Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-01-07

The Old and the New.

In reviewing the year just closed, we find
more of good than i'll fortune, especially so
far as our own country is concerned. To be
sure, we have not been wholly exempt from
serious losses by fire. flood aud pestilence.
The great snow storms which prevailed at
the west during the opening month of the
year effected a serious and protracted block
ade to the railroads; the spring freshets
were serious and destructive, especially in
California, and in the summer came sue.
cession of terrible tempests that were very
destructive, especially in Kansas, where
forty persons lost their lives. In midsummer
a destructive tornado swept across portions
of Connecticut and Massachusetts,. About
the same time Philadelphia suffered loss
of more than million dollars from the same
cause. A furious tempest swept the At
lantic coast in August, destroying scores of
vessels and many lives. The yellow fever
again scourged Memphis during the hot
season, but there was nothing surprising in
this, as she invited her own punishment.
In Europe the storms and floods have been
almost unprecedented. The floods that de-
stroysd Szegeddin, making seventy thousand
people homeless, and drowning four thou
sand, was repeated later in the season.
Floods on the Danube in which great bridges,
built to last for centuries, were borne away
in Spain, where whole provinces were mum
dated and three thousand people drowned;
and in England, where copious rains covered
all the low lands with water for months and
repeatedly disappointed the hopes of the hus.
bandmen, caused incalculable losses.
The list of distinguished Americans who
have died during the year is of exceptional
length, and includes Caleb Cushing, William
Lloyd Garrison, DR.. j. p. Thompson, Gen
erals t. w. Sherman, Dix, Shields Hooker,
Dick Taylor, Admiral Parrot, DIR. Under
man of the mint, Morton McMichael, Senator
Chandler, William Allen of Ohio, Senator
Houston of Alabama, Richard II. Dana,
Elihu Burritt, DIR. De Koven, Bishop Oden-
heimer of New Jersey, Jacob Abbott, Eras-
tus b. Bigelow, the inventor, William NJ.
Hunt, the artist Daniel L. Harris of Spring
and George Jones. Among the foreigners
who have died within the year are Count
Staempfi, Won Bulow and Won Room, Ger,
man statesmen, Rowland Hill, the English
post-oflice reformer, Baron Rothschild, De
lane, editor Of the London Times, and Black
wood, the Edinburgh publisher.
But there was bright side, even to the
old year, which serves as a bow of promise
TO the new one now opening before u.s. Al
the very threshold of the old year resump
ton of specie payments began, and an i'm
proved feeling in business circles became a
once manifest. The credit Of the countr,
grew strong as by magic, and the refundinl
operations Of Secretary Sherman became tn,
wonder Of all. Vaults were unlocked anc
boarded money found its way into the cur
rents of business. Manufactures felt tn
quickening impulse, merchants bought will
more confidence and sold to all extent tina
astonished them. Then, too, the harvest
were abundant, leaving heavy surplus TO
export. The excess of agricultural an,
manufactured products set the balance o
trade on the right side of the ledger, an,
foreign gold flowed to our shores apact
This, in turn, stimulated business, so tina
now thousands upon thousands are activel
employed and have bright prospects VIII
but year ago were filled with apprehensio
and dismay. We enter the new year unde
favorable auspices, and from the hard Q,
perience Of the past we ought to draw lesson
Of industry and economy that shall serve
when the night Of depression again settle
dewn.