THE CZAREVITCH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 61, 5 November 1912, Page 6

THE CZAREVITCH.

SERIOUSLY ILL FROM ANEMIA. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) (Received 8.10 a.m.) St. Petersburg, November 4. The official statement of the Czarevitch’s illness shows that it is serious. He is suffering from anemia caused by an effusion of blood from an abdominal cavity as, the result of jumping into a boat early in September.

THE HOPE OF THE ROMANOFFS

The illness of the Czarevitch is naturally a source of serious apprehension to the'Court and the Imperial'party in Russia. For it is generally oelieved that if the Throne were loft without a male heir, the menace of revolution would once more become imminent. The Czar has naturally been always ailxious to secure the succession, and ■ it was well known that Ids four daughters were, politically speaking, a grievous disappointment to 'him. In fact, before the Czarevitch was horn it was a matter of general comment that the Czarina was, unpopular in Russia, and that she seemed to have lost standing in the Court itself. The widespread joy that greeted the advent of the Czarevitch \yas reflected in the changed attitude of the nobles and the people toward the Czarina; and it is not too much to say that on no princeling of any European royal house have so many hopes and fears boon centred as upon this youthful heir to the Romanoff crown. Failing-a male heir, the throne of the Czars has passed on several occasions to the female line, and the names of Catherine and Elizabeth are a reminder that princesses of:the house of Peter the Great have more than once justified their claim to royalty. But even if there were no constitutional obstacle to female succession. it is extremely difficult to believe that the Russian sceptre will ever be Jcfb undisturbed in a wonuyi’s hands again, Afi to other male heirs, the Grand Dukes are one and all reactionaries and extremely unpopular; and several of them have already been marked out for assassination by the. revolutionaries. And the prospect thus suggested brings its back again atones to a consideration that the civilised world has not contemplated very seriously of late—the certainty that sooner or later the revolutionaries in Russia must achieve their end. It is true that the revolt at Moscow and other centres after the close of the great war was futile, and that it was put down with exemplary-severity. But great national movements of this kind are nob to be crushed by,any tyranny, however merciless, and in the coiirsc of time we may expect the Revolutiontion to blaze out again into renewed Vigour. The last attempt at a rising failed because the army as a whole was still loyal to the Czar, But if Nicholas n. were to die without male heirs, we can hardly doubt that one of the chief elements in Russian loyalty would havedisappeared for ever. This is the secret of the immense importance •attached to the young Czarevitch’s tenure of life, not only in Russia, but all over the Continent, and, as a contemporary observes, it is quite sufficient to explain the widespread anxiety now displayed over his illness and the fervent hopes expressed throughout Europe for his speedy recovery.