Smyrna times., 1873-01-08
MiSceLLU2 10 e o IL s.
American Retrospect, 1872.

In some respects the year 1872 has been one
of the most remarkable in our history. 1t has
witnessed the revelations of the most gigantic
frauds and the most wicked crimes, the most
terrible storms, fires and disasters by sea and
land, the most extraordinary political develop.
ments, and the most satisfactory arrangement
of disputes with foreign Powers, that have
been recorded in modern times. A list OF the
calamites by flood, storm and fire, has alredy
appeared III the columns OF the Ledger, and
We may, therefore, pass on to other events,
taking them in the order of their occurrence.
| The year opened with threatening aspect |
The claim for indirect or consequential da-
images from the Alabama deprcdatiOnS, put
forward by the agent of the United States, |
mad excited SO angry feeling in England that
there wa, danger Of the Treaty of Washington
falling through, and for time negotiations
were suspended They were, however, renewed
| at the beginning OF February and it at least
happened that the indirect claims went before
the Geneva tribunal, England entering her
protest against them. The arbltratOTs assem-
bled at Geneva on the 10Th of April, when the
American and British cases were formally sub
ntted to them But these bulky documents
had to be translated into French tor the benefit
} of the Swiss, Italian and Brazilian arbitratOrs,
and, to give time for this to be done, the trl-
bunal adjourned, to meet again on the 18th
June. On that day it reassembled at Geneva,
and continued its sttings from time to time
= until the arbitration was concluded. One OF its
first acts was to decide that the Indirect claims
were .inadmissible The final award was given
: on the l4th September; it decided that Eng
o land was liable for damages to the amount OF
E 5 200 0O0 which sum- by the terms OF the
s treaty, is to be paid in gold at Washington, on
:, or before the l4th September next. The dis
!. pute relative to the island Of ST. Juan having
!, been by the same treaty referred to the arbi-
e tration of the Emperor oil Germany, his Majesty
r decided in our favor on the 18th October, and,
v in accordance with his award, the British
,e q )vernment at once withdrew its troops from
r the island and gave up possession. These
e were the principal diplomatic successes OF the
III year. The others were the conclusion of
by Naturalization Treaty with the Republic o
I'd Ecuador in May, and of Postal Treaty will
IN the same State in July; the obtaining from
in Spain the release Of DIR. HOuard, forme
he PhiIadelphan, arrested in Cuba for treason
n the reception OF a numerous Japanese Embassy
n; and negotiation of a treaty with them ant
or the attempt to settle Postal Treaty will
France, which, however, still hangs fire.
,rs The Presidential Election was the subjeC
y which chiefly occupied the thoughts OF ou
ne countrymen during the year. 1t gave rise t
'e. the most remarkable political coalition of pal
i.e ties recorded in our history. section OF tn
IIn Republican party, headed by Senators Sun
he 0er, Dc0urZ, lTumDuIl, reuCOu duu oIhei'
nd dissatisfied with President Grant, resolved {
oppose his reelection. A "Libcral Republ
can" Convention was called at Cincinnati, I
-- meet on the lst of May, which was largel
10 attended, and nominated Horace Greeley fC
,nI President and Gratz Brown for Vice Pres
I"4 ia dent. This nomination was confirmed by tf
'a Democratic Convention at Baltimore on tn
{, g 9th of July Meanwhile, the Republicans,
~ Convention at Philadelphia on the 9th OF j un
fad a
~ wilson, instead Of Colfax, for Vice Preslden
ho The result of the election was clearly fOreto
az by the October State elections, and on the 81
NJ Of November the nation pronounced Its dec
~ sion in favor Of Grant aud Wilson. 1t vi
20 followed by the death Of Mr.. Greeley, on Il
~ ~ 29th Of November, which event. for the hr
~ time, gave the electoral delegates an opport
no nifty of voting otherwise than as they had bee
instructed by the people though, as 1t ha
:. pened, the vote for Grant and Wilson was
zen overwhelming that it mattered little how u
OF other votes were cast.
OF The next great theme of conversation W
! OF the Centennial Celebration, at Philadelphia,
ma, the Declaration of Independence. COngre
lly. passed certain acts for the appointment
tea Commissioners to carry this grand concepti
ed, out as it ought to be- Congress has also tax
but some steps, but rather inadequate, for the re
nan resentatiOn of American industry at the Wen
In Exhibition next spring. 1t is, however, M
! to occupied in the investigation of the grave
ION, scandals (the "Credit Mobilier" operation
ms which can be attached to it, in which not OF
the character of some of its members but
4 a honor of the American name Is involved. I
was the dark side OF the picture, we have also
the record the terrible horse pestience whl'
was breaking out in Canada in October, spread
,uld self all over this community within few wee
impeding traffic, destroying thousands OF u