The Czar’s Diary.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XI, 13 September 1902, Page 644

The Czar’s Diary.

Apropos of the Czar’s extraordinary act in calling to private audience 200 of the most educated men in Russia to discuss social questions, it is asserted that the Czar has been for some months diligently studying Russian social questions. He has been reading most carefully all the chief Russian journals, noting down in a diary why So-and-so was condemned, and what was the evidence at the trial. Everything has been privately entered in the Czar’s secret diary, including articles with advanced views by Russian litterateurs, executions of political murderers, scraps of overheard conversations which shed a side-light on passing events. Besides the Russian journals, Nicholas 11. saw also those foreign newspapers which deal largely with Russian affairs. He has even read Anarchist journals such as the “Kolokol.” This journal, the title of which l means •‘lire Bell,” is printed in Geneva. Ten years ago it suspended publication, but at the beginning of this year it sprang into life again in a significant manner. The editor is a man named Lisehitz, who writes under the pseudonym of Grekoff. The Czar read everything with an, unbiassed view, determined to get at the root of the evil. Meanwhile, with the utmost attention, he perused a book published in Leipsic in the Russian language called “The New Russia.” by “X.*” This book is not a Nihilistic or Socialistic production, but deals with the social problems of Russia in a calm and comprehensive fashion. The text of the book is, “Make reforms in such and such a manner, and Russia will be the most powerful Government in the world!” The Czar found that “X ” was in many cases correct with his points, and he realised that the author’s help would be of great service to him in the carrying out of his project. Orders have been given, therefore, to ascertain the real name of the author, whereupon the Leipsic editor has promised to give the Czar “X’s!” address. after he has obtained the anonymous writer’s permission. It should be mentioned that the book had an immense circulation on the Continent among the Russian-speak-ing people, although, of course, it was forbidden in Russia itself. Thus the Czar’s secret diary grew day by day until it was completed, and then for the first time he communicated to the doubtless astonished Minister'’ his desire to speak privately to all the people whose names he had en-

tered in the diary. Another important and astonishing act of the Czar was to take the work of reading the petitions! out of the hands of the committee appointed for that purpose. The former president of the committee that read petitions, it

Her Imperial Majesty the Tsaritza of Russia is said to be the saddest woman in Europe, owing to successive disappointments in the birth of an heir to the throne. All her ehil-

interesting to note, was the murdered Sipiagin, who had the absolute power to reply to all petitions “in the name of the Czar.” About 10,000 a letters a day are received for the Czar, the bulk of them being appeals for help, the re-

dren have been girls, and owing to this the unfortunate Empress is becoming more and more unpopular with Russians. She has just given premature birth to another female

dt easing of wrongs fancied or reai, and memorials for pardon from condemned prisoners. Having taken this a work out of official hands, the Czar s next act was to appoint three young men—notin Government pay—to renu and report upon the letters.

child, and the disappointment in Russia is intense. Both the Tsar and the Tsaritza are said to be victims to acute melancholia owing to the lack of the longed-for heir.