The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-01-03

The twelvemonth we all agree in number
ing 1887 was in some respects q singular Pc
Rod But, upon the whole, it averages well
with the wears that went before it, In
chronologically considering given year one
almost insensibly turns first to its neurology,
for one may measure the Importance Of a
year very accurately by taking note of the
important figures who have passed from the
worlds stage during its sway. And it was
indeed . goodly company that passed from
the visible to the invisible during the
year 1857 Poets and statesmen, and
warriors and seamen, singers and actors,
and financiers and eminent people Of all de-
grees. But the world goes on very well with
out them, as il will continue to go ON long
after those who come after them have been
succeeded, in turn, by others
humanity made a good bit OF material
progress during 1887. To be sure, no won
derful new invention came into general util-
ity, and no one of the few great scientific
prizes that mother nature sometimes gives
to her persevering children found
between its extreme days, but there
was a steady Improvement of such mechan-
zeal contrivances as man had already made
himself master of; many miles of new rail-
road were constructed, many new industries
were established and many old ones were ex-
tended And while not all who contribute
to the nations wealth by the labor of the
hand and brain have profited by their work
as they should, there a steady i'm
provement of the condition of the
working classes during the year. The
unemployed and the destitute are to be Jund
mostly in the great cities of the earth, and it
Is there that most of the riots of the year
took place. London suffered more than
the year was the 'longshoreme's strike, left
over from 1886 and concluded in February;
the printers strike in New York, St. Louis
and Chicago; the cigarmakers' strike and
the big coal strike ordered in the middle of
December.
Among the most notable events of the year
was the hanging of the Chicago Anarchists.
A complete list of the dark deeds COM
mitted in 1881 would include everything in
the way of crime that the mind of debased
man can conceive carry into execution,
but only such crimes as from their extraordi-
nary nature demand recognition in the record
Of years doings are here set down.
The casualties of 1887 include fire and
storm and food, and that most awful mani
festation OF natures power, the earthquake,
besides those casualties that are solely due to
the carelessacss of man himself. The most
appalhn, disasters of the year were the
earthquakes of the Italian Riviera and the
fools caused in China by the Yellow river
bursting its bounds.
Eighteen hundred and eighty-seven wit
messed no great wars, and the fact that the
republic OF France passed safely through a
crisis that was feared would precipitate tur-
moil and blooished should he q matter for
the encouragement of the hopeful student of
humanity Two powerful monarchs cele-
brated important dates in their lives with
great success-Victoria, queen of England,
completed the fftieth year of her reign and
the Emperor William of Germany passed his
Goth birthday.
The year closed with the ever present
eastern question mcnacing the peace of
Europe with rather deeper mutterings
than usual, ana it Is quite within
the bounds of possibility that the first
few months of lSSs may bring storms of shot
and shell to busy towns and quiet valleys
that have nos seen worse storms than rain
and wind and snow for years. In America
the years last days looked upon the busy
preparations of politicians and voters for the
coming presidential campaign, and 1855 Will
be much hvelier political twelvemonth
than its predecessor.
But the years record will speak for itself.