The union Democrat., 1871-12-30
The Old Year.

Ane oiu lear mas WeiEnlgh passed away,
leaving behind it pleasing "reminiscences TO
the world in general. and perhaps sorrowful
ones to individuals in particular. Taking
retrospective glance over the past twelve
months one cannot help the conviction that
forces itself upon him, that 1871 has been
year of general prosperity and the harbinger
of great good throughout the world. The i'm
plements Of war were no where 10 be seen in
use. The scepter waved in silence. The
Eagle, Bear, Lion and the other animal
insignia of royalty lived in peace together,
only exchanging mutual tokens of friendship
which made them wear the aspect Of happy
family. Empires, Republics and Moaar-
chies in their varied forms turned themselves
away from the engines of war, to resume tie
work of progress in all that tends to peace,
industry and prosperity.
We cannot, though we fain would, pass
over in silence the darkest page in the histo-
ry of II. The picture of death is here.
brought on by plague and pestilence. Chol-
era has made its ravages in Asia-laying des-
olate, TO large extent. considerable por
ton of the earth. The Angel of death has
visited some of the countries of Europe, and
great number of people, through Cholera
and Small Pox were hurried to an untimely
grave. In South America the visitation
worked death to an enormous extent, several
thousands being in few months snatched
away from their hearths and homes and
transported to the dread region Of eternity :;
nor has North America escaped this so wide
spread devastation, smallpox having been
prevalent in many States of the Union.
Thank Cod that we have escaped so we'll,
whilst. perhaps. better deserving people have
been greatly afflicted during the year that is
now nearly imbedded in the bosom of the
past.
The social appearance of our Republic is
Indicative of determination to develope re-
sources, to elevate morality and to purify
the political spool, of the nauseous slum
hitherto lying meath smoothened surface.
The past, we think, has been year of great
benefit to this country, at least the hidden
things of darkness have been brought to
light ard we will feel the past year propi-
tious epoch in the existence of our Republic.
We, thank Providence. have not suffered
much from these causes so dire in their eff
fects outside of US, but instead, many States
of the Union were made prey to the devour-
irnr al Of Hro ~, -
ragged with undated ferocity, alike regard
less of city or country, palace or hamlet, tenn
pie of sacredness or of profanity until devas-
tation, desolaton and death brooded over
cities and whole States, where prosperity and
peace but few days before had shaken
hands, Much damage has been done by
floods, so it would seem that the opposing
elements, fire and water, were the engines
of destruction among us during, 1871.
We have said that the Old Year, whose
death knell is so soon to toll out, whose re-
mains we are only waiting to see lowered in
the tomb of eternity has left sorrowful remi-
niscences. This is but natural, and we have
no more to do than merely mention it as a
natural result. Let us however, remark that
many misfortunes are set down to nature,
which in reality are the very oft-tod sequen-
ces Of peoples own actions. Did we but live
here below as we are admonished, excepting
the flesh in subsection to the spirit" and the
spirit itself unimpaired, we would certainly
not have to record so many of these lamenta-
BILE "reminiscences. We don't mean to NOR
alize much just now, but the occasion sug-
gests we ought to use and Tot abuse any
thing, living here under the Immediate super
vision of the great first Cause, and seeing
thatdeath will inevitably put stop to our ca
reer and no one knows when-how-or where,
This one thing is certain Think over it
We squnderers of tirle-that New Year will
come which each of us will not see close,
in that year a month aud in that month q
day whose opening brightness will be over
Swallowed by the darkness of the tomb.
Think over this and there will be less time
and money spent amiss, health will be fol-
lowed by prosperity and happiness, and the
sweetest gem of the consciousness of right and
the blessings Of Heaven will dazzle in the
crown of pleasure on your heads. Were we
president of futurity we might throw some
light on the year before US, but lacking this
attribute we must only wait and hope that at
the close of 1872 each of our readers may be
able to say that 10 came to him and his
happy, happy New Year, and went from
them happy, happy old one. This is the
greeting we send forth to all our friends. A
happy New Year.
No LONGER WANTED.-B. F. Washington,
l.. L. Bullock and Rodney Gibbons, Tide