The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-31
The Old Year and the New-A Glance
Retrospective and Prophetic.

The Old Year and the New-A Glance
Retrospective and Prophetic.
The close of the year is always suggestive.
We naturally look back at such period upon
the events which have most prominently dis
tinguished it, and which stand out like land
marks above the waste Of minor occurrences,
and impress upon it distinctive character.
The history of eighteen hundred and sixty
is one Of no common magnitude In ii the
wheel Of life has revealed to us strange changes,
and shock has succeeded shock, and sensation
sensation, with rapidity before unknown to
u.s. Yet we are only in the vortex Of this
whirlpool of excitement on this last day
of what will soon be bygone year.
We find revolutions going forward stimuli
taneousiy on three continents. To our
selves, that Of our own country is first in
Importance and OF the most vital interest;
but we have still time to glance at Italy, and
China and Syria, and Turkey, where the hand
of revolution is equally busy. 1t is satsfac-
tory, in the midst OF 80 much contemporaneous
turmoil, to find, on analysis, that it all tends to
the one end, that of promoting and insuring
the liberty Of the people-the cause OF seli-go-
vernment Although we appear to be on the
brink of dissolution of what all the world has
esteemed The most glorious Union on the face
Of the earth, we are reminded that the break
age il threatened in defence of the same princi-
pies as those which gave existence to our re-
public. The revolution under which Italy for
the last three hundred years-the land Of super
stition, poverty and despair-has been throb-
bing SO loud and long, aims at the same
result Of personal and political liberty, and
the organization Of free institutions In
China, although the Emperor has for the
time being retained his throne, his prestige
has been 80 far diminished and his weakness
exposed that speedy downfall of his dynasty
in favor of the Tae-Ping rebels is inevitable.
In Turkey the "sick man" is almost dead,
and there is no promise of his recovery The
Sultan is so involved in debt and penury that
he has lost control, and the people are already
electing their own municipal rulers by popular
| suffrage. In Syria France viii not give up
| the hold which she acquired in September over
the Moslems and the Druses.
We have thus a year before us which pro-
misses to be as prolific in great events as the
one now terminating has been. In eighteen
hundred and sixty-one We shall see year of
no ordinary importance. Our swn destiny
the destiny Of this glorious constellation of
States--will be decided then; but we are con-
fdent that whatever occurs will be to advance
the righteous principle of independence. IN
doubtedly the great struggle of the ensuing
year, apart from our own, will be that of Italy
and Hungary against Austria. II Austria sue
ceeds, even at the outset; the new monarchy
will probably be at an end, and the Bourbon
dynasty will be re-established in Sicily. II
will therefore be momentous conflict,
which all the world will watch with anxious
interest.
That on three continents revolution should be
going forward contemporaneously is singular
enough, but that they should all have the
same object ar
enlightenment .t H4s insIsl.
tons tend to- Eli.
no governmer .e8