The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-01-01
The old Year and ,be New

The Old Year and the New.
Anybody who expects anything new
to,be said to-day upon the'gsneral sub
ject of the New Year will in all proba-
bility be disappointed. For several
(may We not say many y years the sub
ject in question has been discussed at
this season, and in such variety of
ways, that to say it is severely ex-
hansted would hardly be an exagger-
sted manner of putting the case. New
ertheless, remorseless custom considers
"nothing to say" poor excuse for say
ing nothing. With all possible respect
for the mercilcss demands of the occa-
sion, we prepare the annual infiiction.
1867 is dead, to begin with. The fact
will Lot be questioned, whatever may
be said Of the originality of the expires
sion. The last midnight bell proclaim-
ed it, and as it's final stroke ceased, the
funeral ceremonies, eoinciaent with the
dissolution, were completed. That
shadowy and hungry monster, called
by poets and bilious lovers, the Past,
supped just then. He made a meal Of
Times dead child.
While nobody mourns the departed {,
there are none upon whom it has not
left its impress. Upon some, its touch
has been light, like the hand of bene-
diction. Upon others, it has heaped
the heaviness of atfictien. Here il has
written wrinkle, there it has silvered
O hair. One cheek has lost a dimple,
another has gained rose In one
home prosperity has come down like
the sunbeams; in another misfortunes
have thickened like the clouds.
Here fair character has matured and
been stamped witt the patent of no.
bility. There vice has enlisted votary
and marked victim. Each day of the
dead year has wrought its work for
good or i'll; each will stand as an ac-
cusing or approving witness, when the
Courts of the Eternal are opened.
With the death of the Old comes the
birth Of the New. 1868 appears and the
whole world becomes Committee on
Resolutions to receive and welcome it.
To be sure the resolutions are not gotten
up with special reference to the guest.
Still, as they are Of the customary kind,
the guest will be as well pleased, as If
they were personally compliment
tary or congratulatory. As every
body knous. said resolutions are
reformatory in character. As we
don't propose to say anything
new or striking By this homily, it will
not be necessary to refer, in this con-
nection, to the paving material used
upon certain road when we shall lose
many friends. or many friends shall lose
us, as they OF we may deem most COM
Portable, Nevertheless, had we an acre
of land for every square yard of the
aforesaid road that will bepayed to-day,
If we did net enter upon agricultural
pursuits it would not be for want of q
farm. ,-,. $500. ..-.. ..o.., ,sf.r71-
aDismissing the matchmaking busi-
ness let MS look at the path which 1868
is opening. For many Of us it will be
wearisoms and long and memorable. Ii
is beset with many. disasters. Itisoyer-
cast with many shadows, 1t leads
through the midst of mighty events
The absolute suffering, which the fu-
ture reserves for many Of our people,
cannot now be estimated. The bust
nsss' of tie country especially, has q
stormy year before it, Fq,vhat extent
wise Legislation and prndent manage.
meit will avail in averting commercial
calamity, mono can foresee. All, how
ever, can understand that general dis.
tress is inevitable, and that the fatality
and ruin of 2 fnaneial panic are immi, mn
nent. sss.F afri EsE z :
Alarge section of our country is in
utter destitution. The entire South is
threatened with the visitation of fam
inc. Already, hundreds of thousands
are barely subsistins, and unless the
hand of q liberal charity interposcs,
starvation win soon be upon, them,
With Q general crash at the North,
bringing poverty and want to our own
doors, The fntess Of the Southern peo-
pie beeonss fearful to contemplate. 10
The political events of 1868 will WELD
momentous indpeucs 'suon the destiny
of1AnsficzA 0 olhsalutions A terrible
trial of their stability viii ave ,be@ehn b@h
determined before the year shat have
rolled away. Upon the one side ~ll,bs
arranged. the, friends of Law Um>ri
honest government, and the psrforui
anee of the Constitution. Upon th
other will be gathered those VIII
would make the will and welfare of
party of more value than all our inst
tutiOns end oil epr;laws. Should the
triumph, athe problem Of self-goverr
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