New-York tribune., 1905-01-01

European countries as the principal official holi-
day Of the calendar The President OF the
United States the Chief Magistrates Of the
French and Swiss republics and the monarchs
OF all Continental countries on the yonder side
of the Atlantic Ocean. save those where the or
thodox rite and the Julian calendar have been
retained. receive on that day the great officers
OF state and the foreign diplomatic corps. and
many OF them have IN the past taken advantage
of these occasions TO make some notable an
nouncenent either of their good viii or else
Of their anger pronouncements that have par
taken OF the character OF historical events. II
was st 6 New Years reception held at the
Tuilerses that Napoleon III made the memora-
BILE remark TO the Austrian Ambassador, Count
Euebner. which precipitated the war Of 1853
eliminating in the overthrow Of Hapsburg rule
tn Northern Italy ara in the addition Of Savoy
20 France. Emperor William. too has some-
times selected the New Years celebration for
sensational utterances. while King Leopold has
been known to take advantage OF these New
Years receptions TO censure publicly Cabinet
Ministers VINO have incurred his I'll will In
France the President after receiving ell the
principal dignitaries OF the republic and the
Foreign enyoys. will pay two return Visits in the
afternoon. with much pomp and ceremony. one
90 the President OF the Senate and the other
Go the President OF the Chamber of Deputies. IN
order to emphasize the fact that the national
sovereignty belongs TO the people and that he
holds the position or Chief Magistrate by the
Will Of the latter voiced by the legislature.
THESE gre the only calls that he is required by
stiquette 10 return. and st is in France alone
ahat anything Of the kind is expected on the
part Of the ruler OF the nation.
Peace, as a general rule. constitutes the theme
OF the New Years speeches OF those who either
through election or Inheritance occupy the ex-
slted position OF ruler. and there is no doubt
that their remarks upon the subject this
year will be characterized by an exceptional
degree Of fervor and Of sincerity; for the loss
OF life IN the Orient since the outbreak of the
war between Japan and Russia has been so ap-
palling that those who had counted upon
profting in a political well in an eco
nomio sense from the eventual exhaustion OF
the two belligerents must feel that, their aim
having been accomplished. further sacrifices Of
life unnecessary. The conflict has now been
raging for over ten months, and while the jap
enese have been almost uniformly victorious,
bet they have in measure disappointed their
admirers by neglecting to follow up their sue
bessss and 10 turn the latter TO best advantage.
Admiral Togo, II is true, has destroyed the
naval forces of Russia in the Pacific But the
Cars standard still floats above Port Arthur.
and the japanese field marshal, Oyama4 has
failed to drive the Russians out OF Menchuria.
although the superiority Of numbers, Of arma-
snent and OF transport service well as the
inatchless perfection Of the organization of the
armies under his command. should have
abled him TO accomplish this ere now. In
deed military experts Will be disposed 10 award
the laurels thus far. not TO the Japanese COM
tnender, but TO the Muscovite generalissimo,
Kuropatkin, who. in spite Of every conceivable
disadvantage. including inferiority Of numbers
hSar Of ocLr
of preparation, breakdown of the transport SER
vice. insubordination Of officers and intrigues
both in the field and at st. Petersburg has man.
Bged TO check the progress OF the japanese and
20 hold against overwhelming odds Moukden
and the greater part OF Manohuria.
What the outcome OF the will be It is diff
cult TO predict. No one can tell how soon 1t will
come 10 an end-how soon the cornbatants will
be willing TO listen TO friendly offers OF media
fion. Even at the present moment the Japanese
under Admiral Togo may be engaged in a fight
10 the death somewhere in the Indian Ocean
with the Baltic squadron OF Admiral Rojestven-
Sky But one thing. at any rate. is certain
namely, that half century or more will elapse
before either Russia Japan will have recoy-
cred from the effects of the colossal expenditure
OF blood and Of money which the war has en-
tailed up 20 the present time. In japan the sum
which has been raised by direct and indirect tax
alton in order 10 meet the staggering expenditure
of the year which has just come to a close rep
fesents nearly 70 per cent Of the total income,
not OF the government. but Of the nation. and
this in land where the staple industry is agri-
culture and the wages OF an agricultural lsborer
average SIG year. In Russia the conditions
are equally appalling. According TO Count
de Witte. the most eminent expert on Russian
finance, the extreme limit Of taxation has been
reached, and. while the Cars government still
finds IL far more easy than the Japanese to bor-
row money abroad, yet Muscovite trade and in
dustry are at a standstiu. and commerce and
manufactures have received setback from
which It Will take them couple of generations
So recover.
convinced that Russia would speedily overwhelm
Hapan. The results have belied these expecta-
tsone and, while last summer there was dig
position 20 regard Russia's prestige as shat
tered and her position as q great military power
6estroyed, there has since then been revulsion
OF popular sentiment IN her favor and the Stub
born nght which she has put UP against such
terrible odds has excited the admiration even
OF those most strongly prejudioed against her.
Nowhere have her difficulties and disasters re-
scefved more sympathy than at Berlin. This has
been warmly appreciated at St Petersburg and
a. no time since the days OF Frederick the
Great has the moral. II not official alliance be-
tween Germany and Russia been close and
20 intimate as at the present moment Indeed
shs attitude OF Germany since the outbreak of
the war has served 90 recall TO mind g. fact Of
which sight had been lost IN recent years
namely, that the traditional keynote OF her for
eign policy IS friendship with Russia Rela-
sions between ST Petersburg and Paris have
as was 10 be expected under the circumstances
become more cool. and the manifest reluctance
- IN ho NJ bar oil