The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-12-22
ABRIEF GLANCE AT THE CLOSING
.L.-LE.l y YEAR u

The year which will close in a few
days has been one full of startling events.
The ambitions, passions and schemes
of Kings, Statesmen and Politicians,
tfgether with the elements, fire, wind
and water, have conspired to make it
such. 1t has given to the world more
of gloom than cheer. War, pestilence
and fire, have blackened its pages more
than those ofany of its predecessors for
some years. g..
Turning to its early pages we find
them stained with the gore ofthe bloody
conflict which then ragged between
Prussia and France, and speedily fol-
lowing this, the deadly struggle in Paris
between the government and the COM
munists. In all the characteristics Of
war of hatred on the one side and ex-
termination on the other, there has been
nothing since the revolution of '48 to
compare with the last named struggle.
In the malicious destruction of proper
ty the history of the world shows moth
| ing worse than the Paris insurrection
of 1871. A proud nation was humbled
and crushed, and the victors marched
home to rest until the contest shall be
renewed. ..-..........
The pages of this years history are
also blurred with deadly strifes in
Cuba aud Mexico, both of which have
attracted little attention, on account OF
the more startling events at home and
abroad. These two unfortunate coun-
tries carry their struggles over to an
other year.
The war cloud which at one time
threatened to involve Russia and Eng
land in strife, happily for the, world,
p assed over and left the people 0f these
countries to their peaceful pursuits.
"Peace hath her victories no less than
war;" and the treaty between England
and the United States, by which ques-
tions were settled that had perplexed
the two countries for years, marks an
epoch in international history. An ex-
ample was set that we hope to see fol-
lowed by other countries until the time
comes when "nations shall learn war
no more"
The most noticeable and distressing
instance of the prevalence of pestilence
occurred in Buenos Ayers, W here in
the early part of the season the yellow
fever made havoc with human life,
and where, in two months, death and
flight reduced population of 100000
to 10000. The cholera ragged fearfully
in many eastern countries. 1t was the
worst, perhaps, in Russia, but was also
bad in Persia.
In our own country the flames have
made many a sad heart and destroyed
hundreds of millions of property. The
greatest confagration that the world
ever saw, destroyed the business por
ton of one of our largest and mos
prosperous cities. S15O,000,O0O worth
of property was destroyed, and 90,O0(
people rendered homeless. Many ricf
people were ruined financially, and
many hearts were crushed with sorrow
The disastrous effects of this confiagra
ton will be felt for years. And from
the contemplation of this calamity wa
turn with sorrowful hearts to ona
equally as bad in its effects, along the
northern border of Michigan and Wis
4 oonsin. All the fires that we have haC
in many years have mot brought a
much misery and ruip to to the world
as these two Of the year drawing to {
close. -.
I'm politics, in our own country, moth
ing has attracted more attention thar
J the breaking up Of the corrupt Tamma
J ny ring!ef politicians, in New York
u A party of few shrewn ana unscru
pulous politicians, who had for year.
been sapping the 'f0nndations of frel
institutions and filing their own peck
cts with ll-gotten gains, were utterly
routed and broken up. Those who /,
few months ago were rolling in wealth
and afiiueRce are nowireAecting Owe
their crimes in common prisons, with {
/, prospect Of meeting just punishment
: Hundreds of less notorious rogues hav'
been hunted down, and some Of then
, are now doing service in penitentiaries
, In this respect we haYe much to chez