pre-
negatives. He was more liberal than
the Empress and was simplicity and
modesty itself. But he feared re-
percussion from any radical changes
at any time.
TRUTH KEPT FROM CZAR.
When he declared In February
that he was ''happy to be In the
midst of the representatives Of his
people" the Emperor had sincerely
expressed his ideas. In urging them
to unite all their efforts for the
good of the country. in the critical
hour through which 1t is now pass
ing" he called on them to forget
their political dissension in order to
gain one thing-Victory!
Now that political dissension was
growing. why did he not try to re-
gain the confidence Of the Duma?
1t was simply because the officials
who surrounded him kept back the
information which would make clear
the read situation in the country.
The Emperor was caught in the
meshes of the Russian bureaucracy.
Ansered by the violence Of the
discussions In the Duma. and in
furiated by the false information of
those who abused his confidence.
the Gar believed the Dumas oppo-
sition was the result Of a revolu-
tionary conspiracy. Listening to
bad counsel. he imagined he could
re-establish his authority by meas
ures which he ought to have seen
would only increase the general
discomfort.
RASPUTIN A TARGET.
Discontinued politicians, in the
attempt to force reform, directed
all their criticism against the
Czarina. The worst scandals re-
garding her began to circulate and
find credence in even those circles
formerly loyal to her. The presence
Of Rasputin at court increased their
fury and gave q weapon to the
opposition which seriously weaken
ed the prestige of the sovereigns.
The private life Of the Empress
was maligned without pity. They
openly accused her Of being vio-
lently pro-German and a serious
menace to the nation. Although
the word treason" was not yet on
their lips 1t was clear that many
thought she was capable Of betray.
ing Russia to Germany-for was
she not a German princess?
German propaganda had failed in
all its efforts to cause the fall OF
the Car. When this was seen they
turned their attention to the EN-.
press. The vile campaign Of defa-
nation which they conducted pro-
duced noticeable effects in a short
time. They hoped to strike at
Nicholas by bringing his wife into
disrepute with the people.
EMPRESS HATED GERMANS.
The Empress was aware of the
conspiracy against her and she
suffered terribly at the great
injustice which was committed. In
reality she hated Germans 90 much
that In her court she never spoke
anything but French or English to
her family or those who understood
these languages. She spoke Rus
sian TO Others But In my thir
teen years residence with the i'm
perial family II never happened
that ] heard any Of the members
use German unless they were forced
TO do so rs . matter Of courtesy
such ss to German guests 1t re-
ceptions.
The Empress had accepted her
new country as she had accepted
her new religion-with all her soul.
She was Russian In sentiment as
she was orthodox in her beliefs.
The defeat OF Rumania In the
summer of 1915 caused a tremen-
dous political upheavsl in the Rus
sian capital, for many Russian
statesmen had been instrumental in
getting Rumania TO throw in its for.
tunes with the allied cause.
Some thoroughly patriotic Russian
ministers were removed from office
and their places taken by others who
did not have the confidence of the
public.
HAND AGAIN.
Some OF these men were consid-
Bidered pro-German and were ap.
pointed, largely through Rasputin's
influence.
The political atmosphere became
more and more menacing. The dis
,ontent was so general that de-
'pite strict censorship the press be-
gan TO give expression to It openly.
There was one point on which all
groups agreed-Rasputin must be
'endered impotent In political AZ.