The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-12-30
A Happy New Year.


Ere we again address our readers, the
year 1868 will be closed, and another
page of the history of the human race will
be written out in full. The stern finger Of
Time points unrelentingly to the next page
with its contents hidden to our poor NOR
tai eyes, known only to Him before Whose
omniscent eye Past and Future shrink to-
gether into eternal presence.
This has been year of calamities in
many parts of the world. Nature herself,
throwing open her powerful arsenals, for
purposes unknown to US, seemed to wage
war upon our race, and dreadful were the
effects of her mighty blows North and
South on the neighboring Continent.
Alas! our peaceful islands, gems of the
Pacific, have not been spared, and the dole
full sacrifice Of hundred human beings, de-
stroyed by the formidable volcanic out
break on Hawaii in April last, was a sad
tribute to be paid to the powers Of earth
quake.
But although the hand of the invisible
Ruler Of all things was heavily felt by US
on that occasion, yet if we throw glance
over the political and social condition of
the different portions of the earth, we will
easily see that light and shadow have been
distributed in manner which appears to be,
by no means. to our disadvantage.
Some countries have found their ener-
gies repressed and their resources crippled
by the burdens of past wars; others by
apparent preparations for coming ones,
while Spain actually has commenced
new revolution, fraught with momentous
consequences to herself, and probably to
the rest of the world. Mexico still pre-
sents her usual aspect of anarchy and con-
fusion, while war and disturbances have
brought their usual disasters to some of
the South American States.
Looking towards the setting sun, we
perceive country but lately opened to
commerce, and of growing importance to
the civilized world, torn by civil war, the
progress of which is wrapped in mystery,
while its disastrous results are unfortu-
nately of nature little adapted to encour-
age commercial enterprise.
The. bygone year may be called prosper
GUS in many respects. Although the i'm
portation of foreign manufactures has
been unduly large, and the realized profits
on capital employed in the importing, job
bling and retailing business here, will aver
age considerably below those of the pre-
vious five years, prices having only been
favorable to the consumers of all kinds of
foreign goods, yet the general result of last
years business has proved profitable.
Our steamer connection with San Fran
cisco may now be considered as a well Sc
cured and firmly established institution,
facilitating the exchange of our produce
against the produce and manufactures Of
the United States, and more especially
of the Pacific States. Our sugar planters
generally, look back upon their years la
Dor with satisfaction. The result of the
whale fishery, conducted by vessels under
the Hawaiian flag, from this port, has not
been so satisfactory indeed, as it might be
expected, but the general average of the
catches CT whalers recruiting at this port
is nevertheless. above that of the previous
year, which has encouraged the fitting out
of more vessels from our islands than was
done last year.
Where there is light, there must needs
be shadow, however, and so the country
had 10 bewail the death Of a venerable,
time-honored Chief, the Father of two of
its Kings.
May Hope, that sweet consoling angel
of mankind. lead US gently over to the
new year, tightening up our passage when
ever it becomes dark; may Faith. that
mightiest shield of our race, strengthen Us
whenever the journey gets dreary and our
hearts grow sad; and may Lore, that SUI
preme virtue of Christian, sooth the
burden of the cross which all and any Of
Us may have to bear.
TenderinD to our readers the comnli-
ments of the season, we wish them all
a Happy NsiO Yerl