The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-11-01
THE WEEK ABROAD.
GENERAL SUMMARY,

The eyes Of the world have been
centered during the past week, with
melancholy and anxious interest,
upon the royal retreat at Livadia
where the mightiest of human rulers
Is stubbornly fighting off death, with
not the faintest hope Of winning
more than a brief respite from the
inevitable. The universal interest in
the Czar's condition is not merely
the personal and sentimental interest
that royalty invariably commands.
There is widespread fear, for which
there is but too much ground, that
moipentous and dire results may
fopcw hard upon the Czar's death.
For tkhe time being, therefore, even
tbet yey IN the east has sunk to a
subordinate place, although closely
connected in its main lines with the
question OF the rulership of Russia.
Within the last few days there has
been a marked change in the tone of
the reports from Livadia. True,
nothing definite is yet known out
side OF official circles, and the
meagre official reports are distrusted.
But when the members of the Czar's
family were summoned hastily to
Livadia, nothing more was needed to
confirm the prevailing impression
that all the possibilities wrapped up
in a change of rulers for Russia must |
soon be faced. 1t is rumored that
the question of the succession is
compile ated by the Czarowitz's re-
luctance to wed Princess Alix be cause
OF his attachment to his mistress. a
beautiful Polish Jewess; and that he
even prefers to renounce the throne
rather than break this illicit connec-
ton. Princess Alix has been sum-
moned to Livadia, and it is reported
that her marriage with the Czarowitz
Will take place at once.
"This Fastening of the ceremony
is said to be rendered necessary
by the rule of the Romanoff family
compelling every heir apparent to
marry before ascending the IL rome
and to proclaim his successor. On
this account the proclamation of the
Grand Duke Michael as the ultimate
heir apparent is generally expected"
Hardly less threatening than the
impending death of the Gear was the
report that the Ameer of Afghanis-
tan was dead or dying. Later re-
ports, however, are to the effect that
the Ameer is improving in health.
,fEHhe fHe critical illness CT these two
Eastern ASA and dT'ahI ali 'bh 6bthestt Te7eiapnep
of danger to international peace, has
made the week one of unusual
anxiety in foreign political circles.
The tide of public opinion is again
TullHlnS Hioio III Japan idhoi WIN
regard to her prospects in the war
While she has not plunged ahead
and struck the heavy blow or blows
with which she was expected to fol-
low up the Ping Yang and Yalu
victories, the reports appear to war
rant the view that she is steadily and
irresistibly tightening the cords upon
her gigantic but less agile foe. 1t is
reported THAT negotiations for peace
are still in progress between Japan
and China. The Japanese Diet con-
vened in special session last week
and promptly and unanimously,
according to the reports, passed the
government appropriation bills for
war expenses.
The obituary record of the week
includes one famous name, that of |
James Anthony Froude, one of the
greatest historians of the century,
whose productive period covered
some forty years and continued
almost to the day of his death at the
age of rs years.