The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-02
NICHOLAS II.
The New Car Issues His First
Proclamation.
Unity of Russia Demands De-
vOtiOn to His Family.
IMPERIAL CEREMONY.
Coronation Festivities Take
Precedence of Mourning.
St. Petersburg Gay With Pro
claiming the New Emperor.
A Chicago Pole is Not Sorry the
Gar is Dead.

ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 2-The Official
Messenger this morning publishes the
first proclamation of Emperor Nicholas
III of Russia, in which, after fg nally
communicating to the nation the n4ws Of
the death Of his father, Alexander III,
he says: May the knowledge console
you that our grief is the grief of our en-
tire beloved nation and may the nation
not forget that the strength and firmness
of Holy Russia lies IN its unity and IN
bounded devotion TO u.s.
s.In this sad and solemn hour in which
we ascend our ancestral throne of the
Russian empire and czardom Of Poland
and the grand duchy Of Finland
indissolubly linked with it, we how
ever. remember the leg acy left US by our
lamented father and Imbued with it, we
in the presence Of the Most High, take 4
vow TO make our sole aim the develop
ment of the power and glory of our be-
loved Russia and the happiness of all our
faithful subjects"
The manifesto concludes with com
manding that the oath of allegiance be
taken to him, Emperor Nicholas III, and
to his heir apparent, grand duke George
AleXandrovitch. his brother, who is to be
entitled czarewitch until God may bless
with a son the union which his majesty
is to enter into with Princess AIix Of
Hesse- -Darmstadt.
At 9 o'clock this morning the imperial
heralds in bright uniform attended by a
troop of trUmpeters announced the death
of Alexander III, and the accession 10
the throne of Russia of Nicholas H. The
two heralds with their escorts. traversed
ali the principal streets of the city and
after the trutnpeterS had delivered thi -
ringing blasts from their trumpets they
made public the proclamation of Em-
peror Nicholas II, which has already been
cabled to the Associated Press.
Throughout St Petersburg today the
accession of the new czar is being cele
brated as d festival for this event takes
precedence Of the mourning cere-
monies The Russian newspapers there
fore appeared without black borders and
all signs of public mourning Will be
withheld until tomorrow.
At 10 o'clock yesterday evening the
first requiem mass for the repose Of the
soul Of Alexander III was ebrated in
St Petersburg and all the ministers and
members of the council of the empire
were present When the service was
over, all those in attendance. took the
oath of allegiance to Car \ ,chOlas II,
the heir presumptive. the czarewitch,
Grand Duke George, brother of the ear.
This morning The senate met in plenary
session and all its memb bers took the oath
of allegiance At the same time all the
troops forming the garrison Of St Peters
burg were paraded IN full uniform with
their color5 and were sworn with custo-
mary fOrmality.
Later the same ceremony was observed
in the case of the civil servants of the
empire.
When the news of the czar's death was
received, thousands Of people LEFT their
work. and proceeded to churches in the
neigh hborhoods, where they attended ser
vices held in memory Of his majesty.
Dense masses of people throng the
streets during the evening, reading the
Lori rir
for the car as they crossed the streets.
1t is reported the funeral will take place
November Is. and 1t is said his body will
lie in state for one week at MOSCOW.