Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-01-11
Of the Waterman e. Journal.
THE NEW YEAR.
MARLBORO HOTEL, BosToN, !
JANUARY 1. IS49.

is just completed, and all its vast machine
ny seems to pause moment as if to mark
the footprints and hear the solemn knell of
a departed year. What millions of broken
hearts and crushed hopes respond in deep
tones of anguish to each stroke, as hour
after hour tells off the quivering pulse of
'4S, and seals up its every deed with those
before the flood, until the Judgment of an
other day.
The lonely hearth, the vacant chair, the
silent harp, these and thousand-other scat
tered links in loves discovered chain, stand
out with painful vvdness in the silence of
this reflective hour challenging each sufvi-
vor to prepare himself for departure from
these busy scenes-to cast up the long ac-
count of broken promises, unheeded mer-
cies, unrepented sins, and see what are his
prospects for the future, what the amount
of his investments in the Treasury of Be-
nevolence, what his resources for the COM
ing life,-what his education for Immortal
ity,-what foot prints AZ has left on his own
character and prospects
Such an investigation is surely BETTING
, each annual revolution in our short span
These are points in our pathway, whence,
if wise, the eye may catch an instructive
glimpse Of what is passed, and what is to
come.
But looking beyond individual interests,
we see the past year marked by events new
and most extraordinary.
The congratulations Of the opening year
were scarcely finished, when the world was
suddenly shaken by moral earthquake in
the metropolis of France.
This was followed, in quick succession,
by shock after shock, throughout the Com
tinent. The foundations of ancient dynas-
ties suddenly crumbled, and the consolda-
ted power of ages has, in many instances,
given place to anarchy and fearful appre-
hension.
Mind, as if aroused from the sleep of
centuries, rendng asunder every fetter that
bound it, rushes forth to luxuriate in the
open air and sunlight of Heaven. LIBERTY
is the motto which now graces the Peoples
; flag, in all lands, and inspires with new life
every patriot heart. For securing this boon
some of the purest spirits of Europe have,
the last year, periled life, fortune, honor,
and millions have been swayed by their ex-
ample.
The Sovereign Pontiff, Emperors, Kings,
and Dukes, have been seen humbly COM
promising at the shrine of Liberty, and
bending to his stern DEGREES. They may
indeed return to their places, but not to
their seats of power. These are among the
ahings that were,-the things that persisted
. under the footsteps of AS.
\ The cause of Liberty, both civil and re-
ligions, has gained mghter triumphs the
past year, than i'll the years of the Reiorma-
! ton, or any fifty years of the worlds his
: tory.
Even Nicholas has relaxed his iron grasp
and the Sultan become quite tolerant.
The Press, that mighty engine of public
sentiment, has very generally, throughout
the Continent, been delivered from a stern
. censorship, and allowed to speak the senti-
ments of citizens rather than of despots ;
and millions furnishing for the Bread oil life,
= have dared to ask free access to the Bible.
the great charter of human rights, as
: well as of salvation Bibles are now order
ed for sale in Italy, faster than they can be
furnished aud as means of self-defence,
> the government of Turin, more alive in this
respect to the wants of man, it would seem.
Il than our own free Republic, has ordered
that the Scriptures should be introduced into
} all the Universities and Public Schools of
that Catholic kingdom.
: Another of the remarkable foot prints of
Z AZ, and not the least, is the emancipation
:. of the Jews. Nothing affords stronger ev-
y idence of progress-of growing spirit of
I toleraton-of the advancement of true
g freedom-than the late granting of civil
y rights and privileges, in so many countries,
, to the Jews. England has done honor to
II herself in placing a son of Abraham among
D. her councillors of State. Rome, too, and
e Russia, and Turkey the bitterest enemies
u of the Jew for almost two thousand years
! have wed with each other in measures for
his emancipation. Surely" this is from the
% LordW He has indeed turned back the
: captivity Of his ancient people; and the
= time seems drawing near, SO long predicted
II when they shall be built up and no more
{ destroyed" and Jerusalem shall again bC
" the joy Of the whole earth"
l. Amidst these civil changes, Christianit,
= has exerted everywhere her benign inhu
: ence. What, indeed, but the pure Gospel
~ which has to a considerable extent beer
u !, circulated throughout Europe within few
II years-what else could have stayed the flow
of human blood? what else held back the
lie axe of the guillotine from the neck OF kings
= princes and mobiles?
The foot prints of AS, in our own iahdi
E too, are trul y wonderful, both in number
II and dimensions-wo wonderful for deveiope-
'r ments in whatever pertains to the advance
e ment of society. Vast has been the increase
l. of orr resources and facilities of intercourse
g vast our increase of population and ter"
ID ritory; vast our Improvements, physical, IN
e ,ellectual and moral.
5, While railroads and steamboats, have beer
y multiplied as if by magic, our eyes and ears
n have, by means of the magnetic telegraph,
acquired power beyond even the dreams
l. of mesmerism. The ringing of a bell, the
g ticking of clock, the raging of storm,
I" as well as the noise of political strife, can
$ now be heard hundreds, nay thousands OF
/ miles. The mariner on the lakes now look;
t. down to the Gulf of Mexico for the circuit
T. of the winds, before he trusts his bark oil
the treacherous waters.
Our Press, too, with its almost omnipo
% tent, ubiquitous energy, has been extending
OF its work. Hundreds of millions of winged
Is messengers have been daily aud weekly dis
tributing the life-bood of society from the
in great fountains, throughout every artery