The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1879-01-04
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
THE NEW YEAR.

Again, Messrs. Editor, we stand on the thresh-
hold of one of those periods into which existence
is divided--when Time holds up the glass before
our eyes, admonishing us how rapidly the sands
of life are running down. The season is one when
all reasonable minds seem irresistably compelled
to stand if only for a moment, in the wild and eX-
citing race oflife-to look back the mostpromi-
nent points which have marked our pilgrimage
to bind up more completely the lessons which en-
perience has taught, and to reflect the headlOng
speed with which we are rushing to future,
which is enshrouded in impenetrable mystery.
This is the season, emphatically for making
good Observation-Disclosures may be regarded
as being generally engaged in "girding up its
loins" for a general onslaught all the sins
which have beset each member during the past
year and if each individual could be as snless
as he has just made up his mind to be, we should
have the Millennium forthwith.
This is the season, too, which the divine, the
moralist, the sage, the philosopher and the poet
have seized as the most fitting one for addressing
poor humanity on the diseases which it is heir to.
1t is the time when the civilized world is inundat-
ed with good advice, gratis-when, in short, the
steam by which our globe is whirled along, is
thrown off, so as to give everybody a few minutes
respite in which to offer counsel and advice to
somebody else.
At such q moment, when all the great lumina-
ries are burning with benevolent zeal, it would
seem almost idle in us to indulge in any moraliz-
ing dreams. We can only advise our friends to
remember, always that they livein asphere where
those only who are wide awake succeed-that the
ider and the sluggard must inevitably be trampled
down in the general rush-and thaton indispen-
sable element of success is to ''be sure you are
right, then go ahead"
That done, let us turn for few moments to the
past year. And in the foreground of that retro
spect stands the sombre insignia of nations sor-
row. Some of the mightiest intellects have fallen
and have been gathered to their father" all
that was mortal has been consigned to the the
tomb. We have had storms, intense heat and
neutrality-suspicious. generated byit Hurricanes in
the West and destructive thunder storms in the
East, such as no previous year in the history Of
this country had brought. Equinoctal gales that
destroyed vast quantity of shipping, and many
lives lost, together with other mis-haps.
While contemplating the loss we have sustained
it is encouraging to reflect that in country like
ours, where no barriers exist to check the onward
march of intellect, an array oftaentis ever spring,
ing up to fill the vacuum caused by the removal
| of our veteran leaders.
Gratitude is the first emotion suggested by q
contemplation of the progress of our country
Love for the glorious institutions under which We
live suggests the sentiment of veneration for the
| memory of those great and good men who origi
mated them. Often do we reflect on the doubt;
| anu dHAlelleS WHICH must udNS dlIChuSu lhO ui
| rangement and PRONUNCIATION of Constitution
which regarded by the statesmen of other coun
| tries a mere experiment, under which liberty
would degenerate into RIGHTEOUSNESS. The crude
| experiment is now the marvel of the world-des
pots hate and fear us, and the oppressed seek Oul
| shelter, the strong cultivate friendship, thu
timid watch our progress with wonder, the down
| trodden look to us with hope.
| Commercially, cur history presents no brighter
page than that which has just closed. Nor car
| we see that there has been anything hollow OIL
feverish in that general prosperity. 1t has no
been the result of any speculative mania, but tht
quiet progress ofindustry, beneath the genial sur
| Of Freedom.
HAPPY New YEAR We wish all the readers
of the UNION the joys of the season. May The
new hopes which are now opened meet with th'
realization they deserved May the blessings We
have received be continued May we escape war
famine and pestilence! May our country be pros
porous, and no dark cloud loom above the horizon
threatening the existence of our political system
May our harvests be abundant, and may our eX
ample strengthen struggling Freedom throughout
| the world. j. S. G.