New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-23
Is72.

bclfcS W Jnc HppedTduCo VI WV "eNO"
together indicate the year just before u.s. ana
which must soon be inscribed at the head OF
every letter, borne on tho front of each news
paper, and printed on the cover OF every
monthly or quarterly. So let u.s. TOR few
moments, look ahead and acc what tho New
Year is likely to bring US.
We ara to choose President in 1870
much ia certain-unless, indeed, there should
be moro than two candidates, and no one receive
a clear majority Of the Electoral votes; in which
case. the President would be chosen by the
House of Representatives in February, 1873.
A. however, there is now no probability OF o
triangular or quadrangular canvass, we may
confidently assume that, after infinite EFFORT
and struggle, strife and noise, calumny and
yituperation, the choice Of President will be
made in November next by the People, and
ratified by the Electoral Colleges on the first
Wednesday in December following.
The year just before Ills is not the centenary
Of any great event in modern history. a
hundred years ago, our fathers were still
somewhat angrily resisting the arrogant claim
of tho British Crown and Parliament of UNI
limited, unbalanced power to tax them with
out even the formality of asking their leave ;
but only tho discerning few as yet fOresaw
the bloody struggle that was then imminent
One hundred years ago, peace was very gen.
cral in both hemisphcres, except that the Parti-
ton of Poland among her three powerful neigh
bors had been tleCrecd and initiated. And
now it looks as though the next great war in
Europe would be fought between the Powers
which pcrpctrated that gigantic crime and
upon the plains SO often Redeemed with the
lfe-blood of it's victims.
France seems smOtherrd brt not sleeping
volcano, inst ready to vomir flame and ashes,
yet not likely very soon 10 trouble the repose
of her nciehbors. That her present govern
mcnt cannot Outlast the coming year, il a
safe prediction; but who can tell what
fashion of monarchy shall snpplalt the
doomed Republic The priests and Tudcr
pcasantry would have Henry '. if they could ;
the Army officers prefer NAPOLEON H.; the
manufacturers and shophccpers lean toward
the House of Orleans; the workers for wages
constitute the main strength OF the Republic
That Theirs will soon Cease 10 be President,
few Doubt beyond that, all is bEnd con
lecture.
Great Britain gems to o. eraritating to-
ward republic ia fact if not in name; but
the obstacles to be encountered are gigantic.
Among Christian countries, there remains 10
other whose social structure is 20 essentially
aristOcratic as hers. \ hundred families own
Ealf her immense wealth; the greater portion
of her soil belongs to % much smaller number.
A social revolution in the British Isles may
be the blOodiest and most destructive that the
world has yet seen. 1t can hardly be initiated
while the National Finances remain as sound
and hopeful as they now are and majority
of the rural tenaniry continue attached to the
feulal lords 10y tie Of common interest," yet
the day Of strenuous effort for 4 radical up
turning in Britain cannot be far distant. The
union Of Chniri and State is probably the
next bnlwaik OF aris'Gcracy 10 be assallcd and
suhvcrtnd.
Spain has made nor progress toward day
Light within the Last ten years than any other
country. Till lately a thrall Of ,gotry nnd llnlr-
Gle despotis,p, she has to-day liberal constltu-
ton and parliamentary regime. and IL rapid
" gaining in popular intelligence and popular
power Tier fcarfully disordeTd Finances and
her enormously Over-Gcne;alcd Army are the
chief remaining obstacles ~ her complete rem
ovation.
Italy is 70 longer chaos OF nonnally indie
pendent but impOtcnt states and OF foreign
provinces, but II liberal kingdom OF twenty
i've millions rapidly growing in intelligence,
cohesion and strength. More newspapers arc
issned weekly in any quarter of her area
than in tho entire peninsula twenty years ago.
She needs but peace and policy which shall
serve to develop her material resources to rem
der her, by the close OF this century. one of
the Great Powers of Europe.
Germany is to-day the strongest and mos
influential among those Powers; but her En-
peror aud his Prime Minister bismarck are
both old men; so is his military brain, Won
NOltke. When these pnsa away. as In the or
der of nature they soon must, tho prestige Of
the monarch will fade, and tho Empire enter
upon that work of social moderation which
has already been delayed too long. allowing
Austria, and even Russia to take the lead OF
her These two great military monarcllies are
likely to be involved in deadly strife at no
distant day hut Germany will stand aloOf if
the voice of her people shall be heard.
Mexico and all Spanish America seem to ~
u continual anarchy, when IN fact they arc
III most respects Wnab EurOpe anu 'h'Seh-
dom were ten to twelve centuries ago far
wider expaise and sparser population arc
the most essential points of difference.
On the whole, We hope to he obliged to
chronicle little or no carnage in 1872; yet the
bloodiest years of the past have been ushered
in as peacefully as this now promises TO be.
Let us reverently trust that whatever of agony
and wo the New Year may bear in its bosom
may be overruled for good, and that the human
race may vsibiy, palpably profit by all its
s,itferin - and sorrOws.
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BRIBERY.
L. -. H. IL