The present Czar, Nicholas II, is a corrupt weakling, who is on the
throne by the law of heredity, against the will of his father. Morally
he is as bad as the Sultan; not so cruel yet, though he may develop
that in time, but fully as sensual and devoid of principle. I have had
it from good Russian authority that his life before his marriage was
so bad that it has rendered him entirely impotent. "Birds of a feather
flock together." No wonder he helps the Sultan. His political aims
and character are wholly selfish. He, too, like the German Emperor,
is continually exchanging presents with the Sultan. Here is a press
notice of Feb. 26, 1896:--"M. Nelidoff, the Russian Ambassador,
has presented to the Sultan a pair of jasper vases from the Czar,
together with an autograph letter from His Majesty thanking the Sultan
for the gifts sent to him." Not only so, but they have concluded an
alliance. Read the following dispatch of Jan. 23, 1896:--
"London, Jan. 23, 1896.--A dispatch to the Pall Mall Gazette
from Constantinople, dated yesterday, says that an offensive
and defensive alliance has been concluded between Russia and
Turkey. The Pall Mall Gazette correspondent adds that the treaty
was signed at Constantinople, and that the ratifications were
exchanged at St. Petersburg between Arifi Pasha and the Czar.
"The basis of the treaty is declared to be on the lines of the
Unkiarskelessi agreement of 1833, by which Turkey agreed, in the
event of Russia going to war, to close the Dardanelles to war-ships
of all nations. The Pall Mall Gazette's correspondent then says
the treaty will soon be abandoned, owing to the refusal of the
powers to recognize it. He also says that the French Ambassador,
M. Cambon, conferred with the Sultan yesterday, and that it is
probable France will be included in the new alliance.
"The Pall Mall Gazette says: 'We regard the news as true, and the
result of the treaty is that the Dardanelles is now the Southern
outpost of Russia, and Turkey is Russia's vassal. We presume the
British government will protest against the treaty for all it
is worth.
"'The information is plainly of the very gravest importance. The
first intimation reached us four days ago; but we withheld it
until the arrival of strong confirmation, which we received
this morning. This brings Russia into the Mediterranean with a
vengeance, and may necessitate the strengthening of our fleet in
those waters. Politically, the effect will be far greater. The
treaty means that Turkey has realized her own impotence against
disorders both from within and without, and has decided to throw
herself for safety into the arms of Russia. She is now Russia's
vassal, and Russia is entitled to dispatch troops to any part
of the Sultan's dominions whenever there is the least breach of
order--and when is there not?
"'We presume the arrangement will give the keenest satisfaction
to the Anglo-American section of our people. With them lies the
chief blame for the complete alienation of Turkey, though it must
be owned that it has been sedulously fostered by a long term of
weak policy at Constantinople.'"
For the present the Czar will do no more mischief, because he is
to have his coronation in May, and prefers to put on the smoothest
outside to every nation; but after that is over he will show his
hand. His father and his grandfather favored the Armenians in Russia,
and they prospered wonderfully, but this one proposes to persecute
them to please the Sultan. The two will join in a common policy
toward the unhappy race, till not less than a million are slain. The
Czar's motive is not love of the Sultan, whom he hates in spite of
their community of character; it is simply that he wishes to get
Constantinople peaceably if he can. The Sultan knows this quite well,
but he is too weak in military power, and too poor, and owes too large
an indemnity to the Czar to be able to help himself. He is compelled
to throw himself on the Czar for protection.
Will the Czar succeed in getting Constantinople? No; the attempt will
ruin and break up the Russian Empire. All the European powers would
resist it; some of them may seem friendly to the Czar now, but when
he comes to seize Constantinople every one of them will be against
him. He will try it, none the less. The famous "will" of Peter the
Great, though a patent and notorious forgery of Napoleon's,--never
seen till 1812, just before the Russian campaign, and circulated
then to influence Europe against Russia,--was the most magnificent
piece of forgery ever committed, for it has actually become a guiding
policy to the country it was aimed against, just as if it had been
real. Nothing in history equals this for impudence and success
combined; it is a true Napoleonism. This bogus "will" has become
the "Monroe doctrine" of Russia; I am not entitled to say whether
the latter is as mischievous as the former. That most Russian of all
Russian journals, the "Ruskija Vjadomosti," has lately been having one
of its periodical spasms of hysterical hatred toward all policy not
"good Russian," and boldly proclaims that Russia must follow the
precepts laid down in this will! Since, therefore, it is just as
important as if it were not the greatest of all "fakes," I give it
here that the reader may know what Russian policy is to be:--
Will of Peter the Great.
In the name of the most holy and indivisible Trinity, we,
Peter the Great, unto all our descendants and successors to the
throne and government of the Russian nation: the All-Powerful,
from whom we hold our life and our throne, after having revealed
unto us his wishes and intentions, and after being our support,
permits us to look upon Russia as called upon to establish her
rule over all Europe. This idea is based upon the fact that all
nations of this portion of the globe are fast approaching a state
of utter decrepitude. From this it results that they can be easily
conquered by a new race of people when it has attained full power
and strength. We look upon our invasion of the West and East as
a decree of divine providence, which has already once regenerated
the Roman Empire by an invasion of "barbarians."
The emigration of men from the North is like the inundation of
the Nile, which, at certain seasons, enriches with its waters
the arid plains of Egypt. We found Russia a small rivulet; we
leave it an immense river. Our successors will make it an ocean,
destined to fertilize the whole of Europe if they know how to
guide its waves. We leave them, then, the following instructions,
which we earnestly recommend to their constant meditation.
I. To keep the Prussian nation in constant warfare, in order always
to have good soldiers. Peace must only be permitted to recuperate
finance, to recruit the army, to choose the moment favorable for
attack. Thus peace will advance your projects of war, and war those
of peace, for obtaining the enlargement and prosperity of Russia.
II. Draw unto you by all possible means, from the civilized nations
of Europe, captains during war and learned men during peace,
so that Russia may benefit by the advantages of other nations.
III. Take care to mix in the affairs of all Europe, and in
particular of Germany, which, being the nearest nation to you,
deserves your chief attention.
IV. Divide Poland by raising up continual disorders and jealousies
within its bosom. Gain over its rulers with gold influence and
corrupt the Diet, in order to have a voice in the election of the
kings. Make partisans and protect them; if neighboring powers raise
objections and opposition, surmount the obstacles by stirring up
discord within their countries.
V. Take all you can from Sweden, and to this effect isolate her
from Denmark, and vice versa. Be careful to rouse their mutual
jealousy.
VI. Marry Russian princes to German Princesses; multiply these
alliances, unite these interests, and by the increase of our
influence attach Germany to our cause.
VII. Seek the alliance with England on account of our commerce,
as being the country most useful for the development of our navy,
merchants, etc., and for the exchange of our produce against
her gold. Keep up continual communication with her merchants
and sailors, so that ours may acquire experience in commerce
and navigation.
VIII. Constantly extend yourselves along the shores of the Baltic
and the borders of the Euxine.
IX. Do all in your power to approach closely Constantinople and
India. Remember that he who rules over these countries is the
real sovereign of the world. Keep up continued wars with Turkey
and with Persia. Establish dockyards in the Black Sea. Gradually
obtain the command of this sea as well as of the Baltic. This
is necessary for the entire success of our projects. Hasten the
fall of Persia. Open for yourself a route toward the Persian
Gulf. Re-establish as much as possible, by means of Syria,
the ancient commerce of the Levant, and thus advance toward
India. Once there you will not require English gold.
X. Carefully seek the alliance of Austria. Make her believe that
you will second her in her projects for dominion over Germany,
but secretly stir up other princes against her, and manage so
that each be disposed to claim the assistance of Russia; and
exercise over each a sort of protection, which will lead the way
to a future dominion over them.
XI. Make Austria drive the Turks out of Europe, and neutralize
her jealousy by offering to her a portion of your conquests,
which you will further on take back.
XII. Above all, recall around you the schismatic Greeks who are
spread over Hungary and Poland. Become their center, and support
a universal dominion over them by a kind of sacerdotal autocracy;
by this you will have many friends among your enemies.
XIII. Sweden dismembered, Persia conquered, Poland subjugated,
Turkey beaten, our armies united, the Black and Baltic seas guarded
by our vessels, prepare, separately and secretly, first the court
of Versailles, then that of Vienna, to share the empire of the
universe with Russia. If one accept, flatter her ambition and
vanity, and make use of one to crush the other by engaging them
in war. The result cannot be doubted; Russia will be possessed
of the whole of the East and a great portion of Europe.
XIV. If, which is not probable, both should refuse the offer of
Russia, raise a quarrel between them, and one which will ruin
them both; then Russia, profiting by this decisive movement, will
inundate Germany with the troops which she will have assembled
beforehand. At the same time two fleets full of soldiers will leave
the Baltic and the Black Sea, will advance along the Mediterranean
and the ocean, keeping France in check with the one and Germany
with the other. And these two countries conquered, the remainder
of Europe will fall under our yoke. Thus can Europe be subjugated.
But aside from this, no help could be expected from Russia in
any event, because she needs all her strength to save herself from
destruction by her own internal decay. She is a great tree, hollow in
the inside. The Nihilists and the Constitutional Reformers are both
against her, and, in my belief, she will go to pieces in the present
Czar's lifetime. The Sultan's days are numbered, but the Czar's and
the Emperor's are too; their own people will rise and depose them. It
is against Socialists and Nihilists that they are massing such great
armies. How can they spare any service for a people being murdered
off the earth?