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eloquently； presented a different view。 According to the
chroniclers of the period； Pobedonostzeff told the Emperor that
all so…called liberal measures； including the constitution； were
a delusion； that； though such things might be suited to Western
Europe； they were not suited to Russia； that the constitution of
that empire had been； from time immemorial； the will of the
autocrat； directed by his own sense of responsibility to the
Almighty； that no other constitution was possible in Russia； that
this alone was fitted to the traditions； the laws； the ideas of
the hundred and twenty millions of various races under the
Russian scepter； that in other parts of the world constitutional
liberty； so called； had already shown itself an absurdity； that
socialism； anarchism； and nihilism； with their plots and bombs；
were appearing in all quarters； that murder was plotted against
rulers of nations everywhere； the best of presidents having been
assassinated in the very country where free institutions were
supposed to have taken the most complete hold； that the principle
of authority in human government was to be saved； and that this
principle existed as an effective force only in Russia。
This speech is said to have carried all before it。 As its
immediate result came the retirement of Loris…Melikoff； followed
by his death not long afterward； the entrance of Pobedonostzeff
among the most cherished councilors of the Emperor； the
suppression of the constitution； the discouragement of every
liberal tendency； and that fanatical reaction which has been in
full force ever since。
This was the man whom I especially desired to see and to
understand； and therefore it was that I was very glad to receive
from the State Department instructions to consult with him
regarding some rather delicate matters needing adjustment between
the Greek Church and our authorities in Alaska； and also in
relation to the representation of Russia at the Chicago
Exposition。
I found him； as one of the great ministers of the crown； residing
in a ministerial palace； but still retaining； in large measure；
his old quality of professor。 About him was a beautiful library；
with every evidence of a love for art and literature。 I had gone
into his presence with many feelings of doubt。 Against no one in
Russia had charges so bitter been made in my hearing： it was
universally insisted that he was responsible for the persecution
of the Roman Catholics in Poland； of the Lutherans in the Baltic
provinces and in Finland； of the Stundists in Central Russia； and
of the dissenting sects everywhere。 He had been spoken of in the
English reviews as the 〃Torquemada of the nineteenth century；〃
and this epithet seemed to be generally accepted as fitting。
I found him a scholarly； kindly man； ready to discuss the
business which I brought before him； and showing a wide interest
in public affairs。 There were few； if any； doctrines； either
political or theological； which we held in common； but he seemed
inclined to meet the wishes of our government as fully and fairly
as he could； and thus was begun one of the most interesting
acquaintances I have ever made。
His usual time of receiving his friends was on Sunday evening
between nine and twelve； and very many such evenings I passed in
his study； discussing with him； over glasses of fragrant Russian
tea； every sort of question with the utmost freedom。
I soon found that his reasons for that course of action to which
the world so generally objects are not so superficial as they are
usually thought。 The repressive policy which he has so earnestly
adopted is based not merely upon his views as a theologian； but
upon his convictions as a statesman。 While； as a Russo…Greek
churchman； he regards the established church of the empire as the
form of Christianity most primitive and pure； and while he sees
in its ritual； in its art； and in all the characteristics of its
worship the nearest approach to his ideals； he looks at it also
from the point of view of a statesmanas the greatest cementing
power of the vast empire through which it is spread。
This being the case； he naturally opposes all other religious
bodies in Russia as not merely inflicting injury upon
Christianity； but as tending to the political disintegration of
the empire。 Never； in any of our conversations； did I hear him
speak a harsh word of any other church or of any religious ideas
opposed to his own； but it was clear that he regarded Protestants
and dissident sects generally as but agents in the progress of
disintegration which； in Western Europe； seemed approaching a
crisis； and that he considered the Roman Catholic Church in
Poland as practically a political machine managed by a hierarchy
in deadly hostility to the Russian Empire and to Russian
influence everywhere。
In discussing his own church； he never hesitated to speak plainly
of its evident shortcomings。 Unquestionably； one of the wishes
nearest his heart is to reform the abuses which have grown up
among its clergy； especially in their personal habits。 Here； too；
is a reason for any repressive policy which he may have exercised
against other religious bodies。 Everything that detracts from the
established Russo…Greek Church detracts from the revenues of its
clergy； and； as these are pitifully small； aids to keep the
priests and their families in the low condition from which he is
so earnestly endeavoring to raise them。 As regards the severe
policy inaugurated by Alexander III against the Jews of the
empire； which Pobedonostzeff； more than any other man； is
supposed to have inspired； he seemed to have no harsh feelings
against Israelites as such； but his conduct seemed based upon a
theory which； in various conversations； he presented with much
force： namely； that Russia； having within its borders more Jews
than exist in all the world besides； and having suffered greatly
from these as from an organization really incapable of
assimilation with the body politic； must pursue a repressive
policy toward them and isolate them in order to protect its rural
population。
While he was very civil in his expressions regarding the United
States； he clearly considered all Western civilization a failure。
He seemed to anticipate； before long； a collapse in the systems
and institutions of Western Europe。 To him socialism and
anarchism； with all they imply； were but symptoms of a
wide…spread political and social diseaseindications of an
approaching catastrophe destined to end a civilization which；
having rejected orthodoxy； had cast aside authority； given the
force of law to the whimsies of illiterate majorities； and
accepted； as the voice of God； the voice of unthinking mobs；
blind to their own interests and utterly incapable of working out
their own good。 It was evident that he regarded Russia as
representing among the nations the idea of Heaven…given and
church…anointed authority； as the empire destined to save the
principle of divine right and the rule of the fittest。
Revolutionary efforts in Russia he discussed calmly。 Referring to
Loris…Melikoff； the representative of the principles most
strongly opposed to his own； no word of censure escaped him。 The
only evidence of deep feeling on this subject he ever showed in
my presence was when he referred to the writings of a well…known
Russian refugee in London； and said； 〃He is a murderer。〃
As to public instruction； he evidently held to the idea so
thoroughly carried out in Russia： namely； that the upper class；
which is to conduct the business of the state； should be highly
educated； but that the mass of the people need no education
beyond what will keep them contented in the humble station to
which it has pleased God to call them。 A very curious example of
his conservatism I noted in his remarks regarding the droshkies
of St。 Petersburg。 The droshky…drivers are Russian peasants；
simple and； as a rule； pious； rarely failing to make the sign of
the cross on passing a church or shrine； or at any other moment
which seems to them solemn。 They are possibly picturesque； but
certainly dirty； in their clothing and in all their surroundings。
A conveyance more wretched than the ordinary street…droshky of a
Russian city could hardly be conceived； and measures had been
proposed for improving this system； but he could see