Connecticut western news., 1879-12-31
The Year in Review.
WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE OLD WORLD AND THE NEW DURING 1879.

WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE OLD
 WORLD AND THE NEW DURING 1879.
 The years of this busy human life of ours are crowded with events. Some of them stand boldly out in history, mark ing the beginning and end of important epochs; while others add only short chapters to the story of the world.
 The year 1879 will tske it's place among those last mentioned unless, indeed, some of it's events have results more far-reaching than we can now fore see. There has been no desolating war in the twelve months just passed, and no brilliant work of statecraft. Yet survey of what has taken place in the world will not be fruitless.
 Europe has been at peace. The form al tresty between Russia and Turkey was signed in February, though hostili- ties had ceased months before. Some slight difficulties have arisen as to the States newly created ont of Turkeys former dominion. Once or twice threat ening clouds have risen, but they have been quickly dispelled. A treaty, the object and terms of which are little up- derstood, has been concluded between Germany and Austria. "t
 Internally there has been some dis turbance in the countries of Europe. In Russia the spectre of Nihilism has been striking through the land, carry ing terror to the Czar on the throne (whose life has twice been attempted), and to the upper classes of Russian society.
 In Ireland, the British Government is puzzled how to deal with the farm CTS who have banded together to resist the payment of rent for the land they till. Italy, too, has been stirred by agi- tators, who wish the Government to wrest from Austria the provinces which they say should belong to their own realm.
 France has had change of Presi- dente. Marshal MacMahon resigned on the 2Oth of January, and M. Jules Grevy was elected his successor on the same day. Important changes of min- istries have taken place in Spain and Italy. The young King of Spain has just taken an Austrian arch-duchess as his second wife, his frst-Qeen Mer- cedes-hsving died some eighteen months ago. In Germany, Prince Bis marck's policy has undergone marked change, and an election of new Parli- ament in Prussia has given him ma jority which supports his new views.
 No political changes of moment have occurred in Great Britain. The country has had on it's hand two '1ittle wars, ' one in Afghanistan in Asia, the other in Zululand in Africa. In each of these wars the English have suffered severely, but in both they have finally been success full.
 If we turn our eyes westward we shal notice in South America war of Peru and Bolivia against Chili, declared at the beginning of April and not yet con cluded. A revolution has taken place in Venezuela, and another in Hayti; { third has been attempted and is not ye wholly crushed in Mexico and a new insurrection has broken out in Cuba.
 The main events of the year in the United States have been the successful resumption of specie payments, and the refunding of tine public debt. A pro longed though fruitless contest occurred in Congress in the spring, and gave al issue for the political parties to figh over in the State elections later in thu year. Otherwise, the year has beer barren of political events.
 In one aspect, it has been 8 yea long to eremembered. To the farmer of Europe it has been the last and tn worst of series of bad years for tn crops. To the merchants of the Ok World, it has given the most depressing months of bad trade they have know since the reverses in this country 1878 spread business staguation througl the world.
 In thus country the year has marked
 turning point. Our crop was the larges and best of series of fruitful harvests Before the middle of the year, trade be gan to revive with wonderful vigor, an' the improvement has not only lasted but become greater than ever. Gu foreign trade has been immense, and it
 profits have been returning to us in tn form of gold, to the amount of abou , seventy-fve million dollars in a fe, months.
 Among the commercial events of tn l year should also be mentioned the move r ment for a canal through the Isthmu of Panama, which was originated by a l International Congress at Paris in May the laying of new telegraphic cabl l from France to Massachu setts and tn bank troubles in England and WaIel 3 Canada and Louisiana.
 r They year has given us it's full share ( t disaster and death. The plague hs t made it's ravages in Russia flood hs ] wrought havoc inSzegedin, in Hungar, r the yellow fever has once more visite F the fated city of Memphis.
 But comparatively few persons of gre'
 distinction have died. The Prince In :, perial of France, the hope of his part D D has been killed by the Zulus. Sen' . Espartero, an old Spanish statesman . has died of apoplexy. The famo,
 French economist, Michel Chevalie !, MT. J. T. Delane, for thirty-six yea :. | editor of the London TI9,1es Mr. Ro