Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-01-04
The New Year.

AAC NS" L CesAs
The old year has departed, and is to-day
numbered with the great Past. leaving us
Present. The record of nations as we'll as
of individuals, for 1866, is made up and seal
cd, and therefore there is no changing it.
We must abide the consequences, what
ever they may be. and learn too by its sad,
or bright lessons, how better to meet the
duties and necessities of the New Year.
The changes wrought. socially. politically.
and physically during the busy period of
the past twelve months are marvellous. A
retrospective view of all the important
events would fill pages, instead of few
paragraphs in newspaper. Among these
marvels is the Atlantic Cable which brings
Europe with its rapid changes to ctr doors
in few hours. We take up Boston or
New York daily and look for telegraph
news OF hut a day or two old from across
the broad Atlantic with rs much eNpecta-
ton of finding the daily occurring events
of that far of land, as we do the transac-
tons of Our own land; and with the ex-
tended facilities of the metropolitan press
for gathering up ALI the noted events OF the
day, and the skin which has constructed
presses that will throw eff thousands OF
copies per hour, and the rapidity of the
mails on the railroad lines, the people can
read in their quiet lNmes thousands of
miles distant, in a few days after the trans
piration of important events. all the partic-
ulars. And yet how much do many pco-
pie realize the rapid progress making in
this line of human effort, and of what vast
sums of outlay it is all costing? But few
weeks since New York Journal made the
statement that the amount paid for the
item of telegraphing, only. in about
month, footed up to the enormous amount
of over $4,000.
But these reflections are not quite in the
line of thought that the New Year should
suggest, nevertheless the pregrees in this
line has been rapid and significant.
This country has made rapid progress
in the last twelve months in her material
interests. The crops have been abundant
and prices have been reinunerative; and
almost every person has been improving
in worldly prosperity. The nation has
reached the turning point in its finances
and has commenced to pay fits large
debt. debt that numbers can hardly meas
ure. and one that few years since the
semi-loyal man without faith in his co,in-
try's future greatness. or in Providence.
deemed so fabulous and onerous. that it
must be repudiatcd in the end.whilc to-day
or the year 1866 now past. has demonstrate
ed, that it can. be paid in twenty-seven
years, or in about the same time it took to
pay up the old national debt of Il few mill
ions.
There are now knocking for admission
into the Union new states that have grown
up almost with the rapidt. Of. Jonah,
gourd. and vet are rich and populous COM
munities. The Great West has become
the preponderating power in our political
system. and will ere long bear the leading
sway in the national politics. Tive year
just gone has demonstrated this fact. and
the other one also. that the South whether
it comes into the Union next month or
next year, will not dominate tire natiCn.-
1t has been shorn of its power. and because
of its own acts.
The elections of last summer and fall
proved that the people of this country will
take no backward steps in the great sSral
questions of the day. The President was
on trial az the polls and his step backward
was repudiated. His policy met with no
favorable response, save in Maryland which
continues to whip and sell men with black
skins. The President has not run as fast
as old Father Time has made tracks in the
line of human Freedom. lie will have to
take new departure.
But what of the Future? How much OF
human woe. Of retrogade movement. per-
haps, or of material, political and moral
progress lies hidden in the womb of 1867:
Who can tell? Let him that thinketh he
standeth take heed lest he fall" The good
resolutions of the new year may be broken
in moment. and we fail Of working out a
fair record; and so may the nation ALSO
This day is bright. and the skies are cloud
less, and thus auspiciously we enter lifes
great duties January 1867. May its end
find. as individuals aud as Il nation. that
we have acted our part we'll.
We wish You ail Happy New Year.