The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-12-29
The hePnslYear-PollsicaI Changes.

Before another week, We shall have en-
tered upon new year. The record Of the
past one, ls nearly made up. AZ usual,
births, marriages., deaths, war, pestiieuce,
accidents, and change, have marked its days
and months. To speak Of these therefore.
would be like telling an old story. There
have been. however, some movements in
the political and religious world, wortbysof
reflection.
In Europe many and important political
changes have occurred. War. has carried
on the work Of desciatiOn. -Four Of the
most powerful governments, ars involved IN
a sanguinsry conflict. All the other ma
tions are affected in greater or less degree
BY the controversy. The strife betweenthe
allied powers and Russia, is one OF the most
remarkable in history. Over one years
siege, in which three immense armies have
been wasted away. has resulted in the fall
of one part of Sevastopol. This is but a
doubtful victory for the allies, and when we
consider the blood and treasure expended,
the human lives destroyed, thrown away,
we can hardly attribute the war to any ele-
vation Of moral or political sentiment in
Europe. What will be the result Of this
long struggle, whether it will extend the
principles Of genuine Republicanism, a
mongthe nations or aid only in strengthening
the thrones of monarchists, is yet to be
In q commercial and social
point of view, it has been vastly injurious
Thousands of hardy laborers have been
called from industrial pursuits, to engage as
soldiers. Agriculture has as consequence
been neglected, commerce, crippled, and the
whole business and social economy Of the
continent, disturbed. So far then as we
can Judge, there has been but little social
advancement in Europe during the year
1855. .t.
In our own country, different scene
presents itself. AS nation, we have been
and are now at "peace with oil the world"
Our citizens have been permitted to engage
without interruption. in their yearly rounds
Of labor and enjoyment. The drouth Of
1854. was succeeded by overwhelming a.
bundance. New fields of industry and en-
terprise have beeh opened. Gardens have
been planted in the West Towns and cit
les have risen up as by enchantment The
car of civilization is moving on towards the
Pacific. In business and wealth our people
have advanced with rapid strides.
But there have been some disturbanccsoi
social and political kind. There have
been difficulties in Kansas. These have
grown out of an improper and highly CEN
surable effort upon the part of people out
side Of the territory, to regulate its institu'
tions. A party in the North, which olives
and moves and has its being" in agitation ;
which is always pratng about freedom, and
yet has never done anything to advance it,
deeming it an uuspicious time to make
converts, has arrayed itself against the well
established principles OF the Govern ment
and claims to be the arbiter of the rights
and interests of the territories. A party in
the South, welded to the institutions of sla
very, governed not by reason, but by the in
stinct of Devlish passion, has also risen
against the Government, and is also deter
mined at every hazard to control the loca
affairs OF the territories. Between thess
two parties, both reasonable in their princi
pies and objects--both denying the bindin:
force of the Constitution; a war has arisen
Kansas is the battle ground, and social an
archy is the result of the controversy. Blu
this excitement is only temporary. The $50
ber second thought" is coming, and Kansa
will be permitted, peaceably and with a fire
constitution, to join the union Of States.
i Civil and Religious liberty, have bee
ieopardized by the outrages of secret pa,
ty. The ballot box has been broken open
houses have been burned down, because the
chanced to be owned by naturalized citizen:
men have been murdered, because they wer
} the countrymen Of Lafayette, DeKalt
or Montgomery; others have been perse
cuted and driven from their homes, becaus
in their sincerity, they dared to worship Go
according to the creed of the Catholi
Church. Massachusetts,, Old Massachusetts
on whose soil the Pilgrim fathers landed,ha
/, renewed the sdperstitions and persecution
of the DAYS when men were put to death Il
witchcraft. Joseph Hiss has stolen the ga
: ments of Hancock, and Wilson hi
"crawled up into the seat of Webster
These things will soon pass away. and a
though many may regard the past year
having been marked political and NOR
retrograde, yet we believe that in the en-
the country will derive benefit therefrom.-
After the clouds that now hover about th
political horizon, shall have passed ava.
. the great and eternal principles Of civil AT
religious liberty, will shine forth with brigh
er lusture.
e Proposed Increased Pay Of Stat
CmcerS.
r In the late political campaign, the poll
l. clans who mustered under the black oil
e bloody banner OF Abolition Know Nothin
d ism, had much to say in denunciation of Il
. Democratic party, because its members