The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-01-01

The last day of l64S u past, and the first of the
New Year dawns upon us. 1t will be welcomed as
usual by social festivities, bright hopes and wishes
for the future, the meeting Of friends and the re-
Cancellation OF enemies These are events which
always characterize the opening of the year, mark
ing it as the commencement of a new cycle of
human existence. Joyousness and festivity are the
order Of the day, and so let all the world partici-
pate; the young, the DID, the rch the poor, the Ia
borer in his cottage, the nabob in his palace the
old man descending to the tomb, and the youth in
the first bloom of the Spring time of life. Many
friends will cement their friendships, it is to be
hoped many enmities will be reconciled but when
the New Year comes again, how few may meet
where many parted. In the bright hopes and ex-
pectatons which we form for the coming year, let
not forget the events of the past. As experience
is always the best guide for the FUTURE it is well
that we should for short time turn our eyes from
what lies before, and scan again the ground we
have already traversed. The year which has just
completed its course, short though it may appear in
the long vista of the worlds history, is crowded
with events which will cause it to stand out in such
bold relief that posterity will look back to it as the
beginning of a new era. The European world has
again become troubled and convulsed. Thirty
years of peace, with their triumphs of science and
of art, their accumulation of general wealth, and
impoverishment of the masses, have passed away,
and the genius Of war stalks over Europe, lighting
its devastating blaze in every land. But not now
as in former years. is war the mere strife of ambi
tious princes, but it has become contest of princi
Piles of democracy against tyranny. The people are
aroused from their lethargy. and the thrones which
still remain, totter to their foundations Scarce had
the year lS4S commenced, when the world was as
tonshed by the Partisan instruction, the flight Of
the monarch, the romantic scene in the Chamber of
Deputies, and the proclamation of Republic.
Upon the serene and unru1ed calm of politics they
came as a clap of thunder in cloudless sky Such,
indeed, it was its reverberations were heard in
Milan and Venice, in Berlin, Vienna, Frankfort,
and Hamburg, and soon the whole continent, which
but shortly before was calm as the Pacifc's wave,
resembled in its wild fury the maelstrom of the Nor
wegian coast The pillows of popular rage, in their
upheavings, overturned the throne of France, and
nearly swept away those of Austria and Prussia.
Thus the year commenced, thus it continued, thus
in Europe it has ended. What contrast does our
own country present. Her people, happy and con-
tented under the operation of their benecent insti
tutions, have passed through that periodical transit
ton from one administration to another, which in
other countries is the almost certain precursor Of
revolution or instruction, yet with us the vctors
and the vanquished mingle tremendously, pro-
tected by the same Constitution and the same laws.
During the past twelve months the war which we
waged has been conducted to an honorable termina-
ton, and the laurel which had bound the victorious
brows of our soldiers exchanged for the olive.
Our territory, before ample, has been increased by
the addition of one of the most magnificent empires
of tn. world, an empire whose very sands sparkle
with an exuberance of gold. What dreams of
wealth, what splendid visions does the name of Cali
fornia not conjure up. But in the midst of these
golden dreams a gloomy aspect arises, lowering
upon our joys, and dashing the cup of happiness
from our lips The returning pestilence has inva-
ded our land, carrying death into many circle,
and misery to many heart. Thus ends the Old
Year, and begins the New with the souls of men
famed with the desire for gain, and the Asiatic
plague recommending its deadly and terrible march,
~ Jackson Fire Co. No. 10. The Officers and
1awraara AH1