The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-01-09
The Past Year,

Each year that passes away and is added to'the
number of those forming the worlds history, van
ishes from before us never to return. The many
scenes enacted upon the great stage of human ex-
istence disappear, and give place to Others, while
many of the actors sink into oblivion Thus passes
year after year, each adding its portion of nstruc
ton to the lessons of experience, developing some
new truth, and marking some new step in the jour-
ney OF human progress. We cannot expect in i'm
aglnatlon to recall past events, we cannot make
the dead live, nor time retrace its footsteps; but
each moment of the present and the future has
stamped upon it the impress of things that have
been. We are now in the commencement of a
new year, having survived one which in the future
annals of the world will hold a more conspicuous
position than any which has preceded it, Histo-
rians will look back to 1848 as the commencement
of a new era, as the dawn of brighter day to the
human race In the life of man there are said to
be certain grand climacterics, in passing through
which the constitution of the individual undergoes
some change, and in the history of nations an al
tentive observer may detect many such periods of
transition. The year 184S is the grand climacteric
of civilized society-it has witnessed the overthrow
of kings, the flight of tyrants, and more than all,
the manifestation, and almost universal acceptance
of an idea of social progress tits truly the begin
ming of revolution of mind, a revolution anima-
ted by idea. In this the new revolution differs
from that which convulsed Europe half a cen.
fury ago. Then the material philosophy of Vol
taire, D'Holbach Mirabeau and COndorcet, had
impregnated all classes of society; religion and its
votaries, were, as perhaps they then deserved to
be, ridiculed, and persecuted-materalism tri-
umphed in every thing-and the result was anar-
chy and failure. A different spirit now animates
mankind society has begun to acknowledge the
supremacy of mind, and to render homage to an
idea 1t is this sentiment alone which can educe
organization from confusion, and tear order from
the embraces of anarchy. This is the lesson taught
by the year 1S49 and its teachings will be cast
forgotten upon the stream of time, TO be borne to
the abyss of oblivion. The lesson is taught the
moral is pointed, but the effects still to come
Our own country has also wrung lesson from
the bosom of the fadedsyear. Republicanism,
knowledged an element of strength at home, has
been shown an accessory of power abroad. Our
claim to position in the first rank among the ma
tons of the earth is no longer denied, and our
country has added to its magnificent domain an
empire more extensive than the kingdoms of the
Old World. Peace smiles again upon our fertile
plains, and our people remain happy and contented
under the operation of their benefcent institutions
Who shall say then that lS4S will not stand forth
in history a monument in the course of time 1t
has shown that oppression, injustice, and Unequal
ity, produce instruction, revolution and war,
while liberty, justice and equality, promote the
happiness ofnations. increase their power and aug
ment their prosperity.