Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-12-27
The Closing Year.

memorable events in modern times.
In our own country, it is true, moth
ing Of any great interest has taken
place, in comparison with the events
OF some years Immediately proceed
ING; but acrosstho ocean among our
European neighbors, some rcmarka-
bio political changes have occurred.
Poor, degenerate Spain, after be-
ing tossed about by the vague and
changcablo ideas Of her people, can
vassing all Europe for o Sovereign,
flirting with counts and dukes, has
ultimately succeeded in obtaining a
head for her government and king
for her throne, in the person of the
Duke Of Aosta, son Of Victor Eman-
ueL King Of Italy. The imported
monarch gathers up the fallen reins
Of the Spanish government and OK
poets soon to reconstruct the same
on a frmer and more liberal basis
but il will be some time before the
numerous political factions will tacitlv
submit TO the new and foreign king.
The accession Of an Italian prince to
the throne Of Spain will doubtless
unite the interest Of those two now
ers, and mutually strengthen each
other.
For some time Victor Emanuel has
been DESTROYS Of making Rome the
capital Of his kingdom, but was pro.
hibitcd from eonsumating his designs
by the threatening attitude ofNapo.
leon who kept an army Of French
soldiers in the eternal city" toprotect
tile temporal power Of the Pope. and
prohibit Italy from absorbing his
small dominions. But when the
Emperor ofthe French began a cause
less war against Russia, oslensbly
ma the interests Of Spain, but really
y strengthen tho pillars Of his own
government and legions Of Prussian
soldiers were quartcrcd in French
towns and cities and marching on
with firm and steady steps to the
capital Of France, Napoleon was com
PEELED to withdraw his forces from
Rome, and Victor Emanuel took
peoccabIe possession of the city and
territory hitherto known as the tenn
poraI dominions Of the Pope. The
80 called Vicar Of Heaven is allowed
to retain the dignity and honor of a
Sovereign Prince, but the city Of
Romulus is no longer separated from
the kingdom Of Italy.
In the meantime the Prussians
continue to wrost stronghold after
stronghold from the French unit
ofsCocl around the very citadel o
strength, capitulaticn of which is on
- a question Of time. Just forty
days from the commencement Il
hostiIties Napoleon was a prisonc,
At Sedan, and his dynasty entirely
oyerthrown Never in tho history
OF the world has the downfall and
overthrow Of powerful monarch
been more surprising and prccipi.
tous.
Russia, dissatisfied with the terms
OF the treaty of Paris in 1856. which
restricted her to ten small unarmed
ships in the Black Sea and forbids
her erecting any fertilization on her
own territory bordering on the sea
seeing her strongest and most for
midabIc foe humbled and crushed
under the iron heel Of Prussia and
the remainder Of the signatorv now
ers unprcparod for war, boldly asser-
ted her determination to abrogate
the treaty. But finding tho other
powers, England, Austria. Italy
Turkey and Franco-nations correl.
a,ivcly bound by the contract-de-
termined to resist any infraction Of
the treaty, Gortsakotr has some.
what sottened in the tone of his din.
lomatic cpistlcs, and the matter is
submitted to an European CONGRESS-
The closing year has had lis duo
share of religious interest. The Ro.
man Catholic Eeumouical Council
which held its recent protrac.od and
somewhat discordant sessions M
Rome, astonishod the world by mas.
sing the decree Of Papal infallibiiitv.
abont tive-eighths Of the bishops vot-
ing IN favor Of its passage. From
published statistics, il is evident that
Protestant churches and especially
the great representative donomina.
tons, both At home and abroad. have
not only greatly multiplied their
numbers, but have become more uni
Ted IN spirit and effort, so chat the
I'll arc beginning to look for a
grand uuilieation Of churches NOT far
in the future.
All over the civilized world tho
the year has been one of intellectual
growth and development but espec-
mlly IN our own country. Year bv
year our people are oxcelline them.
selves in educational facilities moth
ing 1t would seem is left undone to
or'ng the masses to the highest pos
s'o!e culture and enlightenment
Taking q retrospect of the wear
IRON an American agricultural stand
point we have no reason to COM
plain, The inferior quantity ofsmall
grain is almost balanced bv tho vcry.
superior quality, while the Weld ~
corn is the best for several wears
Pork is lower than last year. but the
best that the country has ever pro
duccd and tattened at the least ex-
pense.
H9dH readers, Happy New
Year" to you all May it be our
pleasant privilege for many wears