Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-01-07

The new He0r'
Custom. as we'll as the necessity on the part of
Editors to have something to write about, generally
leads them at this season to indulge in such refec
tons upon the past and antcipations for the future
as they at least may deem most proper and suitable
to the occasion Whether their opinion upon this
point is in all cases shared by their readers, is more
than questionable.
After ALL however, the usage is good one There
can be no better opportunity for retrospect of the
past with view or correcting its errors, nor for
looking forward into the future, for the purpose of
improving the advantages which it may Afford than
at the commencement of a new year, when the
changed date of every letter and document orcibly
reminds us that fresh miepost has been passed on
the Journey of lfe-that another year has gone to
repose with the buried centuries which have prece-
ded it.
Although less stirring than some Of its immediate
predecessors, 1852 has been equally eventtul with
any Of them and perhaps more real and permanent
" important measures have been either consumma-
ted or initiated, than in 1848-the great year
of Revolutions. Certain it is, that the peaceabe ell
ovation of Louis Napoleon to the Imperial throne of
France, by overwhelming ma ority of the people
of that country bids fair to influence powerfully the
foreign policy not only of European Governments,
but also of our own Confederacy. The movements
of the French in st Domingo-their threatened in
reference on behalf of Spain, should any difficulty
occur on account of Cuba. combined with the gener
al tone and professions of the Imperial Government,
are far from assuring circumstances can it be
considered unreasonable if serious apprehensons
should be entertained of some difficulties arising from
the attempted movements Of European despotisms in
this Hemisphere. These fears may all be disappOn-
ted Time will show, but we should be prepared for
all emergencies for as matters stand, can
not, indeed, know what day an hour may bring
forth. We have reached critical point in for
egn relations The incoming year is charged with
the unravelment and solution of many mysteries,
among the rest, the composition of Gen. Pierce's
Cabinet as well as the foreign policy, which circum-
stances and careful regard for the honor and inte
rests of the country may render necessary.
The unparalleled Democratic maj ority in this coun-
try being it was, essentially Free Trade victo-
ry and the endorsement of liberal commercial pol
icy by a vote in the British House of Commons of
seven, eighhs in favor of Free Trade to ighth
against it, have testified very strongly the cOndem-
mutton Of the doctrine of mercantile restriction by
the two most commercial nations Of the world, so
that Protective Tariff may now be said to have ia
magazine of g obsolete IDEAS
The nation, with great sncereness and unanimy,
has paid it's tribute Of sorrow and respect to the
memory of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, who
died within the past year. Nothing, perhaps could
better exempify the beauty of our system and its
adaptation to people, than to observe how little
how less than litle-the progress of public events
has been affected by their removal able and infuen-
tial as they PROFESSIONALLY 1t is, doubt,
wise provision of which teaches to forget
How many estimable and useful members of society
have died around during the last year. whose
places the moving current of events has already
closed, and their memory has no longer vital exis
tence tangible place save in the regrets of theil
immediate relatives and friends. Such is life, anG
perhaps it is right that it should be 1t is better
TO derive encouragement from the hopes of the flu
ture than to borrow gloom from the losses or mis-
fortunes of the past. We earthly reason VIII!
1853 should not be year of prosperity and success
both to our country and to individuals, why i
should not be-so far. at least, the inevitable
and vicisitudes of life will admit-"a Most Happ
New Year"