The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-01
The Past Year.

The Past Year.
The year which ended with yesterday win
hereafter take rank among the most momentous
Of the present century and Of modern times.
At it's birth it found America and most of Eu-
rope and Asia at peace, nationally as veil as
commercially; it leaves them plunged in ma
tional wars and financial trouble All was
quiet on the LIST of January last in nineteen
twentieths of the globe; it is now difficult to
find spot which is not q prey to some unna-
tural con gulsion. Twelve months have entirely
changed the aspect of the world.
On the LIST January last, the United States
enjoyed tranquility and prosperous times.
Sunk as the administration was even at that
time in public esteem, it had not been deemed
capable OF doing much mischief and in the
heyday Of successful trade, politics had been
left to vsgabonds and idlers For every man
had apparently been making fortune. Money
had been plentiful, dollars had flowed into
every pocket, prosperous enterprises had in
vited investment on every side. With the
LIST January, 1854, the change began. Many,
sick of political corruptions, sought to form
new party on basis Of honesty; the Know
Nothings made their appearance just at the
right time: crowds focked round their banners,
and on the 9th January Know Nothing was
elected Mayor Of Boston. This victory was
followed by others In the same month it was
ascertained that the administration had offered
Santa Anna gift of twenty millions Of dollars,
nominally as the price of q strip of barren land;
such wholesale corruption gave fresh stimu-
lusto the new reform party. A tremendous at
tempt was made by a few wings and hungry poll
ticians to make political capital out of bill
introduced to regulate the government Of tue
Territories Of Nebraska and Kansas; and for
while their intrigues availed SO far as to pro-
duce widespread agitation throughout the
North. But the holowness Of the scheme was
soon disclosed The people saw that, party
against party, the anti-slavery men were as cor
rupt as the wings and democrats, and far less
safe; they left their leaders in the urch after
six months compaign, and held fast to che Know
No,hings, who gave substantial promise of pro.
bity and sobriety. EARLY in the year, too, a
bold attempt was made by the Legislature Of
New York to introduce the first of series of
sumptuary laws in the shape of prohi6itory
liquor law; this was fortunately vetoed aud
the spread of drunkenness being traced to the
example Of political leaders at elections, the
new party derived additional strength in con-
sequence. Every event seemed to favor it's
success, All over the country, in New England,
New York Missouri, Ohio, and Louisiana,
the turbulence Of the Irish caused bloody
riots, and the military were called out.
tIation conducting themselves disgracefally,
fresh discredit fell upon the old political
system under which they were appointed. A
piratical outrage on a defenceless city In Cen
tral AmcriCa, oUmmistcd Wy United States
sloop of-war acting under orders from the Pre-
sident, wrought the public feeling to the high
est pitch Of excitement; and every man Of honor
party whose chief could perpetrats such infamies
Al the year wore on commercial disasters agra
waited the unea.iness Of the public mind Apartial
failure Of the crop and the absorption of gold
by the Sub Treasury and the foreign despotism
which Mr.. Pierce had undertaken to support on
ten years If prosperity and extravaganza were
sure to entail. Discredit and distrust paraiyzed
trade ON every ride. In the midst OF all, the fall
elections took place: proving nothing, 30 dis
jointed and disorganized were parties, but that
the masses all over the country we're disgusted
with the party in power. roIiucalIy, as well
as commercially, the year 1864 has been in this
country o year of destruction and confusion: it
ia left for 1865, or more probably for 1856, to
rebuild the shattered edidce.
Early in January, 1854, the Turks, under
Omer Pacha, nobly defended their country
against q Russian invader, and opened the
years work by capturing Citale. shortly az
forwards, fearing the growing power Of Russia,
Great Britain and France made common cause
with the Sultan, and declared war against the
Gear. A feet was sent to the Baltic, which
accomplished nothing. An army was despatch
ed to the Danube, but the Turks defended their
own border successfully; and an expedition set
ont against Sebsstopol 1t landed at Eupato-
ria, marched towards Sebastopol, carried the
Alma, strongly fortified position, and invest
ed the port 90 the southern and eastern sides,
the feet being the bssis Of operations. A ca
valry skirmisn at Balakiava cost the British
bali that arm. A sortie at Iakermann was re
pulsed, but sixteen thousand men on both sides
were left on he field The siege still continues,
Meanwhile, the Western Powers seek Co obtain
an alliance with Austria, thus aba adjoining oil
pretension 10 principle in the war.
In Asia, the first months of the year wit
messed the conclusion Of treaty between the
United States and the Emperor of Japan, which
win probably be tns prelude to thriving rade