Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-01-01

The Old ana the Nsw Ysar--l9eL aad 1883.
The oldYsar hes closed Its svontfulmsreh,
and We siandupon the threshold Of the New.
The Book Of Time does not chronicle year
of greater import TO mankind than the one
the tOllingo Of whose dying hOur still rings in
our ear, and though We cannot but realize in
its death our nearer approach to things inn
mortal, the feeling that in the womb Of lie
successor rests the greatest boon that can be
vouchsafed to man, the triumph of Liberty
and right over oppression and wrong, in
spires US to hail with joy the New Year, even
though in so doing we forget the Obsequies
due to the Old. What a multitude Of sor-
rows and fears and dark forsbodings-what
sacrifices and heart -buFnings-what terrible
bereavemenis and soul-searing griefs, derk-
ened the hours of the Old Years life. Her
fOotstops we're marked in blood, and the tears
and cries Of the widowed and orphaned were
her daily songs. Her days planned and her
nights executed human destruction. Every
whore in the land death followed upon her
steps-death to the holy and the beautiful,
to the strong and the weak, to the noble and
the iguoble-the blood of all alike mingled
to dye her garments and mark her career Of
devastation. True, every year has it's trials,
but for the most part they are the DEGREES of
Omnipotent Wisdom for the instruction and
redemption of His children. But those of
the year Just closed were not all of this
source; the severest of them were the out
growth of mans unhallowed passions. In
no other year in the history of our glorious
country has the dark form of Treason cast
its deathly shadow over the lardi in no
other year have father and son, brother and
brother, been arrayed against each other in
hostile strife. But the Old Years declining
sun gave token of a coming day of gladness,
before whose bright and bene6cent march
the clouds of sorrow and despair shall melt
away, and those of peace, prosperity and
happiness sdorn the heavens. Perhdy is
seeking where to hide itself from the ap-
proaohing wrath Of retributive Justice, and
stands trembling with fear at the terrible
doom that awaits it. The horizon of the
New Year is bright with promise, and we
need look but little way ahead to see the
utter discontinue of the despoilers of our
homes, and of our nationsl and individual
peace and prosperity. Let Us take fresh
courage, then, and on the threshold Of the
New Year renew car pledges of devotion to
the cause of humanity throughout the world,
and prepare ourselves afresh to meet the
great responsibilities which God has charged
us with.
"The year, alasl ia gone
Forever from the world He seemed too strong,
Too mighty e'er to die. He laid his hand
On breathing millions, and they sunk beneath
The green grass of the grave; he blew aloud
The trumpet-b blast of battle, and dark hosts
Met in the talshock, and when the fame
And smoke of conflict had gone by, they lay
Like Autumn's red leaves on the plain; he passed
Ger earth, and at each wave of his broad wings,
Volcano, earthquake, whirlwind, storm and food
sprang up beneath the silent spell, and wrought
The fearful errands of their destinT;
Yet now, his own great mission done, be lies
On scorched and broken pinions with the dead,
There, there to sleep.
Years die,
And centuries die, and there viii come day
When the dread angel of the Apocalypse,
Standing on land and sea, will lift his hand
And swear that time shall be no more.
Yet thou,
Gilman, wilt never die. The earth will pass
2 4g,,-
Be rolled together as a scroll, but he,
Beneath whose feet the sun and stars are dust,
Hath said that thou shalt never die"