SECRET OF RASPUTIN

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1927, Page 4

SECRET OF RASPUTIN

nr.UA I'MJESI DENT’S MEMOIRS. LONDON, March 1. In a striking book " The Reign of Rasputin,” published to-day, the late M. Rodzianko, the last president ol tlie Russian Duma, gives, with all the authority of one who knows the lull truth, the inner history of Rasputin's ascendancy over the last Russian Empress and of the catastrophe which befell Russia. It is a narrative the more pitiful because M. Rodzianko acquits the Empress of treachery to Russia and says of the Czar: " Skill less lias anyone the right to speak of ‘ treason ’ to the Allied cause on the part of the Emperor Nicholas 11. Ho sealed his loyalty to his pledge by dying a martyr’s death.” The picture which he paints of Rasputin is a revolting one: " The mere fact of the close proximity to the Emperors throne of a debauched and immoral peasant, the fame of who.-o disgusting adventures had spread far and wide, was in itsell sufficient to undermine and uproot all the respect and reverence due to the Crown.” The Czar was weak and the Czarina deaf to all Winnings. M. Rodzianko saw the Dowager Empress and laid before her the damning evidence against Rasputin which lie had collected. She said sadly to him: “ i hear that you intend to speak to the Emperor about Rasputin. Do not do so. Unfortunately he will not believe you, and it will cause him much pain. He is so pure of heart that he does not believe in evil.” THE CZAR WARNED. Yet M. Rodzianko. persisted; he obtained an aiidience with the Czar and read to him letters and depositions, '

winding up with this entreaty: ■■ I implore you to banish this villainous rogue, and sit dispel the tears which assail those who are loyal to the Throne." '1 ho Czar thanked him and told him that he had acted as “an honourable t man and a loyal subject.’"—but Rasputin was soon hack, though he was sent away lor a time. At a State service in honour <d' the dynasty, lie placed himself in front of the seats reserved for the Duma, ami M. Rodzianko had a fierce encounter with him before he could he expelled. “ Rasputin laced me and seemed to run over me with his eyes; first niy 1 face, then in the region of the hear!, ’ then again lie stared me in the eyes. I This lasted for several moments. Peri sonal'y I had never yielded to hypnoI tie suggestion, of which 1 had had frei quent experience. Yet here 1 felt, myself confronted by a* unknown power of tremendous force.’’ ■ The Russian statesmen Stulypin, who || had ail equal loathing for Rasputin, j was convinced that ■“ the man possess- | ed great hypnotic power." which was one of the secrets of his evil influence. ! RKVOUTIOX IMMINENT. I The close of those memoirs show? that on the eve of the revolution the unhappy Otar’s weakness had brought the army to the very verge of revolt. General Krymoff came hack from the front and told a large number of members ol the Duma “The spirit of the army i- such that the news of a coup d'etat would be welcomed with joy. A revolution is imminent- and. we at Dip front feel it ! to be so. The Emperor attaches more weight to his wife's nefarious influence - than to all honest words of warning. There is no time to lose.” About file same time one of the grand duchesses declared to Af. Rodzinnko : 1 ■' Some attempt must he made. The Duma must do something. . . She must be annihilated.” “ Who? ” The Empress.” And so Russia and her dynasty passed down the paths of death to the ruin which our eyes can see. This is a moving book and one which merits close study.