Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-30
EVENTS OF 1873.

In politics the event OF the year IN the
limited States WAS the inauguration OF
Grant and Wilson, President and Vice
President. The Credit Mobilier lnvesti-
CATION. the abolition of the franking privi-
lece. and the increase of salaries act, will
be remembered as prominent in the do
ings of Congress. The State elections
were attended with considerable apathy,
but with no deviation from the former atti-
tude of parties of any significance In
the west the transportation question has
been strongly agitated. Election difficult
ties have occurred in Louisiana and Ar
kansas, leading to rioting in the former
State, and disturbing Congress and the
Administration in some degree. The Gen
eva arbitration will be remembered as
happy termination of troublesome ques'
tions. The adoption Of new constitution
by the people of Pennsylvania is worthy
of mention.
Among domestic matters, the great
financial panic, which started with
the failure of Jay Cooke & Co., creating
other failures and losses in banking and
mercantile circles, with suspension OF Ia
Dor, and general scarcity OF currency,
must have the leading place. The excite
ment over the capture of the Virglnlus oy
a Spanish war steamer, and the butchery
of persons taken on board by The Cubans,
together with the demand by our govern
ment for the captured vessel and her re-
turn by the Spaniards is fresh in memory.
Then the massacre of General Candy, and
the trial and hanging of Captain Jack and
other Modocs; the condemnation OF
Stokes: the incarceration Of Tweed in
prison for his stealing from the New York
treasury; and the wonderful return OF
those who accompanied Captain Hall in
his Arctic explorations, all have been sub
jects of public interest. ~
Looking at other countries we find that
important events have transpired in them.
Our neighbors at the north have had their
Pacific Railway scandal, with change of
ministry in consequence. France has been
agitated with an attempt to form gov
ernnient Theirs resigned the Presidency
of the republic. and after plots and counter
plots and oscillating between monarchy
and a republic, Marshal MacMahon is
elected President for seven years. In the
midst of all these difficulties France has
paid off its entire indebtedness to Prussia,
and the German soidiery have left the
country. Spain is convulsed with civil
war. King Amadeus resigned his crown
early in the year, Immediately after which
a republic was established of which Senior
CASTELAR, is President, with the Carlists in
arms against him, and the Cuban difficult
ty to manage. 1t has been trying year
for Spain; may the close of the next find
the republic firmly established. In Aus
tria the year is memorable for the Vienna
Exposition. which was not a success Pc
cuniarily. Prussia and Italy have had
some unpleasantness with the Pope and
shown that they are in earnest in seeking
greater degree of religious independence
and freedom.
OF wars there has been the Khivan war,
in which Russia humbled Khiya; the
Achenese and Dutch war; the Ashantec
war on the Gold Coast of Africa between
the English and natives; and civil wars in
Spain and some of the Central American
and South American States. The sum Of
hostilities for the year is not large.
In the record of deaths there are many
distinguished and notable names. Among
:hem we find Salmon p. Chase, Chief JUS
tice of the United States Supreme Court !;
John P. Hale, the great anti-slavery lead
err; Louis Agassiz, scholar and philoso-
pher; James Brooks and Cakes Ames, of
Credit Mobilier notoriety; James l.. Orr,
Minister to Russia; Maury, well known at
the weather bureau in Washington; Hiram
Powers the great sculptor; Jesse II. Grant,
the father of President Grant; Admiral
Winslow, hero of the fight that sent the
Alabama to the bottom; Davenport, IA
nous as au actor Heenan, the prize fight
err; and the widows of Secretary Stanton
and General Lee. In foreign countries
the name of the Ex-Emperor Louis Napo-
leon stands conspicuous in the list of NOR
tality. To his may be added the name ct
Edward Bulwer (Lord Lytton) prince
among authors; Liebig. the distinguished
chemist; Add el-Kader. an Arab chief
tain of renown; John Stuart Mill, one OF
the greatest intellects of England Thier-
ry, the historian; Leigh Hunt, whose lit
erary works speak for him; and Sir Edwin
Landseer, great in art. These are but
few of the most prominent deaths.
OF railroad disasters there has been no
lack. The most noticeable for destruction
TO life and property were, one on the
Chicago and Alton road, two on the Grand
Trunk road, one at Richmond Switch, II
l., and one on the New York Midland
Railroad. In England there seem to have
t<x.s 80. III 81. Il