Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-01-05
Written for the Cedar Falls Gazette.
The Old and the New Year.

! Human life, together with all its en-
! Payments of labor and rest, pleasure
and pain, health and sickness, is meas
ured by these periods, be they long or
short. Ali business men ofsystem have
their periods Of settlement and adjust
ing their accounts. So it should be
with nations governments, communi
ties and individuals.
The close Of year and the beginning
Of a new one are mile, posts in the his
tory Of a nation, or the fe-journey OF
al individual, at which we may well
pause and look back upon the past, ami
reflect and mediate for the future.
The past year has been an eventful
one to us as nation, as well as to many
individuals. When 1865 ushered in, our
country was yet in war. Dark clouds
overhung our political horizon. The
| fourth month was the most eventful OF
the year. In this month the rebellion
was crushed, and all loyal hearts beat
| for joy. The echoes of rejoicing had not
ceased vibrating, when the lightning
news shocked the nation with the in
telligence OF that fendish and diabolcal
act which robbed the people of their
chosen leader. Our joy was suddenly
turned into the deepest Mourning
Never before in the annals of history
did a people feel so deeply bereaved. -
Never was there exhibited such univer-
sal and extended tokens of regard for
President, Monarch or King.
In the death of the rebellion, peace
WAS again restored. An army OF one
million has been reduced to less than
one hundred thousand.
Last, but not least, of the great events
Of 1865, was the ratification by over
three fourths Of the States Of the
Amendment of the Constitution forever
a5o!ishing Slavery in the United States.
Glory enough for one year. Should we
not recognize the hand of that Supreme
Ruler, who has preserved Us as q nation
through one of the most desperate con-
tiicts of historical record, and left us in
possession OF our institutions, unfair
nished and unframed?
The events of the old year have OPEN
ell large field OF labor for the philan-
thropist, reformer and Christian.
-Four millions of people, without
homes or education, degraded by OPP
preston, now stand before us i'm new
relation, and demand our sympathy
and the exercise of those principles of
right and justice as laid down in our
Declaration ofIndependence. Not only
these, but millions more OF our own
brothers, that are as destitute, and ma
ny of as little culture.
Whilst the country has been engaged
in a four years war, and the bone and
sinew Of the nation has been largely
called 10 the scene of action, and the
souls and thoughts of patriotic men and
women at holne have been absorbed to
a great degree with the c0untry's desti-
ny, vice in its manifold forms has
grown 10 an alarming extent all over
/ The land.
| Incompetence and RIGHTEOUSNESS with
their whole prodigy Of evils, have mul
tiPlied their victims, desecrated and
/ severed many social ties. brought dis
grace, pain, and worse than death into
many happy family.
humanity, virtue and divine Justice
nave been outraged, and call upon NOR
"iity ana religion TO tulhtl their office.
IN our reflections OF the events OF the
ola year. ana cur plans anu meditations
ipf the new year, each man, woman
ana enid may ma something TOR their
| nan" 10 40
| Inc parent, teacher, pulpit and press
S""Ntd not falI TO unite III one grand
pia!ahH ana put iorIh their efforts to
! dFE up Tie sources from which spring
THESE streams OF poison and corruption,
10 when the rising generation is expos
ed,