Behind the Veil at the Russian Court |
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Abaza Adlerberg Alexandra Feodorovna appointed army asked autocracy became began Berlin Berlin Congress brother Catherine ceremony clever Coronation Count Count Witte Countess Court Crimea Crown daughter death died Dolgorouky Dowager Duma duties Emperor Nicholas Empress Marie famous father favour felt foreign friends Galitzine Government Grand Duchess Hélène Grand Duke Nicholas Grand Duke Vladimir hand head honour husband Ignatieff Imperial Family influence knew Kouropatkine lady later Livadia lived Madame Mademoiselle Marie Alexandrovna Marie Feodorovna marriage married ment Milioutine Minister monarch Moscow nation never Nevski Prospekt Nicholas II officer Okhrana once opinion perhaps person Peter Peterhof Petersburg Society police political position present Prince Princess Yourievsky Queen of Greece realise received reforms remarkable Russia Schouvaloff sent Skobeleff Sovereign Stolypin tact Tchérévine things thought Throne tion took troops Tsar Tsarevitch Tsarskoye Selo wanted whilst wife Winter Palace Wischnegradsky Witte words young zemstvos
Popular passages
Page 253 - We permit ourselves to hope that the voice of the people and the expression of its desires will be heard on the heights of the Throne and will be listened to. We are absolutely convinced that the welfare of Russia will make strides under your rule, and that from now on the law will be respected and obeyed, not only by the nation alone, but also by the representatives of the power that govern it. The law . . . should be above the changing views of the individual representatives of this sublime power.
Page 255 - ... to coveted riches in Asia and the Middle East, began to re-sound its note of hostility. And Nicky, who had seemed such a sensible, agreeable boy, made a speech which shocked English liberal opinion. He denounced all schemes of popular government as 'senseless dreams' and made it clear that he would 'maintain for the good of the whole nation the principle of absolute autocracy as firmly and as strongly as did my late lamented father'.
Page 253 - We earnestly hope that during your reign the rights of individuals, as well as those of already existing representative bodies, will be protected permanently and energetically. " We expect, Gracious Sovereign, that these representative bodies will be allowed to voice their opinions in matters in which they are concerned...
Page 150 - DOST thou see on the rampart's height That wreath of mist, in the light Of the midnight moon ? O, hist ! It is not a wreath of mist ; It is the Czar, the White Czar, Batyushka ! Gosudar! He has heard, among the dead, The artillery roll o'erhead ; The drums and the tramp of feet Of his soldiery in the street ; He is awake ! the White Czar, Batyushka ! Gosudar ! He has heard in the grave the cries Of his people: "Awake! arise!
Page 257 - First of all, you are badly informed about the tendencies against which you have decided to raise your voice in your speech. There has not been heard in one single assembly of any Zemstvo one single word against that autocracy which is so dear to your heart. ... In one word, the only thing that was in question was the desire to see fall and crumble to the ground that wall of bureaucracy and courtierdom that has always parted the sovereign from the Russian people. . . . Your speech has strengthened...
Page 255 - But it has come to my knowledge that during the last months there have been heard in some assemblies of the zemstvos the voices of those who have indulged in the senseless dreams that the zemstvos could be called to participate in the government of the country. I want everyone to know that I will concentrate all my strength to maintain, for the good of the whole nation, the principle of absolute autocracy, as firmly and as strongly as did my lamented father.
Page 255 - I believe in those 254 feelings, which are inherent in every Russian heart. But it has come to my knowledge that during the last months there have been heard in some assemblies of the zemstvos the voices of those who have indulged in the senseless dreams that the zemstvos could be called to participate in the government of the country.
Page 257 - You have spoken, and your words' are at present known everywhere in Russia ; ay, in the whole civilized world. Until now you were unknown, but since yesterday you have become a definite factor in the situation of the country, about whom there is no room left 'for senseless dreams'.
Page 150 - Then, in her turn, the Empress advanced and knelt down at the feet of her Imperial spouse, with the folds of her silver dress falling around her, its white shimmer adding brilliancy to her whole figure. He, the mighty Emperor, slowly took a pretty small crown of diamonds, and carefully, with loving movements, set it on her bowed head.
Page 115 - Manifesto was nothing but a few smouldering fragments on the carpet. '—Now, your Majesty,' said the 'trusted adviser', who had done the deed, 'you can punish me, but at least it cannot be said that you stepped upon the Throne of Russia with tied hands!