Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-03-10
Troubled Russia.

st. Petersburg had three great sensa
tions last week, coming on three successive
days. On Tuesday were observed the ma
tional festivities in honor Of the czar's
ascension to the throne, IL being the 25th
anniversary. The city was gaily decorated,
and the day was observed "a general holt
day. Vast crowds assembled before the
winter palace. The troops were massed in
the central quadrangle of the palace and the
immediate neighborhood. The programme
Of the ceremonies was carried out. The
car appeared on the balcony Of the palace,
where he remained twenty minutes, saluting
the multitude amid great enthusiasm. After
the car had received the congratulations Of
the enormous crowd at the palace, he drove
in an open carriage and was loudly and con-
tinuously cheered in the crowded streets
through which he passed. Public services
were also held in the imperial chapel, where
prayers were offered for the safety Of the
car and for his perpetual victory over all
his enemies. All the foreign ministers and
their families and suites were also in attend
ance, the Russian officials appeared in full
diplomatic uniforms, and the Russian en-
sign was displayed over the foreign consul
ate aud upon all the vessels in the harbor.
On Wednesday General Melikoff, chief of
the new supreme executive commission, was
fired at by young man with revolver, as
he was alighting from carriage at his res
idence in Grand Moskafa street. General
Melikoff was not hurt. The culprit was i'm.
mediately seized by Cossack. The bullet
passed through the back folds of Gen. Nell
koffs cloak. The would-be assassin fred
when quite close to General Melikoff. He
attempted to fire second shot before he
was seized, but was prevented by blow
from the general. The assassin's name is
Mlodesky.
On Thursday came the terrible finale, as
follows: "Mlodesky was executed at st.
Petersburg to-day, on Simeonafsky plain
near the Tharskoeselo railway terminus,
for his attempt on General Melikoff's life,
and seven men were arrested by the police
in the great crowd present, as they had the
appearance Of students. Mlodesky was
brought to the place of execution strapped
on black vehicle in a sitting posture, with
his back to the horses, and placard bear.
ing the words state criminal on his
breast, and appeared calm and smiling on
the scaffold, which was surrounded by a
hollow square of infantry. The body re-
NAMED hanging for twenty minutes. The
actions Of Mlodesky when he was arrested
were so strange as to suggest that he was in
sane, but surgeon pronounced him all right
in mind and body"
And thus the scene shifts from day to day
in this Inflated country. Such state of af-
fairs must interfere sadly with the personal
comfort of the emperor. In such mental
terror is he that, 1t is said, while the cook
is preparing his dinner, two secret police
agents stand in the kitchen and supervise the
cookery. Then, when at last dish is ready,
two official tasters test it, to make sure there
is no poison in it. His majesty can receive
no visitors in his private apartments. His
linen is all inspected that it be not infected.
Cigars and cigarettes-of which he has been
passionately fond-he has been compelled
to give up altogether.
Apparently there can be but one outcome
to this volcanic state of affairs-that which
is the doom of all European despotisms-
revolution.