Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Alexander II, Gear Of Russia, was
assassinated in st. Petersburg on SUM
Assassination Of 6y bombs aST thrown 70 4sa 81
A.. r-ar NihilistS The Star
the OzaH. OF March IA csn-
tanned the following regarding the
tragedy, with no thought, Of course
that the American people would, within
four months, be shocked by the Ghoot-
ing OF the President Of the United
"The Russian Nihnists have finally
accomplished the object which they
evidently regarded as Of prime inn
portauce in carrying out their designs
The assassination OF the Gar. The
secret organization, whose mysterious
work seemed TO be performed by tns
visible hands; has directed It's energies
against the life of this one man Tor
years past, as though he alone stood
between it and the achievement Of its
purposes with regard to hberalizing the
government. The failure Of one plan Of
assassination had no disccuraging effect
upon the Nihilists; repeated failures
seemed only to encourage successive at
temptS, until, at last, success has been
attained in q msss cowardly and brutal
manner.
sCiviIization ahhors assassination,
and the cruel manner Of the Cars tax
ing OF viii create throughout the world
feeling Of disgust not only for the
men who planned and executed the
deed, but also for the cause they repre-
sent. The murdered Emperor had, from
the very beginning Of his reign, dis
played regard for his subjects and q
desire to promote their interests which
had not marked any Of his predecessors.
He did not conflne his benevolent pur-
poses to mere theory, but early COM
menced to put them In practice. he
understood the condition Of Russia, and
set about to improve 1t. He undertook
and accomplished reforms which ar
rayed against him most Of the nobility
Of the land, for the reason that these
reforms were all for the benef1t OF the
common people. a
"E1is one act Of emancipating $4,000
600 Serfs ought, at least, to have Gre.
ated within the bosoms Of the lower
orders of the people q feeling Of grati-
tude that would have prevented them
from joining in the movement which
had for its chief object the assassina-'
ton Of the Emperor, but evidently 1t
did not as nihilism, while 1t COM
prises some Of the better classes Of Rus
sian subjects, numbers its Thousands
among the poorer classes.
1.-THE breaking UP Of different despotic,
features Of government, which his
father had established, by Alexander u,
as well as numerous other reform works
Of his, are facts Of record and Of history
which are everywhere known. His eff
fort, in 1855, to give to Russia con-
stitution and q parliamentary form Of
government Is an act deserving special
mention now, as its failure probably,
more than any other thing, led to the
compact and well disciplined organiza-
ton Of the Nihilists, which finally de-
stroyed the Car.
were not then. and are not now, fit for
q representative form OF government.
They had existed for ages under the
most despotic government, where there
was no chance for enlightenment and
education. The liberation OF the serfs
increased this class Of people, and they
could be only educated and made at for
partial self government by degrees.
what effect the assassination Of the
Gar will have upon the government
remains to be seen. 1t may determine
the new Emperor TO employ the ur-
limited power he has in reaching down
and crushing out nihtlism or he may
deem 1t the part Of wisdom to com
promise by granting mere liberty to ais
subjects. The efforts OF the people Of
Russia to obtain recognition as men
and some freedom as subjects haze
been accorded no little sympathy m
this country. but the assassination wz1,
for the time beng at least, cause .
decided rev1lsion in that feeling
Apropos Of the assassination Of Alex ,
ander III, The Star, in its issue Of
March 10, 1881, notes "the warm
friendship, amounting really to affec-
ton, which existed between the late
Car and Emperor William Of Germany
and was an important factor In the
maintenance Of peace In Europe" II -
to recall how the granosone
Of those two monarchs. Nicholas II OF
Russia and William II Of Germany
cousins, were intimate and affectionate
friends until q breach occurred IN their
and political relations, which
led to the world catastrophe Of 1911:
ed for Liberal support. If an election
comes In the present circiln1st anceaf
BaldWin,s victory IS assured.