PALACE REVOLUTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12775, 27 January 1905, Page 4

PALACE REVOLUTIONS.

— -,',„ ,<»,.,■ The Tsar Nicholas has ceased for the time being to play any- part in the public life of Russia, his incompetence and worthlessness having now become lamentably evident. He appears to have practically abandoned the reins of authority into the hands of the most unscrupulous and reactionary of his advisers and is to bo pictured as cowering in some palatial prison, fearful of the storm which his misgovernment has provoked. It is upon just such occasions as these that palace revolutions have customarily affected the tenure of the throne in Russia, Turkey, Persia, and other autocracies. The strong-willed men who surround an incapable despot have never been troubled by any scruples as to the course to pursue when his incapacity becomes a danger to themselves or when circumstances kindle ambitious hope in the breast of some posI sible claimant to a vacant throne. I The dynastic history of Russia is a t history of palace revolutions, a tale of Tsars poisoned by their wives, smothered by their sons, stabbed by their brothers, or removed in some other Russian way by_those in whom they trusted. Very few Tsars, as very few Sultans and very few Shahs, have ever been supposed to die comfortably in. their beds, while suspicious circumstances have attended the deaths of several who have been formally treated as naturally deceased. It is this Russian custom which lies behind the danger hinted at in Germany of a palace movement involving the "more or less voluntary resignation of the Tsar." The Grand Dukes and the nobles would be untrue to all their traditions if these allowed the Tsar's life to endanger their power and place owing to his feebleness and vacillation. None can now' imagine that the Tsar has any sympathy with the popular movement, but his unstable character may more endanger the Tsarocracy than the conciliatory attitude of a stronger and more determined man. And if it would strengthen, the Court party to remove Nicholas and connive at the succession of Sergius or some other Grand Duke there would be no hesitation displayed in removing the one and establishing the other. In past emergencies Russia has been ruled for days in the name of dead men, and it has frequently been necessary for popular Tsars to show themselves to the people in order to refute reports that they had been murdered and that another was governing in their name. We must remember that when we talk of the Russian we do not talk of a civilised Government, buc one which is to the full a " despotism tempered by assassination " ;■'■"";