THE NEW CZAR.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 237, 27 May 1881, Page 2

THE NEW CZAR.

The following is from an American who had personally known the new Emperor and had many opportunities to study his character and capacity : —Alexander I IT. is just 30 years old, and has been thoroughly trained for his present post Russian ideas. Jn tlie.se ideas the iir.st essentia! is military knowledge, and he has been in active, service in the army from his boyhood. Before the late war lie had already attained the rank of full general of infantry and the command of the corps of the Guard, a picked bodo of troops numbering about 53,000 men of all arms. He was in active service throughout the whole of the eampiign on the Danube, and for this purpose he temporarily gave up the command of the Guard and took command of two corps of the line, the 12th and 13th, to whom was entrusted tiie task of protecting the left flank of the army against any sorties from the vicinity of the fortresses of Rust-clink and Razgrad. In this way it happened that ho was not present at the battles about Plevna nor the passage of the Balkans, but lie had his full measure of hard lighting in a series of battles and combats, principal among which were Karalmssankivi, Ablava, Metclika, and Tristcnik. His lines were too extended in the early part of the .summer, ami after the first two battles, in which he was opposed by a largely superior force of Turks under Mohcmit Aii, he was obliged ro fall hack, and reduce his front, lie remained always afterward on the defensive, in strict it-**-*!-anec with his instructions, and the plan of the campaign, but in tiie last two battles, which took place in November, 1577, lie signally defeated Millsiinan Dasha, who lia*l succeeded Melicinit Ali, and there was no further fighting in his front. He entered Rmst'-lmk in February, and immediately afterwards returned to Rtisia, turning over his command to General Todleben. civn. FCNcnoxs The importance of his command and its achievements have been overlooked in comparison with the bloodier battles about Plevna but had Mehe ni; Ali broken through his lines and reached the Zimnit/a Bridge the safety of the whole Russian army would’have been seriously compromised, if not wholly destroyed. On returning to Russia he resumed his command of the Guard, but about a year since he was promoted in the place of his uncle, Field Marshal the Grand Duke Nicholas, to tiie most important military command in the Empire —nxmeiy, that of all tiie troops in tiie military circumscription or dop.arjinenfc of.St. Petersburg. Tin's command lie still retained when bis father was killed. The civil positions which lie has held have been equally high and important. The Czar being the whole government, there is neither .a responsible Ministry nor legislative body in Rn.sia, but there are two bodies which have as important functions as are possible in an autocratic government.

These arc the Grand Council of the Empire—a sort of ndvisary body to the Emperor, of which the Grind Duke Constanliir- is pre.-idnit, and all the important gov.mors. Ministers and commanders arc membt-is, thirty-eight in all : and the Committee of Ministers, of which Count Jguatief is president, and Gortscliakoif, Milutin Vaiouieff, Tolstoi, Greig, and tiie other heads of the ministry are members.

AS A min isti:i:. lii the first body, the pvesont Emperor lias sat as senior member under the Presi(lent, and in the second as a .Minister without a portfolio. The proceedings of -hese bodies are not made public, and what part the individual members have taken in them are only known by hearsay. But rumour lias alwavs ascribed to the ionrier Czarevitch an active and most obstinate part in all their deliberations. Ihe principal value of his services in such positions is, however the experience which it has given him of seeing tiie actual workings of the Govcrnnieiit (>f which he was to be and how is, the head and centre. Ofsemi-oflieial positions he has held a great many, the most important being the presidency of the committee which had charge of the volunteer lleet. 'ldle vessels composing this fleet were purchased or built by fundscoiitributed by private subscription, and they were intended to be used ms cruisers to prey upon English commerce, at a time when it was thought that a war with England was inevitable. His active and hearty support of this measure added not a little to his popularity with the national party, who were disposed to carry on Hie. struggle in defence of the Treaty of Han Sic fa no against allopposers. What his own feelings were in regard to this treaty, or itssucei ssor framed at Merlin, it is impossible to state with accuracy. It is probable, however, that he was not so cool-headed as his father and Prince Gortseliakofl’. who had the advantage of him in years and experience. It is still more probable that he had but little sympathy with the party of trimmers headed by Count Rchouvalofl'. Ilis animosity, or at least indifference, to tiio Gormans, with whom his father maintained such intimatcniid cordial relations throughout hia lifetime, is a matter of common report and belief all over the world. It is impossible to quote absolute statements of faeV:n support of this opinion, but the opinion exists in Russia fully as much as elsewhere. In a country where the government is known only by its accomplished facts and does not make its opinions public, we can judge of the character of its ruling men only hy these facts. All that can, therefore, be positively aflirmcd of the new Emperor is that lie has the best of military educations, lias seen twenty years ! of military service, and has held high and successful command throughout one of the great modern wars : in civil affairs he has held positions which brought no direct responsibility but gave him opportunities for advice, discussion, and an intimate knowledge of the conduct of affairs. In the opinion of his people lie is a Russian to the core personally insympathy with Slavic and national aspirations, though otiieially obliged to repress bis feelings, antagonistic to Herman and foreign influence, fully alive to the wants of his people, and in full sympathy with them.

I'ERSOXAf. TRAITS. Jfis face lias none of that pathetic melancholy peculiar to his father's. His expression is active, keen, and somewhat and occasionally brusque, lie is not quite so tall as otl icr members of his family, being a little under six feet in height, but his frame is large, thick-set, and muscular. He is the jfirst Emperor since L’eter who lias married elsewhere than in Germany. Ilis wife comes from Denmark, and she is as much liked in Russia as her sister, the Princess of Wales, is in England. The two sisters resemble each other, not only in looks but in sweetness of character. His domestic life has hitherto been pure and wonderfully happy, and unless something happens to mar this we may look for a considerable change in the ideas of the Court on the subject of morals. The above constitutes about all that can lie predicted xvitli certainty about the man who is now suddenly called to the throne of the most absolute and most vast and populous of modern civilised countries. He is there for good or ill ; lie cannot be a nullity, but must perforce become a great figure in the history of bis times. What he will do and how liis reign will result time alone can tell.

Tin: (.7,A lIS POLICY. M, fliers, Russian Minister of foreign A Hairs, lias addressed the following circular, dated .March Hi, to the Russian representa'ives abroad:—“Mis Majesty the Emperor, on ascending the throne of his ancestors, assumes ns an inheritance the traditions consecrated hy time and their acts. Russia has now attained her full development. Feelings of jealousy and discontent are ei|ually foreign to her. The Kmperor will first give attention to the internal devclopemcnt of the State. The Emperor's foreign policy will he entirely pnuifio. Russia will remain faithful to her friends, reciprocate the friendliness of all the States, and act in common with other Governments in maintaining the general pe ce. Only the duty of protecting her honour or security may divert her from the work of internal development. The Emperor will endeavour to .stiengthen her power, advance her welfare, and secure her prosperity without detriment to others. These are the principles hy which the policy of the Emperor will invariably he guided. Tim Emperor charges you to bring these declarations to the knowledge of the Government to which you arc accredited, and to communicate this despatch to the Minister of Foreign A Hairs.” Great satisfaction is felt in Berlin at the tenor of the circular, as it is said to he strictly in conformity with tiie autograph letter of the rfzitr to the Emperor William. The idea of holding a European Congress for the expression of anarchical intrigues is again being ventilated in Berlin.