Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-01-09
The Old and New Year.

Almost sixty centuries have been bur-
led in the tomb of ages since time be-
gan his silent march. In its swift course
it has brought us to the beginning of
new year. Its flight is rapid, steady,
unccasing. Its pinions never flag.
Nothing can retard its movements or
impede its march forward. Day and
night, foul weather and fair, cloud and
sunshine, tempest and calm, are all
alike to it. 1t loiters not, whether we
are in transport or in sorrow, in hope
or despair, in youth or in old age, in
prosperity or adversely. 1t perched up
on the wings of the evening and morn
ing of the first day, and listened to the
Omnipotent voice of the great Creator
as he spake chaos into symmetry and
order, life into beauty. 1t listened to
the stars as they sang together, and
heard the shouts of angels as they sent
up their anthems of praise at the crea-
ton of man. 1t beheld the world in
provincial purity-free from the stains
of sin and crime-and witnessed its
lapse into transgression and misery. 1t
has looked upon revolutions which have
followed each other in rapid succession,
until Kingdoms and cities, empires and
dynasties, have been hurled into obliv-
ion. They rose into magnificence and
power, splendor and renown, and then,
on account of the folly and total disre-
gard of the rights of humanity, waned
into infamy and disgrace or sunk like
lead in the mighty waters of political
and military strife. In later years of
the worlds history, it has witnessed
our own nation struggling for and
achieving her independence, declaring
that she would not submit to sstaxation
without representation" 1t has beheld
her, too, emerging triumphantly from
the war of 1872, waged as a protest
against the assumed rights of foreign
power to sssearch American vessels" 1t
has beheld the vain attempt of a few
slave-holding oligarchs to destroy the
best syste m of government that has yet
been framed by man. Ithas beheld the
peaceful settlement of the "Alabama
claims" which long threatened the
peace of this and the English Govern
ments, in manner eminently satisfac-
tory to this country, and also the ad-
justment of the long pen ding San Juan
boundary question.
Eighteen hundred and seventy-two is
now numbered with the ages of the past.
Like mighty wave, it has rolled away
into the ocean of Eternity. 1t has gone
with all its joys and sorrows, triumphs
and defeats, yicissitudcs and bereave-
ments, blasted hopes and brilliant reali-
cations. Upon its bosom there floats
many cmblems of prosperity and sue
cess. Beneath its waves there lie many
glorious and immortal memories. Its
name will be read with tears and sad
ness on the tombs of husbands and IA
theirs torn away during its progress by
the merciless hand of death from wi yes
and children. Many will recall it with
regret; others will cherish a remem-
brance of it with tears of gushing joy.
And now, the year 1873 smiles benign
antly, and with youthful countenance,
on a nation in the enjoyment of politi-
cal peace, commercial and manufacture
ing prosperity, and buoyant with bright
prospects.
We know not what the future may
hold for us, but let every one hail the
new born year with new resolves. May
it be the desire and aim of each one to
do some good to mankind, to alleviate
the pain, and soften the cares Of suffer-
ing humanity.