The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-01
/ q 3 8.

can only be expected at rare Intervals and no bet
ter test of general prosperity can be found than
the rarity Of their occurrence. How few strk
ing years have marked our own history. Passing
over the initial years which witnessed the Decla
ration Of Independence, the pace with England,
and the Inauguration of Washington the succeed
ing annals are dull till 1872, when the successful
vindcation Of American nationality sheds brief
light over the scene; to be followed by period
Of sober, dull fact till--when shall we say Some
will protest that the Missouri compromise ought
to redeem 1920 from obscurity others will have
it that Jackson's election and the final entomb-
ment of the ghost of federalism ought to make
us remember 1929, some will sOrrowfllly recol-
| lect 1887, and the same win plead that 1916
should be saved from Oblivion by the tariff OF
that year; all will agree that the campaigns of
! Scott and the acquisition of California embalm
| the dates 1s47 and 1913.
| The year 1856 has no such gores OF disasters
| to keep it in memory, and it will be forgotten,
| and will claim but little space in history The
events of the year, so far as the United
! States are concerned, have evidently been
the contest in Kansas, and the squabbles
| with England. How important these matters
| seemed to us at the time, yet how trivial they
will appear to the historian! WHAT shall he say
Of Kansas? That this Territory, prepared for
! education by sound organic act, was overrun
by settlers from New England on the one side
| and from Missouri and some Southern States on
the other, each DESTROYS of establishing their own
peculiar form of labor there and excluding all
others; that these two sets Of settlers growled at
| each other, and even came to hard knocks, as
became their sincerity and their stawart, earnest
Anglo Saxon lineage that, thereupOn, poor
man named Pierce, who wanted to purchase
Southern support, unlawfully interfered and
| tried to establish a military despotism in the
Territory. wbereat the whole strong heart Of the
North rebel)ed but that Pierce, losing his
chance Of reelection, gave up his unlawful
schemes, and left the men of Kansas to their own
devices upon which the whole hubbub subsidized,
and people forgot all about Kansas. What shall
he say of our disputes with England? That
foolish minister of hers, under foolish instruc-
tons from Lord Palmerston, broke our laws,
and was sent about his business as he deserved
and that the English made up their minds to it
that after being led to the brink of quarrel
about Central America by the knavish schemes
of politicians, the people of the two nations
in frank manly way, agreed that there
was nothing to fight about, and forced their di.
piomatists TO make terms of settlement: and that
after all the noise the dispute ended in suoke
Here are slender materials for history.
Europe win remember yearly the treaty of
peace. When the year opened the horizon
looked gloomy enough for Russia. Her finances
were exhausted, she was beaten in the duel at
Sebastopo her fleets we're sunk, her ports block
AIDED, and there was very clear prospect that ia
the season OF 1856, Cronstadt would be made TO
follow Sebastopol, and peace might be dictated
in the palace at St Petersburg Austria was on
the point Of joining the Western Powers. and. so
far as human foresight could 90, it seemed GER
tain that Russia would b. crashed According
ly, Alexander saved himself by making peace, NJ
zone cost of territory, and more cost o. prestige.
Since the treaty, the year has been consumed |
petty chickering's touching its fulflment.
France has bickered with England, aud England |
has bickered with Russia; at the time We write, |
preparations are being made for new confer |
eDce, out Of which almost anything may grow. !
Naples has continued 10 be the prey Of one OF the
most iBtoleIable despots in the world Spain has |
takes retrogradc step anu trembles on the verge
Of the usual quaerennial revolution. Persia, |
instieated by Russia has broken the treaty with |
E1gland and laid siege 10 Herat; thus prjyoking |
war, the beauty Of which is that the antagonists
cannot possibly get at each other.
Commercially the year has been an emineni'y |
pospcTOBs one. The cessation Of the drain iJr |
the war las greatly relieved the commercial |
world. But from the fact that that Drain was |
mostly supplied by bypotbecations Of the future.
the severity of the pressure has not been yet
withdrawn. But Il has been concealed. The |
French government, which is really on the verge |
oil bankruptcy, has made strenuous efforts 70 COD
ceal its condition, and has thus been led into ia
voring various financial bubbles. which. in q
sounder state, il would not have c0uptenancel for
moment In a similar manner. the remarkable
prosperity aud wonderful exuberance Of this
country have encouraged the formation Of cor
pcrate institutions on a basis sometimes quite inc.
dequate, end on principles at war with sound
financial policy. The railroad system. which has
received an extension commensurate with the ex-
tent Of our country and the speculative and en-
ierprising genius OF our people, has been pushed
to limits which place II beyond doub. thatt'
future agricultural and industrial deyclopemo {
Of this country will be Without example, but also
that nearly all our railroads, having
their purpose as instruments Of developemcnt
VIII he failures. as specula,ions for profit The
country can well afford to lose then in view ( |
the enormously increased wealth which they win
have been the means of creating.
On BILLION" Old Bullion" Is q brics
Should be survive four or Eve years longer. his
Ten Years Out Of the Senate. will make a mach