The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-12-30
Tansuurer gnteprudent,
Happy New Year.

next Monday ushcrs Ill tho "0" y0"i
of 1877. Like all of his predecessors
he comes to our doors alone and stran-
ger We will take him III, of course,
although he is the most cautious and
reserved little fellow, stcadfastly refus-
ING TO tell even the smallest secret, and
is rather slow to get acquainted with.
While with us he has something new
each day to tell of himself, and when
the time comes for him to give place to
another new one of his followers, we
think how confidential he has been, and
how well the little stranger has taml-
iarzed himself with Our daily lives
during his short stay among lis. But
the time surely arrives when he must
take his departure. We bid him good
bye, and whatever we may feel OF sad
ness as we consign him to the past Is
quickly displaced by the joyful advent
of the new year, whose coming is the
time appointed for the cultivation of ac-
quaintanccs and the reunion of friends :
the turning of new leaves and the
adoption of good resolutions; the begin
ming of new eras in the business world,
and the general balancing of accounts
among the industrious workers. But
Notwithstanding, we are thus pre-occu-
pied we can not soon forget the old
ear, and we should not. How many
of us will continue ipscnsibly to write
1876 at the head of our letters or Jour
mails, aud only after the mistake has
been oft repeated, learn to adopt TIC
style of 1877. No we cannot soon for
get the old year Tomorrow is his
last day with Us, aud as We look back
over the lessons and experiences h,
brought to the nation, to the commumi
ty, and to each individual citizen, We
feel that the word evcnitul should b,
entered upon the margin. Of his histori-
cal record. Aside from his importance
as the centennial epoch h. has as Il
period of most startling political cx'
periences more fully awakened the pco-
pie to a comprehension Of their luiie:
as citizens, their duties 40 the colored
race, to the ignorant and vicious of ali
races, and to those political institutions
by which equal rights are guaranteed &c
all and peace preserved even unto TIC
farthest border cf the land. In the
community the year has added its mite
in aid Of a higher appreciation by The
masses of those institutions of civilized
society, such as the common school, the
free church and TIL various other or
CARNATIONS for the promotion of know!
edge, virtue and moral well being
which to see prosperous is gratifying tc
the heart of every true lover Of his race
AS Individuals, we can in the spirit OF
thankfullness reflect that to each has
been granted the privilege OF another
year of life in this evenful period OF
our country's history. That while the
temptations to evil are very great, the
avenues to the fountains OF wisdom are
more open and palmer than ever before,
and the rewards Of right action, both OF
a temporal and spiritual nature, more
abundant than in any preceding age.
AS the year draws to i close and we
attend while time prepares to cousign il
forever to the past, there is not one soul
of mature years but what feels more
keenly than ever that ''Liic is real, lit,
is earnest" and that the advent of til,
new era should be the season OF boldel
and more determined resolves to press
on toward the objects Of q worthy am
bition.
Here in our own county, during the
year, generally speaking We have seer
prosperous times. BY the Hood in thu
summer and the late rains, the plans .
some farmers were fru. tratcd, bur ,hcs'