The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-02
Ring in the New !

There is some consolation in the thought
that this year of Grace 1871, can hardly
promise more, or give less, than the janus
faced Old Year hailed SO gladly a long
twelve.months ago.
In January, 1870, the world was at peace,
save that sabres dashed, and rifles crack
ed amid the tropic splendors of the Gem
of the Antilles. The glaive of Europe was
glued to the scabbard. There was work to
be done in the paths of literature, science
and art. A nobler labor was open to those
who sought to draw man closer 10 his
brother man, by inculcating the lesson of
self.help; BY teaching the worth OF indivi-
dual culture, and pointing out The RESPONSE
bilities Which position and wealth impose
upon their fortunate possessors. Thepeo-
Piles were making progress. 1t was, in-
deed, hopeful time.
The weakness of one luckless monarch
blotted the beautiful picture, poured gloom
over the lovely land OF France, made desc
late this day myriad quiet homes, blanch-
ed the cheek and numoed the heart OF
sorrowing thousands Of the fuir-haired
daughters OF Germany. New Years Day,
the feast and pageant of the year, finds
Paris in mourning. The gay crowds which
thronged the Lutetian Boulevards hearken
to the roar of cannon, or watch the merci-
less shells which shrek and burst around
the city walls. Extremes meet. Gorgeous
palaces are hospitals Of pain. The smooth
gliding chariot which bore Phryne to
Mabie is stained with the blood Of beard
less boys, old enough to know braVely how
to die. The far-famed Bois, no longer the
haunt OF folly and fashion, no longer clad in
garb OF freshest green, is the smoke. stained
camping ground of swarming civic legions.
Where the pensoned players fretted their
hour upon the stage and bounding cory
phfcs won the plandits OF the gilded youth
OF the Empire, muscular hands pile missiles
mountain high, and nimble fingers contrive
the music which heralds the dance OF death.
Around the doomed city stretch the lines of
the mighty host, which, on French soil,
battles for German independence. PruS-
sian and Badener, Bavarian and Saxon,
armed and ready, watching and waiting
eager for the crowning victory and glorious
peace And who can say that the end is
nigh? 1t may come in day or an hour,
but the grievous prospect is of weary months
OF marching and maneuvring, of carnage
and destruction. All Europe throbs and
burns. This day. general war is more
likely than speedy peace. Yet, as the
smiling promise Of a year ago was succeed
ed by gloom and anguish, so may this New
Year, beginning SO sadly, end its days in
brightness and content.
Nor has this stricken land been free from
disaster. The hand Of Providence has press
ed heavily upon South Carolina. through
no fault Of theirs, the people have failed 10
achieve their political redemption, or their
agricultural and commercial prosperity.
There is little room for confidence in the
future. Yet the people hope against hope,
determined to struggle on, as brave souls
should, till the coming of better days. Pro
vdence has saved the State from the ravages
of sickness and disease. No pestilence has
hlighted our shores. This is an earnest
vile future. God, in His own good time,
hard ones all the rest! The year will he
With erraErder years have gone before.
charity and love for 8iith cheeEfulness, with
the fight, or at least, iether, We can Wln
when the end comes, with stolm the held'
honor unstlined. In this sp rit &,S and
friend and foe-A HAPPY New YRAR y