The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-01-05
1871.
wear.

As we stand grouped around the era
die of the New Year, and look admir-
inglv upon the lusty infant, whose pros
pective growth suggests realiZations of
pleasure and of profit, unconscouslv
almost we cast a lingering look behind
us, and retrospective thoughts picture
in bold relief the fast-receding figure Of
the old year Indeed restrospection is
natural and should be profit able to US
all, if meditation be its handmade
Life, in our times and in this rapid age,
has so few intervals of rational retlec-
ton, that any occasion that turns our
minds backward, with serious consid-
Grafton of the lessons of experience,
should be availed of Eventful though
the past year has been, yet as century
succeeds century and history repeats
itself in each recurring cycle of years,
but a small space will eventually suf-
flee in which to tell the story Of all that
happened beneath the sun in that year
of grace 1877. We make no pretense,
however, of looking at it and its sug-
gestive events with aught of the phlo-
sophie eye, but simply to recall, as the
chronicler of the times, its most con-
spicuous features As nation, We pass
ed in 1877 novel and trying ordeal.
that tested to its utmost the elastic
powers of representative form of gov
eminent like our own. The important
issues involved in the decision of the
Electoral Commission would undopbt-
edly have seriously imperied the exist
ence of any other government than our
own. But we have peacefully survived
this national peril, affordiny unmistaka-
BILE evidence of the stability of Re
publican form of government In ma
terial affairs, we have, as has been per-
tinently put by a leading daily, been
paying the debts Of extravaganza and
repairing the wastes of war Over
| trading, overproduction, and false
estimate of our own recuperative pow
ers have brought their worst upon the
industrial forces of the nation: and in
| 1871, as in past years, we have been
| paying old debts, trying to bring up
our arrears, and making good the dis
reputable deficiencies of the past This
never was pleasant duty or a vel
come penance. 1t has been borne with
some discomfort. Defaults, disgraceful
exposures, collapses Of various kinds,
and a general sitting of things have
only served to impress us more bitterly
with the lesson that nations and indi-
viduas reap as they have sowed New
erthelcss, we have silently accumulated
a vast store Of recuperative energies
| We have been blessed with much ma
terial prosperity, Of which bountful
| harvest is conspicuous feature
Abroad, the contest between two ma
tons Of antae onistic faiths has been
possibly, both in its immediate and ulti
mate results, the most important event
Of the year In the war between Rus
STA and Turkey is involved indirectly,
probably, the question of sovereignty
of the larger portion Of Europe. Since
the declaration of war by Russia, vary
ing fortunes have befallen both nations,
but the Danube passed, the fall of kars,
and the surrender at Plevna have given
the Car the prestige of victory France
too has felt the jar Of political conflict,
and the civilized world has watched
with anxious interest the result of the
struggle there between conservative and
liberal ideas. England, selfish to the
core as usual, has been busiv engaged
watching her Eastern interests in ieop-
ardy by reason of the final overthrow
of the Turk in Europe, and has been
busy enough between quoting the clam
orous liberals who oppose intervention
in Turkish affairs and the maintenance
of the conservative government, while
! from London to Calcutta and from ST.
Petersburg to Cairo, there is the deep
est anxiety for the future. Fortunately
no possible exigency can involve US in
this Eastern struggle, while its imme-
date fHects may possibly be to restore
to US eaation, something, ri the
forr 'acy of o,r A.. 3, .ho