Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-01

water fit for domestic use; the burning of
a Brooklyn orphan asylum, with a terrible
loss of children's lives, was the latest hor-
ror of the year, only the more prominent
of which we have mentioned. There were
not few serious railroad accidents, and
in the West numerous destructive storms
Early in the session of Congress the
Greedy relief expedition bill passed, and
the ships were started in search of the I'M
fortunate Signal Service observers. They
returned more speedily than was antici-
pated, bringing Greedy and mere rem
nant of his band, in pitiable condition.
The general joy manifested at their rescue
was dulled by the discovery that some of
the survivors had been driven to subsist on
the bodies of dead comrades. eliminating
and terminating charges as to the failure
to relieve Greedy earlier were made, and
the matter is as vet unsettled, but the bur-
den of opinion is that the blunder in the
Darlington matter is chargahle to General
Hazen.
Inquiry into the Danyille and Copiah
county Southern election outrages resulted
in conflicting reports according to party
divisions of the Senate committees. The
decision of the Supreme Court of the
United States affirming the constitution
ality of the Legal-tender Act was received
with severe criticism, but popular satisfac-
ton. Congress wisely passed the bill
granting lands to Indians in severalty, and
the general Indian policy of education and
industry was found to be working out adj
mirable results. The Blair education bill
passed the Senate, but failed to reach that
result in the House. The passage of the
Fitz John Porter relief bill was followed
by its veto by the President. The Senate
passed bill placing General Grant upon
the retired list.
The first report of the new Civil Service
Commission showed that gratifying pro-
gress was being made under the civil SER
vice reform law. The country was graft
fed by the message of the President urging
rehabilitation of the navy. Congress appro-
priated 100000 in aid to the New
Orleans Exposition, and that Worlds Fair
was successfully opened in December with
the full promise of eclipsing in proportions
and Importance all predecessors. The
ratification of the Mexican reciproc-
ity treaty engaged large share of
public attention, quite evenly dividing
business interests for and against it. Fill
busters for Cuba were seized at Key
West, and the Government manifested
determination to crush the piratical bust
ness.
The financial panic in New York in
May threatened the prostration of the
entire business interests of the country, but
a rally was made and confidence largely
restored. The conventions Of stockmen of
the West, and of the wool-growers of the
nation, were notable gatherings of the
year The completion of the Mackay-
Bennett ocean cable was accomplished in
the latter half of the year.
Minister Sargent resigned his post at
Berlin and was rendered that Of St. Pc
tersburg, and, declining it, returned home,
to receive general approval of his conduct
in the Lasker resolutions and American
pork exclusion business.
The Utah agitation took on new proper
lions, and the conviction of polygamists
gave some hope Of enforcing the laws
against this vice. The feeling against
Mormon emissaries led, in two States,
TO their expulsion by mob force, and in one
to the murder of Missionary"
The practical completion of the Wash
ington Monument was a notable event in
the history of the year, and was seconded
by the passage by the Senate Of bill APP
propriating $4,000 for the erection of
statue Of Lafayette.
The cornerstone for the pedestal Of the
Bartholdi statue was laid with fitting Ger
emonies, but there was a lamentable failure
to raise the needed sum for the completion
Of the pedestal.
In sporting circles the chief event was
the trotting by the mare Maud 5. in the
o,,,o lIo +;r,a of 0.O03 o,,J l. ~. .oIo g.,
$4,000. Bruising matches were common
throughout the country, and craze in
their favor seemed 60 have seized upon the
people:
Among topics engaging much of public
attention and discussion were the land
grants to railroads the purchase of vast
tracts of land by aliens and non-residents;
the narrowing the great free ranges the
proper government Of the Territory of
Utah the claim for admission into the
Union by Dakota and Washington Terri
tories; the prohibition Of the manufacture
and sale of spirituous liquors, in
some of the States; the question of free
trade and protection; the necessity for
action to prevent the further destruction
of forests: the rehabilitation of the navy,
as urged by the President; the renewal Of
reciprocity relations with the Hawaiian
Government, matter concerning which
there should be no hesitancy in deciding
in the affirmative; the passage of new
Chinese Restriction Act, and its construc-
ton by the Supreme Court in such way as
to render it largely Ineffective matter
engaging very much tention upon the
Pacific slope.
The close of the year was signalized by
the presentation by the President of the
new Spanish treaty, which excites the hot
opposition of proteetioaists, and the treaty
with Nicaragua for the construction of a
ship canal across the territory Of the lat
ter. This measure, which is generally ae-
ceptabIe to the country, which is fearful of
any European power gaining Isthmian con-
troll, is yet being examined with jealous
concern. The successful manner in which
Signal Service defaulter Howgate evades
capture; the Swain Court-martial );
the election of Governor Cleveland,