Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-29
1874.

to ascertain what facts they bear. y lie"
more sands to run and it will be numbered
with the past.
Looking backward over the events with
which il has been filled we fad the Num-
her of remarkable and very important
ones are not many On the whole 1t has
been year of average prosperity Tor the
human race. There have been calamilies
by land and sea, but there are lew OF WIDE
spreading influence or OF such horror as
to be long remembered by the world
The earth has behaved very well, its NUT
terngs and shakings being slight and DO
inc but little harm, while its continued eX-
istence has disproved the prophecies OF
those who predicted its end in ~. The
greatest calamity of the year was that
caused by the famine in India through the
failure of the crops last year. The extent
of this will probably never be KNOWN
Happily the crops of this year III that
country are sufficient for the people; the
famine ended with the harvest. In our
own country the people OF western Kansas
and western Nebraska have been subjected
to famine by the ravagcs of the grasshop-
pers, but the cry for help has been heard
and charity is busy in the larger cIties'
and relief is flowing in TO the afflicted To-
calties. Over the world at large the crops
have been bountiful Earth and sky have
been propitious and labor has been amply
rewarded.
Amongst the greatest disasters OF the
year must be rechoned that caused by the
fearful typhoon at Hong Kong and 'iclnl'
ty, by which thirty thousand lives were
lost and fifty million dollars worth of
property were destroyed. That at least is
an event memorable with horror and dis
tress. Had it occurred in America or
Europe we should have realized its mag
nitude better. Or shipwreck and suffering
at sea we imagine the year presents a
milder record than is usual The greatest
loss of life in single case by shpwreck,
was that in the Sea of Marmora, caused by
the sinking of Turkish vessel which came
in collision with another vessel. by this
disaster three hundred souls were sunk
with the vessel. The recent destruction
of a fine steamer of the Pacific Mail Com
pany also occasioncd large loss OF life
From wars the world has been peculiar
" exempt. No great wars have occurred
during the year The civil strife in Spain
has continued, also in Cuba, but the forces
engaged are not large and the loss OF lie
has been small. In South America there
have been rumors of wars but very little
fighting, and now it is said there is peace.
The Ashantee war is over. The United
States is at peace with outsiders. but the
Indians west of the Mississippi have given
EMPLOYMENT to some of our soldiery dur
ing the year, notwithstanding the humane
efforts OF our government to bury the
Ratchet and civilize the red man.
Politically the world has wagged on with
no remarkable events. England has ex-
perienced change of ministers, and al
lied herself more closely to Russia by a
royal marriage. France also has had
change of cabinet officers, but still osten-
sbly maintains republican form OF gov
eminent with Mcmahon as President
Germany is agitated with the religious
question. The republicans maintain their
hold upon the government in Spain, and
the republic has been recognized by sew
eral European governments, among ihem
Prussia and England. In our own coun-
try the democrats succeeded in the fall
elections in gaining a majority OF the next
House of Representatives, but the victory
is only of a transient character, indicating
the unrest of our people under the finan-
cial panic and local difficulties rather than
a reinstatement of the democracy in pow
er. The visit Of the King of the Sand
witch Islands to this country is an event OF
considerable political significance.
Among the distinguished persons re-
moved by. death this year may be men
toned Charles Sumner, Willard Fillmore
and Judge Benjamin r. Curtis. in this
country. In England died our Amer
lean favorite and queen of song, Parepa
Rosa, also Dir. Charles F. Beke, the Airi-
can Explorer; and in Scotland John Laird
the famous shipbuilder, whom we have no
reason TO remember with favor. for his con-
nection with the Alabama. France mourns
the demise of ules Michelet, the historian,
jules Janin. the journalist, AID Guizot the
distinguished author. Prussia has lost
Frederick Strauss, the theologian. Many
other names might be added for whom the
world mourns. The grim reaper has not
spared the distinguished.
Ofnoteworthy occurrences we recall the
transit of Venus and the expeditions from
this country and Europe to observe it.;
the Mill River disaster at Williamsburg,
Mass, by which one hundred and fifty
lives were sacrificed and million dollars
Al. pi- ai1 L. 4