Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-01-06
The Close of the 9Th nenada.


With the last moments ofthe year 1870, closed
also the 9Th decade of the 10th century. We
take much pleasure in giving prominence to the
following judicious and able review of this per-
iOd, from the Cincinnati Glzetio. 1t is so COM
prehensve and precise that we give it TO our
readers without abrdgment:
The seventh decade of the 10th century, which
80 now at the close has been full Of events, both
OF moral and material change. We shall not at
tempt to give complete list of the important
events, but shall briefly notice such as seem to
US most striking. In our own country four
millions of human beings have been raised from
slaves to citizens, and a great political power
which existed by this negro slavery, and which
made republican institutions bat name, has
been forever destroyed. 1t did not give up its
power without devastating civil war, which
called three millions of men into the field, and
left more than quarter Of million in unknown
graves. Its cost in property destroyed and in
the money expon liture was more than 10, 900
millions. 1t resulted in a terrible punishment 10
~ those guilty of the war, and in very heavy
burdens Oh those whose patriotic sacrifices saved
the natcn; but it saved 10 us a united repub-
10 the place of desolation and the perpetual
warfare of the fragmentary sections, and it de-
struyed the political power which prevented free
government, and no one now regards this ma
tonal unity as too dearly purchased.
In Russia 25 millions OF serfs have been raised
to free citizens without war or calamity. Dur
ing the same period slavery has received its
death blow in Cuba aud Porto Rico, and the Al
rican slave trade is now almost cut off frsm
Ma ket.
The Pope has called a general council, has
forced upon it his decree of his infaiIbilty, and
has been shorn of his temporal power. The
king dom o. Italy has absorbed its earthly pos
sessio in the face of his anathema, has seques-
tered the church property, and has thrown off
ths control of the church in all the affairs of state
But of all the blows which the power of the Ro-
man Church has suffered in this decade, none is
heavier than that caused by the erm,n .tion of
tha concordat with Austria, and by the emanci
patton Of the public schools and the relation of
marriage from the control Of priesthood. And
this is but part of reform which has liberia lized
and strengthened the government of Austria
without revolution or injurious disturbance.
10 Great Britain movement for moderate
enlargement Of the franchise was siezed upon as
a means of prolonging the power of Ministry
and by stroke of state was turned to an exteu-
sion which has placed iu the hands of the work
ing classes power which will inevitably result
10 bringing in the whole m s.; and thus 1t has
set Great Britain on the high road to de nocracy,
in which the termination Of the laws of entail
and primogenture, and of all hereditary privi-
le5es an powers, and the SCI arItion of church
AMI stute, are matters only of time, and that not
hong. Already has the disestablishment Of the
English Church of ireland paved the way for the
disestablishment of the Churches of Englad and
Scotland.
In Spain the Bourbon line has been posed,
ard, after proirIcted agitation between mon
archy and republcanism, a new King has been
elected. By this revolution the civil power of
the Roman Church in Spain has been broken,
and the preistr ridden nation has entered upon
new stage of development. BY this, and Il Q
absorption of the Italian dukedoms by Italy,
the house of Bourbon has ceased to reign.
Austria has been reduced from the head of the
German Confederation, and Prussia, by career
of conquest. has succeeded to her place, and is
now consolidating her supremacy under the
name of German unilication. From a second
class power, which, in 1857, WAS invited to the
conference of the leading powers at Paris on the
Turkish question only ou the Intervention of
France, she has risen to the first military power
10 Europe, and has, in a single brief campaign,
annhilated the armies of FIance, captured the
Emperor, Overrun third of the empire, and now
has the capital besieged AMI at extremity, and
she holds no terms to the defeated ut entire
sub mission.
F.ance, which at the beginning of this d, cade
was recognized as the first military power in
Europe, and which sent of on expedition to re
store the ascendcncy of the Latin race in Amer
fca, is now desperately struggling against su' =
jugation and fierce devastation, with her E.npe =
or a prisoner, most of her imperiafGenera
prisoners of war, aud a self constituted comm T.
tee, having proclaimed a republic, exercising II
governmental authority and making a brave hut
hitherto Intellectual struggle for defense. Prus-
sia, flushed with her remarkable military sue
cess, demands the absolute submission and
division of France, announces her right to sieze
Luxemburg, menaces England warns Swtz-
erland, and lords it over the German States /;
while Russia shows by her demonstration that
they are in agreement to reconstruct the map of
Europe according to- the ambition of elch. So
many and great changes have taken place, nd
yet Elrope Is now in ansition state.
On the continent Of America during this de-
cade the British provinces have been united in
dominion which Us almost an indepen cnt
kingdom, sud which embral es the elements Of
growth, prosperity and power. In Central
America, Mexico las been invaded and subject
ed to. an European prince, and has risen and
oyertirewn his government and regained her lii
erty. In South America, the So-called republic
Of Paraguay, under the dictator LHPEz, has, "a
Ter a war Ct five years, been extil .Su'shed'
The States Of Chill and Peru, threatenet by
Spain, have maintained their independence, anG
have made considerable progress. The Empire
of Bra 1il has had large growth in popuator,
wealth aud consideration, and generally t. 0
Statesof South America have male important
progress. II s.0n this continent alone that til
Roman Church has not lost power during This
decade, and here is the only promise 1t has OF
holding the civil authority which II has lost IN
Europe.
In achievements of a more mechanical nature,
thiu decade will compare with any that has gone
before il. railroad and telegraph Inc has
spanned the American continent. ocean tele-
0raph cables have united Europe, America and
Asia, Transmitting instaptaneously 70 every lm-