New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-31
THE YER.

1t has been year Oh UNREST tHouE"o"0
Christendom There have been neither naval
| bombarlments nor military campaigns yet
the atmosphere of Europe has been surcharged
with electric suspicion and there has been a
constant rumbling of warlike preparation.
Every great Power on the Continent is increas-
ing its ornaments. AT neast $50, 100000 has
been expended in supplying the armies with
the Mauser aud other improved magazine rifles.
In Aus tria, Germany aud Italy the guD-fac-
tories are working night and day for the speedy
equipment of the sOldery " it'll these scientific
arms of precision. In France General Boulan-
ger has not only impaired martial spirit alike
to officers and soldiers, but he has also effected
O complete reorganization OF the army anu
accumulated enormous masses OF War material.
Already he has succeeded in fir ghtenng Ger
many into an enlargement of the standing
army; and the lavish expenditures on the
French navy are exciting melancholy fOrebod-
ings 10 England. Russia, while challenging
public opinion in Europe by wantJn acts OF
diplomatic brigandage and intrigue in Bull
agria, is increasingly recruiting its vast MILL
tary horde and sulenly preparing for war. 1t
has been year Of unbroken peace, profound
distrust and morbid SUSPECT, On.
Even in that highly favored quarter OF
ChristendOm where the spirit of militarsm is
not rampant and Industrial resources are not
exhal listed by the pressure of costly armaments,
it has been year of unrest. Not since 1877
has there been such constant warfare in the
United States between capital and lab ,r, be-
tween employers aud employed, as during the
last twelve months. Never before in the his
tory of the Nation have the great industrial
armies of workingmen been so compactly and
effectively organized. The Kni ghts of Labor
and the federated trades unions may have been
defeated in the largest operations undertaken
by them, but they have made formidable ex
hibItions of their power both in industrial and
political conflicts. Economists are wholly at a
loss to explain these labor demonstrations.
Wages have been hi sh in all trades; the pur-
chasing power of those wages has been greater
than usual owing to exceptionally low prices OF
provisi, ms aud com ~ odities and employment
has been uninterrupted in consequence of a re-
newal of business activity aud IA marked recov-
cry from a protracted period of depression
Yet with all the conditions exceptionally fav-
Orable for industrial peace, it has been year
of discomfort, strikes, rioting and lawlessness.
Perhaps the most hopeful sign of the year
has been the closer approach of races in the
uUal mondrcnie5 OF Europe. AusUria- hungary
now occupies a commanding position in dipo-
macy by virtue of the wise compromise effected
twenty years ago by statesman who has died
within the year. w len Count Won Beust, i'm.
medi Itely after SadJwa, armed one-half of the
monarchy with legislative autOn )my, he could
not have veptured to forecast the restoration
of inf ience in European councils which Was to
be effected so soon as the rival races learned to
work together. Tne conversion of Mr.. Glad
stone and the great mass Of the Liberal party
to home rule betokens a similar increase of
power in future for the British Crown, when
Ireland shall have been granted legislative
independence and reconciliation of hostile
races happily effected.
AS for nerica, the most consoling reflection
on the political vicssitudes of the year must
relate to the surplus in the Treasury. At a
its military budgets and staggering under
enormous burdens OF taxation and debt, here in
America We have no greater affiiction than
Treasury surplus that even with marvellous
achievement in debt paving is so great as to
be unmanageable. France would to- day have
a bon ded debt of So, 900 00O, 900, if arrearages
of coating indebtedness were properly funded.
Its finance Ministers cannot bring in budget
without confessing large deficiencies in current
revenue. Not one of the great military Powers
has a surplus to dea. with; and every one OF
them is adding enormously to the national
debt even in time Of peace Happy is the
pacific republic that has no sew erer trial than
the difficulty of reducing surplus revenues