The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-01
THE yraR vnfcHrs LNDED.
The year is7G will be memorable rs 81

Of the pc gle. Iir the nrst time In orr history
we are threatened with conflict between the
citizens # the country ana the servants they
have intrustcd with the administration Of ihetr
fairs aud We enter upon the seconi century
Of the rcruLhc vitb this grave conflict unde-
cid ID. The yoar hes been darkened Nv the I'M
&c chaent Of a Cabinet Minister for bribery, ~
uutvcr-al business rcvcrses, by an Administra.
tiou Of low moral tone and reckless partisan
ship. and 10y fraud and trckcry In canvassing
Co., votes az our national election. At the same
time the Centennial Exposition has exhibited
the oxhnustless resources Of our national do
main, and tne industry. skin. and inven,lyencss
OF the people. IL was splendid dem OnstratiOn
OF tue material growth of a nation which con
trastod its bare century OF existence with the
Thousand years OF the peoples who competed
with IL ia the exhibition Of the products OF
skill.
Our neighboring republic OF Mexico teaches
us tho lesson and affords us the warning tina.
no government Is stable and no national pros
periy safe. unless the law Is kept supreme over
individual ambitions and partisan intrgues.
President Lerdo. who was about TO enter on his
second term OF Office after due election, has
been driven from his capital by the revolution
arv entertain Diaz and 1elesias Lerdo's con-
tesiant for the place, now opposes the usurp-
tion OF the soldier who has proclaimed himself
dictator over the ten millions OF Mexcans.
To the north Of us, the Dominion Of Cinada
prospers under democratic representative gov
ernnent In all essential respects independent OF
the control Of the British throne. Canada Ia
still, In population, less one-tenth the size
OF the United States but It bears the evidences
Of growth IN material strength and moral power
In South America the only really successful
and prosperous States are Brazil and Chill.
Both have stable g vernments, and are growing
I'm iuternuI
ments. Dom Pedro II. Is n monarch OF singular
disinterestedness and zeal, and his spirit ami
mates the administration Of the empire, which
extends a large hospitality to foreign i'm miRra
ton The curse OF slavery Il In the wiy OF
being removed by wise laws. which give free
dom to oil children born OF slave parents, lessen
the difficulty OF the slaves purchase OF bis own
freedom, and ameliOrate the condition of exist
ing scrvitude. The contest Is continued be-
tween the Emperor and the Roman Catholic
clergy TO whether the Papa DEGREES shall be
communicated to the people through the State
or the Bishops, but 1t Ia not provocative OF
serious trouble. Brazil Is "a well-ordered and
healthy State, and its eleven millions Of inhabi-
tants constitute the backbone OF the South
American population. Chill has maintained
peace, and Ia growing In riches and resources
The Argentine Republic Is still suffering from
the consequences of sudden and an undue in
crease Of the currency.
Europe ia aetated by the fears Of war be-
tween Russia and Turkey. England suffers
| commercially aud financially by reason OF the
incertitude of Continental politics, hut. though
vigorously assailed bv the opposition, the Gov
eminent OF Lord Beacon sheld mai tans itself.
| The wear has witnessed no very marked political
| changes IN that kingdom. It, chief event. per-
| hnps more significant In is appeal to the imag-
| ination than In Its practical consequences, has
| been the assumption by Queen Victoria OF the
| title OF Empress OF India. To-day at Delhi and
throughout india, she Is to oe proclaimed the
| imperial mistress of the ancient people who
already enjoyed a proud civilization, had en-
| riched their country with enduring monuments
| of art. had highly developed religion, and had
letters and sciences when her ancestors were
rude barbarians, incapable of an abstract
| thought The gorgeous ceremonies of this first
| Of January at Delh will m Ike the day memora-
| bic, aud the Oriental Imagination OF the English
| statesman, who conceived the idea of adding to
| his sovcregns royal dignity tho glamour Of an
| imperial title, must be satisfied
In Franoe the year has the further en-
trenchment OF the republic in the confidence of
the nation. IL has become the symbol OF con-
-ervatsm. and, with Gainbetta listening to the
counsels OF moderation and deriving extreme
| opinions and policies 1t seems firmly seated.
| The ell slicity Of France in It's recovery from a
! disastrous and humiliatng war has been one OF
| the most wonderful events of modern history.
| II Is due To the energy. industry, thrift. aud
ingenuity Of the people, and mastery man
agement Of the problcms OF national finance.
| We rejoice at the prosperity of the French
| republic and the nation which has been the
teacher Of the world IN matters Of human rights
and social emaucipaton-the fertile and much
| tried land whence ideas Were obtained which
| unurtshad a. pf fnuud.rs ,f
republic.
| Germany has not wisely rsaped the ma
toral fruits Of victory France has used the
| lessons Of diversity. The great indemnity she
wrung from her conquered adversary has proved
| rather source Of evil than help TO real pros
pctitY. bv stimulating reckless speculation, and
| dNeriing thought and enterprise from actual in
dustr,. hut Germany has consolidated herself
AS a political entity, and holds dominant place
! among European powers.
Russit Is In the turmoil Of preparation for
war. the people evidently desiring the conflict,
and sanguine of success In oonqucrng "A union
OF the Sclavonic races. Though Russia has the
most centralized and most imperial of govern
| mCnts, yet Russian society Is active with the
Yeast OF political aud social radicalism, which
Will one day exhibit its ferment more conspicu-
ously. Italy grows more and more consolidated
rs n kingdom, the Liberal party maintaining It's
| supremacy Ia the Parliament. Austria watches
with keen interest the movements OF Russia
near her borders, and viii icalousY resist any
crOachments on her nciGhbor's y irt which seem
to threaten Austrian flare. Turkey proposes
| radical REFORMS responsible Government and
| House Of Representatives, the equality Of all
before the law aud tu-ter Observation-Disclosures
whether she can carry out such measures re-
~ ms In doubt, and Russia stun menaces tho
Integrity OF the empire. Spain il, for the time
| quiet AT home, so far rs concerns REVOLUTIONARY
| movements. Cariism Is smotherod, at least
temper riv and radical republican deLc ID
stri'ious have been crushed. The Cuban va.
Tor indepe ndence still sorely taxes the kingdom
hut the national pride Of Span Is enlisted II
the struggle, and it yet goes on, though hope
less. Denmark Is In possession OF the radicals
who woirN the King aud make his crown q mere
bauhle. Sweden and Denmark. Belgium, swift
zcrlaud and Portugal present little IN their yoari
history which calls flr comment.
IN Asia the barriers to foreign intercours'
have been further broken down curing the car
China again sent out diplomatic represen
tatives to the Western nations. japan i- making
r pid advances toward an imitation Of Western