The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-01-01
PALATKA. FLA. JAN. 1, 1888.
l888-l887.

l888-l887.
The New Year, 1883, finds the world
at peace and America prosperous. There
are ominous signs of war in the East OF
Europe, strenuous exertions to be ready
for attack or defense. The spring OF
the New Year may find the Teutonic
powers graphing with Russia in one OF
the most destructive conflicts OF modern
times. But to those who have heard
the same prophesies of war winter after
winter all this talk carries no fear that
the worlds peace is to be broken. me
massing of armies at the frontier oiteh
has it's explanation in secret negotia-
tions between the two powers the frontier
divides. a show of force to support dis
agreeable demands What decisive re-
suits are effected in European politics
this wear will probably be the outcome
Of diplomacy, not of war.
The new year finds the coercion policy
OF the Tory government on trial in Ire
land. There is hull in agitation. Glad
stone ha.. left England for his health
and the political leaders are scattered
throughout the country. What the close
Of the year will show is problem that
few will attempt to solve.
In our own happy land the year will
bring forth double conflict in politics
Of the utmost Importance to the inter-
ests of the country. 1t is the year OF the
Presidential contest and it opens with
happy auguries for the success OF the
Democratic party. 1t seems to be con-
ceded that nothing can prevent the
return of Mr.. Cleveland to the White
House for another term. The contest will
be complicated by the tariff question.
The narrow shave the country had from
q financial cow dlsion last fall, and the
Presidents fearless message has put the
question in such a shape that it is diff
cult to see how Congress can avoid deal
ing with the question. That 1883 may
see the tariff question definately settled,
for a time at least. IL the sincere desire
Of every thoughtful citizen. Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio and Alabama, to take repre-
sentative states. arrayed against the
other Eastern and Southern states and
the whole Northwest is the aspect OF
thel question which gives rise to the
belief that the tariff question will lead to
political complications such as have been
unusual for many years. Before
the year ends we shall know
whether the whole country APP
proves of the policy of the
Democratic party and whether the tariff
shall be an instrument of gathering rev.
enues for the use of the government
without expressing the people or one for
the benefit of the rich few against the in
terests of the many who must toll for
their daily bread.
In our own State this will be an inn
portant year, politically speaking. The
gubernatorial contest will soon be upon
us. A governor, all the important. Off
GERS of the State, all the representatives
and half the senators and the county
officials are to be elected. The election
of new Legislature is the most i'm
portant political duty before the voters
of Florida. The last Legislature, claimed
TO be one of the best ever
known in the State, did so much
it should not have done and left undone
so many things it should have done that
the public attention has been drawn, as
never before, to the Importance of.elect-
ing men who not only have the true in
tereses of the state at heart, but who
have the intelligence to know what
those interests are.
The past year has been, in the main,
Que Of peace. IL produced the Coercion
bill measure of the English Parlia-
ment against which the civilized world
protests. 1t gave to America a measure
which introduces new element into
commerce, the Interstate Commerce
bill. Probably the most important mat
ter in the history of the year was the
condition of affairs which drew the
attention of everyone to the fact that
the danger of the iplus was not merely
something for theorists to quarrel over
but u real menace to the happiness Of
every household in the land.
In Florida the past year has been one
OF disaster. A dread scourge has done
ms harm, not through its actual ravages
SO much as through the senseless scare il
has caused and the selfish use that has
been made of it. We have suffered from
the severe competition of California but
the year closed wi.,, as bright prospects
as Florida ever saw before her.