The Portland daily press., 1866-12-31
DAILY PRESS.
ND.
Monday Morning, December 81, 1866.
The Close of the Year.
PORTLAND

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Were it not known that the Roman year
began with March, one might easily believe
that January was named for the two-faced
Janus, on account of the tendency, so natural |
at the point of time which marks the d. |
vision of the annual cycles, to look forward |
and blackjack to the events which have tax
en- their place in history and forward to the
slowly rising curtain which hides the future.
1t is possible that the Etruscans, from whom
the Romans borrowed the god and his wor-
ship, did set Mr. Facing both-ways between
the years, beginning theil reckoning as we do
now, with January, and it is certain that his
principal festival was celebrated on New
Years day, which with the Romans fell on
the first OF March.
Every man takes on the Janus habit at this
season. So marked and distinct seems the
pause, that it is hard to realize how steadily
the earth continues her flight around the sun,
and how uniformly the clocks which are timed
u her motions beat up t, and straight past
the midnight instant which divides .he years.
We incline to regard history as drama, and the
New Years chimes as the tinkling of the bell
which rings up the curtain for new act. 1t
is rather panorama passing without cessation
before us, passing constantly out of sight in
to dim remembrance, coming constantly into
sight with new scenes more or less unlike our
anticipations.
The smoothly flowing canvas has disclosed
some memorable scenes during the twelve
month which ends tonight. We have seen a
President of the United States addressing
noisy crowd before the White House, and
similar crowds all the way to st. Louis and
back, man defiant, obstinate, angry, losing
his dignity with his temper, bent on control
ing the policy OF great nation by sheer bra
vado and violence of speech. We have seen
decorous body of sham patriots at Philade-
phia silently going through the motions OF ap-
proving the Presidents policy. We have seen
the people watching these singular phenome-
ma and going quietly to the polls to express
their well-considered opinion of them by the
deliberate condemnation of the ballot. We
have seen the rebellious spirit at the South
rising and falling with the Presidents policy.
We have seen an American Congress read
hitting black freemen to the polls in the Dis
trict which Congress controls. Too long de-
ferred, that good work is at last accomplished.
We have seen the same President SO openly
using the boundless patronage of his Office for
purposes of political corruption as to call out
an almost universal demand for the long need
ed reform in that direction. We have seen an
ignorant constituency electng convict. a
shoulder-hitter and a professional gambler to
represent them in Congress; and the outrage.
though not SO impressive as the spectacle of the
same people Tor years surrendering their city
gov rnment to a set OF thieves, and far less
impressive than the sight of an ignorant peo-
pie led blindfold into rebellion and war, has
nevertheless so shocked the public mind as to
develope firm conviction in many quarters,
that an elementary education is necessary
qualification for voting.
We have seen Reform marching up and
down the fast-anchored isle OF our ancestors,
with an immense following of unrepresented
taxpayers, clamorous for voice in the gov
eminent which they help support. We have
seen mutinous discomfort in ireland and
among the Irish Americans, breaking out in
to actual though brief fame of war along the
Canada line. We have seen the subjects of
Great Britain starving by thousands in India,
and her Tory leaders simultaneously raising a
fund for the defence o t her tyrannical COVER
nor of Jamaica. 1t has been our turn to
offer diplomatic advice, rendered in sweet
words but leaving bitter taste in the mouth
Va hay ire hfNI6
Mexico. We have seen Austria banished
from the German Empire, and Prussia rising
to the leadership of homogeneous Confeder-
alton which promises to give Germany her
due weight among the nations, We have seen
Italy profiting by the same movement to as
sert her claims against Austria, and France at
the very close Of the year leaving the temper
al power of the Pope to stand OF fall by its
own strength. Spain, shaking like volcano
at home, has languidly carried on a foreign
war in South America Paraguay and Brazil
face each other at this moment on the marshy
banks of the Parana.
Brief and imperfect as is this review OF the
great events of the closing year, it neverthe-
less marks clearly period OF rapid progress in
the right direction. A united Germany,
free and united Italy, blind groupings after
liberty in Spain, intelligent and determined
agitation in England, Mexico shaking off her
foreign enemy, emancipation in Brazil, at
home an undated, a confirmed determination
to secure the substantial fruits of the vic ,ory
OfLiberty over Slavery-are these not enough
for one year? The misfortnnes of the gal
liant Candiotes appeal to our sy mpathy. The
progress Of Russian armies in the interior of
Asia may mean good or harm. The Japan ese
commissions are barely Ineligible and seem to
lead to no important results. But there is a
heavy balance on the Credit side of the
Worlds Ledger. If we should do as good a
business next year, it is plainly more than we
have any right to expect