The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-12-31 00:00:00

THE YEAR THAT'S AWA'.

It ie aifilyS customary, at the year's end, to
look back over the events of the twelve
months past, and the custom is always good,
for out of the retrospect one gets guidance
for the veer to come. 1887 has been an
ceent fill. year, but it has not been one in
which we have had to lament any mighty
tumult, any disastrous war between great
natiens, or any terrible and continuous
calamity which has plunged the whole
universe in sorrow. As far as Great Britain
has been coneerned, the great event of 1837
has been the celebration of the Jubilee of
the reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty
Queen Victoria, an occurrence altogether
without parallel in the chronicles of Time,
when we properly appraise the extent of our
Sovereign's domain, the enthusiasm with
which the rejoicing was honoured, the
loyalty to the throne of the countless sub-
jects of the go ,d Victoria, or the viitues and
popularity of her Majesty herself. At home
in Britain, the Jubilee year has been auspi-
ciously and fittingly marked by a, steadily
increasing and peneral revival of commerce,
while we have been at peace abroad with all
nations. Our Colonies have drawn closer
to us in a bond of Imperial unity, the Con-
ference held in London in the summer past
having the promise of many an amicable
successor. We have not sought aggrandise-
Alalit in territory, because of our strength,
like many rival states have done, but we
have turned pradeet attention in the direc-
tion of making our defences strong against
possible attacks from the alien, by sea or
land. Ireland has been the one sore spot
of our national existence, but the Irish
laestion is one of old standing, and things
there have been kept at least as quiet as in
years immediately foregoing, while all our
politicians have been well-nigh exclusively
engaged in the attempt to devise permanent
means of putting an end to the Trish question
ass. controversial and disturbing problem.
As far as this distressing matter goes, we
can only hope that ere long a way may be
found to make the true hearted Hibernians
aq peaceful, prosperens, and contented as ,
are their brethren in Scotland; and with
their cordial, nnbiceoted, co operation with
the motherland, who shall say that this shall
not be? All is as one would wish it, look-
ing back over the year's progress in Aus-
tralia; and save for a little cloud arising
respecting the fishing question in Canada,
things would be welr in Canada. We have
sent out across the Atlantic a Royal Com-
mission, headed by a statesman of front
rank and esteem, to endeavour to adjust this
difficulty, and there is no reason to fear that
failure will result from the effort. Our vast
Indian Empire has certainly never been more
happily placed as regards its aspect to
Britain. Ayoub Khan, who troubled us
sorely on the Afghan borderland, is at rest
henceforth; and all the wealthy native
Princes of the monster Oriental dependency
are vieing, with each other as to wnich
shall ontio the other in expressions of fealty
to the Crown. We, as it has been said, are
at peace abroad ; but there are, notwith-
standing, rumours of war among the more
reputedly peaceful of the European nations.
Military demonstrations on the Russian
borderland have led to the assumption of a
warlike attitude as between the Muscovite
Power and the Allied German Confederation;
bat it may be hoped with confidence, in view
of the reports to hand during the closing
days of the year, that the threatened diffi-
culty in that direction will pass away with-
out a conflict. France has had her crisis
"in the year that's awa'," but now she is
settling down again to quietude and normal
progress, and a new President and a new
Government, and all points towards prosper-
ity. In the rest of Europe, if we except
Bulgaria things are as they were; there
has been no upheaval, no revolution. In
t.he Balkan Peninsalr affairs have gone on
developing Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-
Coburg went to assume the reins of Gov-
ernment over a troubled people, and he has
held them together without embroilment,
though his throne is still not on the safest
foundation. America has been all quiet, ex-
cepting perhaps a few stirring premonitions
of trouble to come on labour questions, inci-
dents which have passed over without a
serious conflict, though 411 the shadow of a great
railway strike shrouded even Christmas-
tide. In Africa things have moved without
jarring intervention to the smooth flow of
events of international importance, save that
ft haze of uncertainty hangs, as we write,
over the safety of Stanley in his bold. adven-
ture for the relief of Emin Bey; and that
news of disturbances in Abyssinia have come
to Europe to treak the peace of the passing
year. 1887 has, on the whole, however
been one of pronounced peace and of awaken-
ing prosperity, a year to look back upon
with thankfulness. :The great army of the
workers of mankind has been thinned in its
ranks by the death of many a lamented
worthy, and in this resp_ict the year past has
cost Great Britain especially many valued
:eine and daughters; but no mighty Monarch
or Prince of world-wide note has gone for-
ward into the hereafter during 1887, and. no
nation has been pianged into mourning
levanse of a vacant throne. Phroughout
civilisation commerce seems to have gained
• much-desired impetus, industry is more
fully occupied, imports and exports have
increased; and, having enjoyed an average
harvest, we face a better prospect for 1888
than we did twelve months ago. This, not
• u regards oar own country, bat taking
h Ti.OW.Ot VW whole tracing aniverso. Bach

being the case, let us be thankful for the
"year that's awa'," and trustful for the year
to come.

The wife dlined to give evidence, and the
outraged dakir was a reluctant witness.
The prisoner, who said he was drunk at the
time, was committed to the Assizes. •