New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-15
THE RUSSIAN NEW YEAR
RADICAL PRESS GLOOMY.
IL. DurmoUo Made Minister-Csa's
Reception-DaUidof"s Killing.

st. Petersburg Jan. 14.-The comments Of the
radical press reviewing the last year and fore
casting conditions in the year are extremely
pessi1nistic These newspapers generally see
no prospect OF internal peace, but they unite in
expressing the hope that 1906 Will not end as
did 1905, with the spirit of reaction strongly IN
the ascendant.
The ''Novoe Vrefnya'' and the "Slovo," on the
contrary. look to the douma to put seal on
the charter of the peoples liberties and to re-
store tranquility to the distracted country.
NJ. Amf1teatroff. one of the most brilliant Of
Russian journalists. who served a term of exile
for his feuilleton, In which he arraigned the
members of the imperial family as public ban
dts and recently has been living in Rome. in
an article on Russia's future predicts that the
coming year will witness the financial and po-
litical bankruptcy of the government.
The list of New Year honors is notable for the
number of decorations bestowed on the officials
associated with the policy of repression. NJ.
Durnovo. Who far as the proletariat organi-
cations are concerned, is the best hated man in
public life, has been promoted from Acting Min
lister of the Interior to Minister, thus increasing
the influence of the bureaucratic system It is
significant that in the annual renewal Of ap-
pointments Count Solsl1y. president of the Coun-
Gil Of the Empire and the heads of departments
in the council have been appointed until the
reorganization of that body"
The Emperor and the Empress held a New
Years reception at the palace at Tsarskoe-Selo
to-day, to which the members Of the diplomatic
corps went in special train from St. Peters
burg The reception was formal affair, to
which only the court officials, diplomats ana a
few mobiles were invited. It passed without not
able incident The absence of Count Wltte
created some comment, but it was officially ex-
planned that the reception was q special one for
the representatives of the foreign powers. The
only Minister invited was Count Lamsdorfr,
Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Emperor looked we'll and spoke pleasantly
Mr. Meyer, the American Ambassador, and Herr
Won Schoen, the German Ambassador. This be-
ing the first time his majesty had met Mr.. Meyer
since the Ambassadors return from the united
States, the Emperor took occasion TO renew his
expressions of gratitude for the part played py
President Roosevelt and the United States IN
bringing about peace with Japan.
MI. Meyer presented Robert Woods Bliss sec
ond secretary of the embassy: Major William
W Gibson, the new military attache; Lieutenant
attache at Paris and st. Petersburg, and Basil
Miles, Of Philadelphia, the new diplomatic sec
rotary.
The tragedy at the well known restaurant, the
Bear at an early hour this morning. In which
the student, DaVIdoff, was shot and killed by
Count Sherematieff and the count was badly
battered by friends of the dead man, has cast
shadow over the New Years festivities. The
custom of making New Year calls is followed
in Russia to a greater extent than in any other
country, and at every reception to-day the affair
at the Bear was a subject for conversation, it
being generally accepted by superstitious Rus
slams as an augury that blood, passion and Vlo-
Ience will reign in the empire in 1906.
The "ZriteT' CSpectator'O this morning
printed picture representing the spectre of
feast.