The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-02
A.. II. 1854.

Die least. we htt1 ~ mp - WAN"
white kids and patent leather boots, sadly |
dashing and splashing in the soft snow. Keep |
IL with pleasant dinners round '.the old maho-
gany tree and joyous assemblages in noisy |
drawing rooms, mid grlish laughter and boy !
ish FRANKS. with a polka rafting from the
piano. many a coy Irritation IN shady cor
ners and perhaps an old fashioned mislet ye
ambushed in some treacherous passage. X eep
il in our hearts as one more step towards ife's
end-one more reminder that, spite OF our
selves, we are growing old, and shall 500 have
to render some account OF our employr scnt Of
the talents the energies the opportunl dies, and
the means allotted tous in this world Keep il
as a nation, as the commencement II another
year, in which we shall be required to confess
all that we have done in the past, md prove TO
the world that our progress shall ever be com
mensurate with our increase in ye ars, progress,
and wealth Keep it as members of the great
family of man, and mark, ere an ether year rolls
over us, what unspeakable rev buttons the in
scrutable agency of our Maker shall have occa-
stoned in our midst
| Let those who may keep lew Year as time
of festivity. IT'S right that we should rejoice
| that we are permitted once more to inaugurate
| the renewal Of our leas OF this beauteous,
! bounteous EARTH But nobler. higher far is
the enjoyment Of him Who, raising himself by
an effort of the mind from the worlds surface.
looks dggn upon it as it revolves and measures.
with mathematical eye the progress and the
extent of the mental changes it is undergoing.
Last gear was but q preface, an exofdium to
this Look at the facts. Last year Europe was
quiet Austria and Russia prepared their de-
signs against Turkey, and foreshadowed their
execution. This year, they will be fully az
complisbed for evil or for good. In 1853, China
was convulsed by revolution which, hitherto,
las brought forth no tangible fruits. In 1851,
It may be that the Celestial throne may be filled
by liberal soveregn--that Christianity may
replace hideous paganism and that foreigners
may be freely invited to partake ofthe treasures
Of its soil. Last year Japan was a sealed let
ter. This year it may be an open book. In
4 January, 1853, President Pierce was the most
Il popular man in the United States; in January,
Il 1855. he may not know where to hide his dimin-
II ished head. Last year. Mexico was republic.
This year we shall see it an empire, and pos
siby again scene of frightful discord and
: anarchy. In 1853, the British possessions in
} India were placidly resigned to the British
sway. In 1854 we may see them throw of the
| yoke of servitude, and assert an evanescent
| independence Last year Australia was a pres
porous colony, without hopes of rising hey ond
the rank of province in 1854 we may yet
witness its declaration of independence. In
1868 the republicans Of Europe were cru she'd
and silent faction in 1854 it may be that their
foot will rest on the necks Of kings.
A hundred problems, each involving the hap
piness and prosperity of a large portion of the
jewellers on the earth will be solved this year.
Some will have portentous influence on the
progress Of civilization and he we'll being OF
humanity. All will call into play the highest
/; attributes of the historian and the philosopher
The men who live to see the lst of January.
I 1855, will have wherewithal to stir old memo
ries and fire young hearts, if they but watch
carefully the momentous course OF the year 1854
Our Municipal Reformation The New Conn
mon Councu-The Mayors Message.
The Common Council of New York, which
, closed its official career on the last day Of the
| old year. had the misfortune of earning for
r itself throughout this community a character
! for the grossest corruption and perversion OF
its responsible trusts. Throughout the past
summer the popular odium which attached to
the proceedings of the Aldermen and Assistants
was intensified to its highest degree and found
vent not only through the columns of the
, journals, but in mass meetings Of the citizens
i The natural consequence of this state of things
] was the giving birth to new municipal politi-
r cal association, which assumed the title of the
Reform party. and under whose auspices the
: State Legislature passed a bran new charter
Tor the city. This party finally ingratiated
itself in public estimation, and so succeeded il
having large proportion of its members elect
ed to discharge the duties Of Aldermen and
Councilman for the next term Out of tho
$ twenty two Aldermanic representatives of til,
a same number of wards, one half were returned
e or the strength of the reform principles ant
+ out of the sixty councilmen, just two-ffth'
> came into power on the like popular fiction
To-day this new corporation enters upon il,
official existence and the experience of yeal
: will show whether or not this community ha
placed too much reliance in the claptrap cry 0
' reform.
+ We ourselves have very little confidence il
: that cry, or In those individuals who are evel
] ready to take it up. We have had some expert
ence in these matters. We recollect not many
: years ago when the Common Council of thi'
,, city was installed under similar pretences: and
!. we know that more corrupt and prohigate sc
never disgraced our municipal records, from
the days Of Peter Stuyvesant down to the err
. when Broadway railroad schemes we're 80 reck
! lessly and fradulently patronized, and witha
. so successfully defeated. The reformers, VIII,
to-day enter upon the task OF winning back fol
our corporation the fair fame which has been