The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-01-21
THE YEAR 1874.
A Look Back mt the Notable Events of the
Twelve Months.


Another twelvemonth has passed into
history. 1t has not been year crowded
with remarkable events. Great wars, or
political commissions, have not occurred
events that fix dates in our minds most
strangely.
The Ashantee war came to an end MS
the year began. The civil disorders in
Spain have lasted through the whole
twelve months, but nearly as much ink
has been shed in describing them as there
has been blood spilled. War at one
time threatened between China and
Japan, with reference l. ,ho isl..ld OF
Formosa. The quarrel was peacefully
arranged. The Dutch war against the
Achlnese still continues. There was a
short rebellion in the Argentine Re
public. In the United States there were
instructions both in Arkansas and
Louisiana, but they were easily quelled.
No part of the world has been seri-
ously affected by epidemic disease. In
deed, the year 1874 may take rank as
one of the healthiest years of which we
have any record. Famine, however,
attacked British India and Asiatic Tur-
key.
by the prompt action of government.
The supply of food was kept in the
country, aud distributed at the important
points. There was not little suffering,
and some deaths followed but when the
famine of 1874 is compared with earlier
Indian famines, it seems but trihing
disaster. With the means now at the
command of the civilized world, great
famine can now be only the result of in
dolence and neglect. Turkey, being less
advanced than India, suffered more.
Disasters by sea and land have been
less numerous than usual. There have
been wrecks, railroad accidents, fires and
floods, but they have not been so terrible
i'll their effects as in some former years.
While there has been such a marked
absence of the great destroyers of life
and property, the crops of the world
have been prodigious. There are always
exceptions to general prosperity, and in
Kansas and Nebraska the farmers have
suffered from the grasshopper plague {:
but altogether the earth has not yielded
so abundantly as in 1874 for very many
years. Farmers everywhere have more
produce than they can sell at a profit.
Abundant crops always bring COM
mercial prosperity, and we may con-
tidently expect that this years overflow
ing harvest will not prove an exception.
Business throughout the world, and
especially i'll the United States, has been
depressed, The effects of the panic of
1873 are still felt. Recovery from dis
aster Of any kind is necessarily slow,
and another year must probably pass be-
fore business can regain the prosperity
of eighteen months ago. But the eX-
cellent harvest of 1874, as we have said,
will greatly contribute to the return of
better days.
Important political changes have
taken place during the year In the
United States, the Republican party has
been badly defeated. In England, Par
lament was dissolved early in the year.
The new House of Commons is strongly
conservative, causing the liberal govern
ment of Mr.. Gladstone to resign, and
bringing in the tory government of Mr..
Disraeli.
Two or three cabinet changes have
taken place in France, and that country
seems to be on the eve of other important
events. Spain has passed under the die
tatorship of Marshal Serrano. Italy has
had a Parliamentary election which re-
suited favorably for the government.
Germany, too, has elected new Reich
stag, and has been excited over what is
called the persecution of Catholic bish-
ops and priests. Austria and Russia
have had neither internal nor external
disorder, and no startling events of mo-
ment, except what have been already
mentioned, have taken place in Asia,
Africa or South America.
The list of the dead of 1874 contains
some great names. That which comes
nearest home to the largest number of
hearts is the death of Charles Sumner.
France has mourned over Guizot Music
has lost the sweet voice and the charm
ing presence of Madame Parepa Rosa.
In January we first heard of the death of
DR.. Livingstone, the great African ex-
plorer. Kaulbach, the great German
painter; NJ. Van de Meyer, one of the
founders Of the-Belgian monarchy; Herr
Won Mallinckvodt, German political
leader of great influence; Jules MTichelet,
n famous author; Lunalilo, King of the
Sandwich Islands; Shirley Brooks and
Tom Hood, two English humorists:
Chang and Eng, the Siamese twins; and
many others will be called to mind as
having departed this life during the past
year.
The year 1875 is full of promise. In
July the United States enters upon the
one hundredth year of its existence as a
nation. Let us hope it will be the be-
ginning of new era of prosperity. For
ourselves, it is important that we should
look upon each additional year of life as
a fresh opportunity for self-improve-
ment, and so act that when its history is
reviewed we may have nothing to regret