The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-01-05
TIE story of a Year

Il
stubborn facts and their wide spread no
tority preclude the possibility OF holding UP
before those present the moral character of
him who has gone before as model on
which to base their lives, Thus shall X be
on this ocOssiop. The year 1874 has been
such horrid old reprobate, with its mon
atrous clerical scandals, its attempt to-cure a
very sick currency by increasing tho cause
of the illness, its development of the new
branch of industry child stealing, and
it's appealing cstsstrophes by sea and
land, that one can not hold up
it's example as worthy of the imita-
ton of future years. In fact a Massachu-
sets politician, of considerable notoriety, at
onetimeexp pressed the sentiment that it was a
bad year fer the righteous. To be sure he met
with a personal misfortune himself during
it's course, but this opiEion was uttered at an
earlier date, wnen he did not anticipate
any such calamity, and is, therefore. the
view of an uuprejudiced observer. With il
most people will coincide, and admit that in
spite of the almost only healthy event, the
political revolution, which, like charity,
covers a multitude of sins, the year can not,
on it's merits, receive moro than passing
notice, and should be happy to get off with
out unfavorable comment.
Il began badly in the first place. The
cable brought us news during the
first of the year of Csstelar's downfall
in Spain, Just as that attempt came on to
hoist upon the people of the United States,
Erst, Lsndaulet williams, and then Caleb
Cushing, as chief justice. Happily it failed
altogether. Some excitement was caused
by q communist riot in Tompkins Square,
New York City, and interest was awakened
in an old freak of nature-or shall it be
called two frealEs2-by the sudden dropping
Off OF Chang and ,Eng, his brother. The
marriage of the duke of Edinburgh, the old
es: minated member of the royal family
was a matter OF less note than the determin-
alton OF the English premier to appeal to the
people, and his dissolution of parliament in
the fall hope of Being sustained. That
monstrous joke, the Indiana plan, was
somehow taken in earnest by some
body, and was laid on the table
of Speaker Blaine, where it has
lain ever since, and bids fair to
forever repOse Peace to its ashes. 1t was
during the month of January, too, that the
world was saddened by the death of Madame
Pareps-Ro
February made 1t clear to the surprised
not with him. He passed the reins of power
into the hands of Disraeli, and the spectacle,
unknown for so many years, of conservs-
tive majority in the House of Commons, was
presented. Punch's Jsbbe-wock was slain,
or, in other words, the tat fraud Tichborne
was found guilty of perjury, and sent to his
own place. In the wilds of Africa the
Ashantee war was ended, and the grand
larceny of poor King Koffee's umbrella,
which seems to have been the most note
worthy event of that contest, was perpe-
trated. In this country public attention
was directed especially to the women's war
upon whisky, as the alliterative loving edi-
tors called it, which burned with a 6ercer
flame than ever during this month.
March witnessed the decease of ex-PIesi-
dent Fillmore and the assassination OF Pres
ident Cespides of the so-called Cuban repub-
lie. A sadder loss was that of the cultured,
the patriotic the clean-handed Sumner, who
went to his grave honored by all honest men,
admired by al scholars. and wept TO- by the
race to whose elevation he had devoted his
life. 1t was at this time that the Sanborn
came up in congress and received
a tolerably Thorough ventilation. Sir Gar
net Wolse.y came marching home from the
scene of his African exploits, and was
I'll,
OF the coming storm in clerical circles
made their appearance in the assembly of a
great congregational council, which was
to consider side issue. The
side issue was handled with such great abil-
ity that the main point was entirely over
looked by the council, although carefully
kept in sight by the public.
During the month of April the hOnored
ashes of DIR. Livingstone were brought from
Africa, under the care OF their faithful atten-
dsnt. and deposited in Westminster Abbey.
For want OF anything else to do the newspa-
pers and the people about this time fell
fercely 10 advocating the cause of crems-
ton. 1t was opposed by almost nobody
except the life insurance companies, and
adopted by nobody at all. A contest for
the governorship of Arkansas broke out
between Joseph Brooks and Elisha Baxter;
and general orders, and martial pronun-
,iamentos were cast about in
/ manner worthy of a first class
revolution in a South American republic
fortunately, most of the fighting was done
With quilts, and the flow of blood did not
'qusI that of ink. Months expended by
congress in talk about the finances had re-
ulted in a bill initiating the currency, to
y hieh the president, at this time, admiRis-
cred death blow with his little veto. For |
he time being it caused some hostile criti-
isms in this section of the country. but the |
ober second thought of the people has, dur
ng the past months, advanced more nearly |
o the presid ent,s position. and the act is