A ROMANOFF TRAITOR

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 485, 5 July 1890, Page 6

A ROMANOFF TRAITOR

Poet, Nihilist, and Cousin of the Czar. The Nihilistic escapades of the Grand Duke Constantine Constantinovitch form the most exasperating episode of the reign of the present Czar. They are sufficiently serious in a political way to disturb the Government very greatly. They show that Alexander 111. cannot depend even upon his own near kinsman for loyal support, and they have a highly demoralising effect upon the whole aristocracy, which has hitherto been, of course, the foundation of conservatism. It was the late Count Tolstoi, the reaebionery Minister of the Interior, who declared that tho importance of a man’s deeds was magnified in equal ratio to the cube of his social elevation. Nor was this an extravagant expression ; at least in Russia, The treason of a dozen colonels in the army or of a thousand students in the universities would not bo for a moment comparable in disastrous effects to the disloyalty of a cousin of the Czar. But The YVrath which Alexander 111. now feels has another cause than this ; just as the treason of Consbantine Constantinovitch has another inspiration than a mere love for the people and desire for their emancipation. It is even to be doubted if the Grand Duke cherishes these latter sentiments at all save as a means to an end. His treason has its origin in a bitter personal enmity between him and the Emperor, an enmity which has frequently been manifested hitherto with troublous results, and which dates back to the boyhood of the fathers of the Duke and the Czar. It is a curious and romantic story, resembling more the legends of the feudal ages than the matter of-fact record of the nineteenth century. Constantine Constantinovitch is, as his name indicates, a son ot Constantine Nicolaevitch, and brother of Alexander 11., and son of the Czar Nicolas. Alexander was the eldest son of Nicolas, but was born before Nicolas became heir apparent to the throne. Soon after Alexander’s birth, however, Constantine Pavlovitch, brother of Alexander 1., abdicated his rights as heir apparent in favour of Nicolas, and the latter thus became heir apparent and Afterwards Czar. And it was after . this abdication of Constantine Pavlovitch that Constantine Nicolaevitch was born. Although, therefore, Constantine was the second son of Nicolas, he was his firstborn after he became heir apparent, and this fact, in the eyes of Constantine himself and many of his friends, gave him claims to the succession superior to those of his elder brother Alexander. Czar Nicolas thought differently, and designated Alexander as Czarevitch, and the latter became Emperor, as Alexander 11. But Constantine never abandoned his ambition to become Czar, nor his enmity towards the elder brother who had, as he thought, robbed him of his rights. Even during his father’s reign he showed hi.s disaffection by giving sympathy and aid to the Polish insurrection of 1853-54, and he even planned to establish himself at Warsaw as King or Czar, of Poland should the rebellion prove successful. On coming to the throne Alexander 11. forgave and sought to conciliate his brother, whose great intellectual gifts and genius for statesmanship he fully recognised. He even went 60 far as to make him

President of the Council of State. Bub in time it became evident that Constantine was using his rank and office to undermine the authority of the Czar, whereupon the latter, largely, it is said, at the suggestion of his son, the present Czar, removed him from office, and exiled him to his estates at Orianda, in the Crimea, near tho Imperial seat of Livadia. Since the accession of Alexander 111. this banish- . ment has been made stricter than ever. Tho estate of Orianda is largely planted with vineyards, and Constantine has for years apparently devoted himself to the peaceful pursuits of a wine-maker. Ho has five children, cousins of the Czar. The eldest of these is Nicolas, of whom more anon. The second is the beautiful Grand Duchess Olga, now Queen of Greece. The third is the Grand Duchess Vera, widow of Eugene, Duke of Wurtemburg. The fourth is the present traitor, Grand Duke Constantine Constantinovitch, who is 32 years old, is married to Princess Elizabeth of Saxe-Altenbourg, and has two children. And the fifth is tho Grand Duke Demetrius, or Dimitry. This young Constantino inherits all his father’s intellectual ability and political ambition. Some years ago he won High Rank as a Poet through the publication of his verses i” Katkoff’s review', the ‘ Russi Viestnik.’ Now, however, his writings are so openly treasonable and so violent in their hostility to tho Government that an,y paper publishing them would be at once suppressed, and its editor sent to Siberia for the rest of his days. Accordingly the Grand Duke prints them himself and circulates.them privately, though widely. Some time ago his doings were reported to the Czar, who was furiously angry and actually threatened him with deportation to Siberia. This threat was nob fulfilled, however, nor is it likely ever to be, for the reason that young Constantine is a hopeless sufferer from consumption, and exile to Siberia would be his death-warrant. The Czar, however, is to-day reported to have said: ‘We will send him to his brother, who seems to be doing very well. Perhaps it will have an equally good effect upon him.” The’ brother here referred to is Nicolas Constantinovitch, eldest son of the elder Grand Duke Constantine, Some years ago Nicolas, a man of extraordinary talents, by tho way, became desperately enamoured of A Beautiful American Adventuress, who had a marvellous faculty for spending money. She soon ran through with all his available means, and still clamoured for more. Fearing that she would torsake him unless he supplied her demands, Nicojas in his desperation stole some valuable jewels which his mother, to whom they belonged, had used to decorate the altar in the chapel of the palace. This act was at once discovered and proved fatal to Nicolas’ career in Russia, since it amounted to both larceny and sacrilege. The Czar summarily deprived him of his titles and rights, and exiled him for life to Turkestan. Harsh as this fate was, it proved a good thing for Nicolas. Taking the name of Nicolas Romanoff, he settled in Turkestan and devoted himself to business. He acquired large tracts of desert land, and by means of artificial irrigation transformed them into the most fertile fields. He built a laree silk factory, which is now doing a great and profitable business, and he has so identified himself with the building of irrigation canals and the promotion of other public works as to be regarded with unbounded esteem and affection by all the country. It is altogether probable that his brother Constantine will presently be sent to join him there. Turkestan is a poor place for Nihilism, but a good place for consumptives.