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the same old story。 Emigrants from the Russian Empire； most of
them extremely undesirable； had gone to the United States； stayed
just long enough to secure naturalization；had； indeed； in some
cases secured it fraudulently before they had stayed the full
time； and then； having returned to Russia； were trying to
exercise the rights and evade the duties of both countries。
Many of these cases were exceedingly vexatious； and so； indeed；
were some which were better founded。 The great difficulty of a
representative of the United States in Russia is； first； that the
law of the empire is so complicated that；to use the words of
King James regarding Bacon's 〃Novum Organum；〃〃Like the Peace of
God； it passeth all understanding。〃 It is made up of codes in
part obsolete or obsolescent； ukases and counter…ukases； imperial
directions and counter…directions； ministerial orders and
counter…orders； police regulations and counter…regulations； with
no end of suspensions； modifications； and exceptions。
The second difficulty is the fact that the Buchanan treaty of
1832； which guaranteed； apparently； everything desirable to
American citizens sojourning in the empire； has been gradually
construed away until its tattered remnants are practically
worthless。 As the world has discovered； Russia's strong point is
not adherence to her treaty promises。
In this respect there is a great difference between Russia and
Germany。 With the latter we have made careful treaties； the laws
are well known； and the American representative feels solid
ground beneath his feet； but in Russia there is practically
nothing of the kind； and the representative must rely on the main
principles of international law； common sense； and his own powers
of persuasion。
A peculiar duty during my last stay in St。 Petersburg was to
watch the approach of cholera； especially on the Persian
frontier。 Admirable precautions had been taken for securing
telegraphic information； and every day I received notices from
the Foreign Office as a result； which I communicated to
Washington。 For ages Russia had relied on fetishes of various
kinds to preserve her from great epidemics； but at last her
leading officials had come to realize the necessity of applying
modern science to the problem； and they did this well。 In the
city 〃sanitary columns〃 were established； made up of small squads
of officials representing the medical and engineering professions
and the police； these visited every nook and corner of the town；
and； having extraordinary powers for the emergency； compelled
even the most dirty people to keep their premises clean。
Excellent hospitals and laboratories were established； and of
these I learned much from a former Cornell student who held an
important position in one of them。 Coming to town three or four
times a week from my summer cottage in Finland； I was struck by
the precautions on the Finnish and other railways： notices of
what was to be done to prevent cholera and to meet it were
posted； in six different languages； disinfectants were made
easily accessible； the seats and hangings in the railway…cars
were covered with leather cloth frequently washed with
disinfectants； and to the main trains a hospital…car was
attached； while a temporary hospital； well equipped； was
established at each main station。 In spite of this； the number of
cholera patients at St。 Petersburg in the middle of July rose to
a very high figure； and the number of deaths each day from
cholera was about one hundred。
Of these victims the most eminent was Tschaikovsky； the composer；
a man of genius and a most charming character； to whom Mr。 Andrew
Carnegie had introduced me at New York。 One evening at a
dinner…party he poured out a goblet of water from a decanter on
the table； drank it down； and next day was dead from Asiatic
cholera。 But； with this exception； the patients were； so far as I
learned； almost entirely from the peasant class。 Although boiled
water was supplied for drinking purposes； and some
public…spirited individuals went so far as to set out samovars
and the means of supplying hot tea to peasant workmen； the answer
of one of the muzhiks； when told that he ought to drink boiled
water； indicated the peasant view： 〃If God had wished us to drink
hot water； he would have heated the Neva。〃
CHAPTER XXXVI
MY RECOLLECTIONS OF POBEDONOSTZEFF1892…1894
On arriving at St。 Petersburg in 1892 to take charge of the
American legation； there was one Russian whom I more desired to
meet than any otherConstantine Pobedonostzeff。 For some years
various English and American reviews had been charging him with
bigotry； cruelty； hypocrisy； and； indeed； with nearly every
hateful form of political crime； but the fact remained that under
Alexander III he was the most influential personage in the
empire； and that； though bearing the title of 〃procurator…general
of the Most Holy Synod；〃 he was evidently no less powerful in
civil than in ecclesiastical affairs。
As to his history； it was understood to be as follows： When the
Grand Duke Nicholas； the eldest son of Alexander II；a young man
of gentle characteristics； greatly resembling his father；died
upon the Riviera； the next heir to the throne was his brother
Alexander； a stalwart； taciturn guardsman； respected by all who
knew him for honesty and directness； but who； having never looked
forward to the throne； had been brought up simply as a soldier；
with few of the gifts and graces traditional among the heirs of
the Russian monarchy since the days of Catherine。
Therefore it was that it became necessary to extemporize for this
soldier a training which should fit him for the duties of the
position so unexpectedly opened to him； and the man chosen as his
tutor was a professor at Moscow； distinguished as a jurist and
theologian；a man of remarkable force of character； and devoted
to Russian ideas as distinguished from those of Western Europe：
Constantine Pobedonostzeff。
During the dark and stormy days toward the end of his career；
Alexander II had called in as his main adviser General
Loris…Melikoff； a man of Armenian descent； in whom was mingled
with the shrewd characteristics of his race a sincere desire to
give to Russia a policy and development in accordance with modern
ideas。
The result the world knows well。 The Emperor； having taken the
advice of this and other councilors；deeply patriotic men like
Miloutine； Samarine； and Tcherkassky；had freed the serfs within
his empire （twenty millions in all）； had sanctioned a vast scheme
by which they were to arrive at the possession of landed
property； had established local self…government in the various
provinces of his empire； had improved the courts of law； had
introduced Western ideas into legal procedure； had greatly
mitigated the severities formerly exercised toward the Jews； and
had made all ready to promulgate a constitution on his
approaching birthday。
But this did not satisfy the nihilistic sect。 What more they
wanted it is hard to say。 It is more than doubtful whether Russia
even then had arrived at a stage of civilization when the
institutions which Alexander II had already conceded could be
adopted with profit； but the leaders of the anarchic movement；
with their vague longings for fruit on the day the tree was
planted； decreed the Emperor's deaththe assassination of the
greatest benefactor that Russia has ever known； one of the
greatest that humanity has known。 It was； perhaps； the most
fearful crime ever committed against liberty and freedom； for it
blasted the hopes and aspirations of over a hundred millions of
people； and doubtless for many generations。
On this the sturdy young guardsman became the Emperor Alexander
III。 It is related by men conversant with Russian affairs that；
at the first meeting of the imperial councilors； Loris…Melikoiff；
believing that the young sovereign would be led by filial
reverence to continue the liberal policy to which the father had
devoted his life； made a speech taking this for granted； and that
the majority of those present； including the Emperor； seemed in
accord with him； when suddenly there arose a tall； gaunt；
scholarly man； who at first very simply； but finally very
eloquently； presented a different view。 According to the
chronic