Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-01-01
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY. MORNING, JAN. /, 1870.
Farewell 1859.

'Sixty.nine is gone. Its triumphs and
troubles are numbered with the past. A
momentous year it has been to the people
of this coast, witnessing the completion of
the grand work which brings us within a
weeks journey of our old homes; great
year for our Territory, in which scores of
our noted men have learned from personal
observation what Nature has done for us.
While its course in some countries has
been rendered memorable by earthquakes
of unusual violence, or the remorseless
tread of pestilence or famine, our country
has been unusually favored.
It is with more than ordinary emotion
We pen the article which fills this column
ut the close of each successive year. The
mind will revert to the past, and We are
filed with mingled joy and sorrow, as the
incidents are passed in hasty review
The Future is sealed volume before u.s.
Day by day, leaf by leaf, each life-history
il written. The fair pages Of the new year
are as yet without blot or blemish, their
purity has not been furnished by touch,
and it is for each individual to determine
whether the record shall be such that,
standing upon the Threshold Of the de-
parting year, Memory will delight to
dwellupon the page, or whether Conscience
will close the book in sadness and despair.
As each chapter is written, it passes be-
youd our power to change it. If it is pol
luted by sin, the purity of the remainder
will not obliterate the stain. If it is en-
nobled by heroic deeds of self denial or
philanthropy, there the mind will delight
to linger, then we are filled with pleasure
at the retrospect.
Let US, then, begin the new year with a
determination to do right; with charity
for the frailties of humanity and love for
all. How much Of human misery would
be assuaged, how much happiness would
be diffused, how much nearer Heaven
Earth would be brought, if everybody
would make the Golden Rule the guide
if each would love his ncighbor As him.
self: The suggestion may sound some.
what chimerical. 1t may be affirmed that
at the present stage of the worlds advance.
nsut, it is asking too much that man should
all at once forget self and be filed with
the "milk of human kindness" Here
the common mistake Is made of abstain
ing from effort because Perfection cannot
b attained. Each may do something,
and success, even in moderate degree, is
worthy Of great effort. Danish, then, all
rancor and hate. Restrain those impulses
which have for their object the mere graf
i6cation Of selfish purp oses.s Meet your
fellow mao in the spirit of love enjoined BY
Holy Writ, and yos rN be happier for IL.
With the bright prospects before US as
. community, with the dawn of prosperity
just bsaming on our beloved Territory, We
bat need to exercise the common impulses
Of humanity to make this indeed HAPPY
NEw-YEAR.
Hand joined in hand and heart linked with
heart,
Assist those Who ere struggling in Poverty
mart,
AID ever with ready hands heed Sorrows call,
Aad tenderly scatter the tear-drops that fall.
In thus blessing others, ourselves shall be
blessed
Antrsnquil our day-dreans and peaceful ous
rest,
And when our lest year shall draw TO close,
Death angel shall van us to quiet repose,
md bright be our waking In that purer cline
where pleasure and joys are not measured By
time"
CHANCE FOR AN IyyEerMENr-Mr