Thereforeitwasthatitbecamenecessarytoextemporizeforthissoldieratrainingwhichshouldfithimforthedutiesofthepositionsounexpectedlyopenedtohim;andthemanchosenashistutorwasaprofessoratMoscow，distinguishedasajuristandtheologian，——amanofremarkableforceofcharacter，anddevotedtoRussianideasasdistinguishedfromthoseofWesternEurope:
ConstantinePobedonostzeff。
Duringthedarkandstormydaystowardtheendofhiscareer，AlexanderIIhadcalledinashismainadviserGeneralLoris—Melikoff，amanofArmeniandescent，inwhomwasmingledwiththeshrewdcharacteristicsofhisraceasinceredesiretogivetoRussiaapolicyanddevelopmentinaccordancewithmodernideas。
Theresulttheworldknowswell。TheEmperor，havingtakentheadviceofthisandothercouncilors，——deeplypatrioticmenlikeMiloutine，Samarine，andTcherkassky，——hadfreedtheserfswithinhisempire（twentymillionsinall）;hadsanctionedavastschemebywhichtheyweretoarriveatthepossessionoflandedproperty;hadestablishedlocalself—governmentinthevariousprovincesofhisempire;hadimprovedthecourtsoflaw;hadintroducedWesternideasintolegalprocedure;hadgreatlymitigatedtheseveritiesformerlyexercisedtowardtheJews;andhadmadeallreadytopromulgateaconstitutiononhisapproachingbirthday。
Butthisdidnotsatisfythenihilisticsect。Whatmoretheywanteditishardtosay。ItismorethandoubtfulwhetherRussiaeventhenhadarrivedatastageofcivilizationwhentheinstitutionswhichAlexanderIIhadalreadyconcededcouldbeadoptedwithprofit;buttheleadersoftheanarchicmovement，withtheirvaguelongingsforfruitonthedaythetreewasplanted，decreedtheEmperor’sdeath——theassassinationofthegreatestbenefactorthatRussiahaseverknown，oneofthegreatestthathumanityhasknown。Itwas，perhaps，themostfearfulcrimeevercommittedagainstlibertyandfreedom;foritblastedthehopesandaspirationsofoverahundredmillionsofpeople，anddoubtlessformanygenerations。