Human society as constituted to-day can recognize no excuse for them.

It forbids them--and the Nihilist is the Ishmael of the nineteenth century.
The world was not surprised, and perhaps not even displeased, when Alexander III.

showed a dogged determination not to be coerced into reforms by the assassination of his father nor threats of his own.

His coronation, long deferred by the tragedy which threatened to attend it, finally took place with great splendor at Moscow in 1883.

He then withdrew to his palace at Gatschina, where he remained practically a prisoner.