majesty of his empire was on every side
insulted, his ports in every sea blockaded. Never before had he tasted
the bitterness of defeat and humiliation. Europe had bowed down before
him as the Agamemnon among Kings. He had saved Austria; had protected
Prussia; he had made France feel the weight of his august displeasure.
Wherever autocracy had been insulted, there he had been its champion and
striven to be its restorer. But ever since 1848 there had been something
in the air unsuited to his methods. He was the incarnation of an old
principle in a new world. It was time for him to depart. His day had
been a long and splendid one, but it was passing amid clouds and darkness.

A successful autocrat is quite a different person from an unsuccessful
one. Nicholas had been seen in the shining light of invincibility. But
a sudden and terrible awakening had come. The nation, stung by repeated
defeats, was angry. A flood of anonymous literature was scattered
broadcast, arraigning the Emperor--the administration--the ministers--the
diplomats--the generals. "Slaves, arise!" said one, "and stand erect
before the despot. We have been kept long enough in serfage to the
successors of Tatar Khans."

The Tsar grew gloomy and silent. "My successor," he said, "may do what
he likes. I cannot change." When he saw Austria at last actually in
alliance with his enemies he was sorely shaken. But it was the voice of
bitter reproach and hatred from his hitherto silent people which shook
his iron will and broke his heart. He no longer desired to live. While
suffering from an influenza he insisted upon going out in the intense
cold without his greatcoat and reviewing his guards. Five days later he
dictated the dispatch which was sent to every city in Russia: "The
Emperor is dying."

CHAPTER XXIII

LIBERALISM--EMANCIPATION OF SERFS

When his life and the hard-earned conquests of centuries were together
slipping away, the dying Emperor said to his son: "All my care has been
to leave Russia safe without and prosperous within. But you see how it
is. I am dying, and I leave you a burden which will be hard to bear."
Alexander II., the young man upon whom fell these responsibilities, was
thirty-seven years old. His mother was Princess Charlotte of Prussia,
sister of the late Emperor William, who succeeded to the throne of
Prussia, left vacant by his brother in 1861.

His first words to his people were a passionate justif