GRAND DUKE VLADIMIR.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12497, 25 March 1909, Page 4

GRAND DUKE VLADIMIR.

A CHARACTER SKETCH. The following character sketch of the Grand Duke Vladimir, whose death was announced in our cablegrams recently, appeared in the London "Times" : — "An evil legend has attached itself to the Grand Duke Vladimir. Some of the Berlin and London papers have declared him to be the soul of a 'Grand D.veal party,' a ]3arty which recommends the BUppre'ssioii of dißturbsineeSj not by .wise reforms carried through IvitH a strong hand, but only by the display of extreme force. With narrow-minded and unintelligent .brutality — so they say— did the grand Duke carry out his measure's .of .rejpressipni Not only tho really well . informe'a, but eveW map who is not entirely out or touch with political affairs, recognises the stories thus disseminated to be absolutely contrary to the truth. There is no question of a 'Grand Ducal party.' Tho existence of such a party assumes a solidity of the nieinberß ef. the Imperial House, which in fact doe's n6t exist. It is: true that isolated members of the Imperial family have exercised an influence, as for instance the late Grand. Duke Serge. But, as has been already said, there can be no question of the Grand Dukes as a more or less close corporation with a Common tendency and clearly recognised objects. The assertion that the Grand _ Duke Vladimir plays a leading part in this non-existent part or clique* shows a still greater ignorance of existing conditions. Everybody here knows that for more than ten y§ars the Grand Duke has taken no part in public affairs,and that he even occupies an isolated position in the Imperial family, which excludes the possibility of his exercising an influence, especially an occult pne. So much is clear even to a distant observer. But those who have the opportunity of approaching the Grand Duke more closely know that his whole: character is as incompatible with the 'esprit frondeur' as with ,th 6 exercise of any occult Machiavellian influence whatever ; The latter is especially in contradiction with his fundamental character, and the outward brusfiuSrie which oh tlife first impression so distinguishes him. Any one who" Has the opportunity of seeing him at close quarters in his retirement recognises at once, under the appearance of easy-going carelessness, an earnest nature and an intelligent view of life, strengthened by serious reading, far different from the spiteful Caricature". M'hiali has. been.. plit in circulation. The son aiid brothers of Russian Emperors' cannot, indeed; be a Liberal after the heart of the Progressives of Berlin; but one thing is certain, the Grand Duke has a juster comprehension of the requirements of thetime than many a liberalising Russian statesman posseses. Ho recognises that tlr eworship of tho idol of absolutism" is a worse foe of the Monarchy than anarchy itself, and that, if tlte Rusians of the t twentieth century is to stand out victorious and respected in the'world-struggle of peoples and States, the foundation Ot its existence as 'a State and a nation must undergo a thorough and. fearless test. As regard's January 2S}.. he Grand Duke Vladimir had nothing to do with : the events on that unlucky day. not indeed because he had sought to avoid responsibility, birb because ■ his" proposal to concentrate in his own hand all preventive. as well as all repressive afetidii itfcJt wjth' ho approval. -Had things been otherwise, judgment and purpose would have been clearer and the tale of victims smaller."