The Tzar of all the Russias.

Manawatu Herald, 15 March 1892, Page 3

The Tzar of all the Russias.

The character sketch in the Review of fteviews for January, is Alexander 111. It will be interesting to quote the opposite view which Mr Stead takes to the popular opinion - prevailing \ about this Monarch. I brought back from Russia not a sense of the omnipotence of the Tzar but the very reverse. The Tzar, as he "would b& the very first to confess, is often as powerless to effect reforms and check abuses as he is to modify the rigour of the Russian winter, or arrest the advance of the Rus'ian influenza. There is no^oubt as to the Tzar's desire to extirpate what he considers to be the evils which afflict his country. But as the Emperor is so powerless to effect the objects upon which is heart is Bet, is it to be -wondered at that he is impotent to execute reforms the need of which are much more dearly felt by Western Europeans than by the Russians ? . H it were put to the vote his subjects, oy overwhelming majority, would prefer to have the Tzar as he is. In that sense he is a democratic , sovereign. The one idea of his subjects is that if anything goes wrong it is because the Tzar has too little power, not because he has too much. Alexander 111, although a million of men would march at his bidding, is obstinately, resolutely, fanatically peaceful. He has a horror of war. If Russia and France have made friends publicly, it is in order that the Tzar may have an inside veto upon all French designs of war. Alexand 111 is his owu Foreign Minister, M. de Giers having declared that in everything he had done he only represented the Emperor. The Tzar is perfectly idolised by his family, and all those who serve him in any way are overflowing in prai c of his kindly, unassuming disposition. A. devoted husband, whom not even his worst enemies have ever accused of a single fault against his wife, he is a most affection te father, the companion and jfriend of his boys. Few more pleasant scenes were described to! Vl J&tfiog my .stay in Russia than 1

that of the Tzar of All the Russias officiating as master of the children's revels in the happy family party that assembled last autumn at Copenhagen, superintending all their games and participating in all their boyish sport. There was no romp so great as he. There were the English children, and the Greeks, and hia own ; and a royal time they seem to have had of it. To these Princes and Princesses his Imperial Majesty was merely " Uncle Sasha," and it was " Uncle Sasha ! Uncle Sasha!" all over the place. Sometimes he would stand up in the. midst of the merry throng and challenge the youngsters to pull him 2 own . One after another. t^ en altogether, the beyj o J or r p^cea an ,j Princesses, grandchildren of the King of Denmark, would wrestle with the Tzar and try to throw him over. But although the struggle lasted until the whole party streamed with perspiration, and the gardens rang with merry laughter, tbe Emperor never was thrown. The Greek Princes are as sons of Anak, but the Tzar is as Hercules for strength and muscle, and "Uncle Sasha" always stood his ground.