Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-01-01
THE OLD AND THE NEW.

ilUC HCC1o >" y ~ ~ J ~
enter the portals of another new year.
Although the year just closed is not
characterized by any prominently start
ling events, yet in many respects 1t has
left its indelible imprint along the path
way of time So far as thc United
States is concerned. toe student OF
history will have no cause to turn WIN
indifference from the records OF the
year 1872.
Among the important events OF the
= Tho amicable settlement of the
Alabama Claims question, which at one
period threatened the peace existing
between this country and Great Britain
With the same nation the vexed San
Juan boundary matter, for many years
an annoying subject of dispute has
heen adjusted in the interest OF this
country through the arbitration OF the
Emperor of Germany. The reelection
of General Grant to the Presidency,
together with the canaidature OF Hor-
ace Greeley and his sudden and painful
death 10 soon after the close OF bitter
and exciting canvass, will be worthy OF
record in the history of the times
The great Boston confsgratlon, occur
ring little more than year after the
worlds great fire in Chicago, is among
she sad recoIlections of the year.
But we believe the year just ended
will ever be held most remarkable tor
the disastrous records it left on IT.
pages the last week of its existence
The week which closed the waning ear
Witnessed great fres-sweeping away
millions of dollars worth of property,
and sacrificing many lives. The burn
ing of the small pox hospital at Boston,
catastrophe of unequaled horror which
east upon the humanity of the citizens
some three hundred victims of the dis
ease, and may entail upon the city the
dreadful epidemic. The fall of the
Baptist church at Newberry. Pa,
on Christmas night, involving loss III
killed and wounded among the. worship
ers of some twenty-five persons, found
. singular sequel in like catastrophe
in Stafford, England. With startling
frequency and f,tality railroad accidents
happened all over the country, bringing
desolation and grief to many homes.
The years navigation shows long
mortality list, and an almost unprece
dented destruction of vessels and prop
e,ty. While portionslof the United
States have suffered from drouth, many
parts Of Europe have been devastated
by foods and storms. The year now
gone is remarkable in the number OF
persons of Importance before the world
who have died in it. In the death
roll of 1872 this country has suffered
NEST. The Old World cannot show
losses of equal distinction with the three
great names of Greeley, Seward and
Morse. But from this picture we have
drawn, for the most part a gloomy one.
LED Us turn to brighter one that pre-
sents itself. We enter the new year al
peace with the world, and with our flag
respected by every nation. Last sea-
sons harvest filed our granaries, and
our people have enough and to spare.
Tne mechanic and laborer finds steady
employment at remunerative wages,
and the existing conflict between capt.
tai and labor is resulting in the amell-
Grafton of the condition of those who
'earn their bread BY the SWEET of their
bEews." The past year has witnessed
Q further healing of our domestic diff
sulsies growing out of the late war, and
let US hope that by the end of the
present one every sectional feeling will
be allayed.
With our vast domain fast filing up
by actual settlers under the benefcent
homestead law, and the large immi-
grafton reaching our shores from the
Old World, we must continue to extend
sur borders and grow in wealth and
strength as a Nation. In the contem-
plation of our growing greatness, and
the evidences of peace, happiness and
prosperity TO Is as people on every
hand, We will leave the subject by
wishing every reader of the REPUbLI.
CAN "A Happy New Year"
RETURNING WITH HIS VERDICT.-
James Anthony Froude the historian,
vill sail for England soon with the
verdict of the American people on the
matter Of differences that have existed
between England and Ireland for over
seven centuries. We think in his at
tempt to vindicate England's course
towards Ireland before the America
public, his mission proved failure.
Misrule, praeticed by no matter WHOM,
fnds but few apologists in this country
Ar. Proude in his lectures was detected
in mlsquoting history, although per-
haps not willfully, by not only Father
Burke, out by such able minds as
Henry Ward Beecher and Wendell