The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-01-04
The Year 1887.


situation in most civilized countries re-
minds us how thoroughly the ground
has been prepared for events of far
reaching import and how much is in
volved in the mists of uncertainty.e In
the United States the chief political
occurrences were the fall elections,
which were generally favorable to the
republicans outside of New York, and
the presidents message, which has
elected wide discussion at home and
abroad. The most important laws en-
acted at the last session of the forty
ninth congress were the act regulating
the count of the electoral vote, the anti
polygamy bill, the interstate commerce
bill, the retaliation act, the Mexican
pensions bill and measures authorizing
suits against the United States, except
for war claims, and providing for the
retirement and recoinage of the trade
dollar, with an amendment added by
the house requiring the additional
coinage of S2,000,000 of silver every
month. Many other important ques-
tons were left unsettled. The do
mestic and foreign trade have both
been affected unfavorably by extra
ordinary activity in speculation, though
the volume of the former has been
larger than in some previous years.
Some branches of manufacturing have
been successful and others considerably
depressed. The year has witnessed
fewer strikes of organized labor (the
majority of which ended in failure) and
a great decline in the strength and
influence of labor organizations. A
potent influence on the side of law and
order was exerted by the conviction
and execution of the Chicago an
archists. The agricultural interests of
the country generally prospered, though
much loss resulted in some sections by
drouth, storm and flood. Perhaps the
events of most interest in the religious
world were the annual meeting of the
American Board at Springfield and the
Evangelical Alliance conference. A
number of centennial celebrations have
been held, including one at Philadel-
phia to commemorate the signing of the
Declaration of Independence. Tenn
perance and prohibition have made
considerable progress. The country
has also witnessed remarkable growth
of public sentiment in favor of re-
stricting immigration.
There have been several war panics
in Europe. On the surface of things
there are many indications of war
among the continental powers, and it
would be surprise to vigilant OBJ
servers of the situation should the
present year behold no disturbance of
the peace. In Great Britain the Irish
question is yet the leading issue. The
tory position has been considerably
weakened in several ways, and it is
evident that the Salisbury ministry
hold power by frail tenure. The
queens jubilee year was celebrated
with splendid pageants and memorials
of her accession to the throne. France
has witnessed the downfall of the usual
number of ministries, the retirement
of President Grevy and the election of
Sadi-Carnot as his successor. There
has been widespread concern in Ger
many over the prospect of war, the i'll
health of the aged emperor and the
malady which affiicts the crown prince.
There has been little change in the
Bulgarian question. In July Prince
Ferdinand was elected to the throne
and has thus far maintained his posi-
ton in spite of the hostility of some of
the powers. Not many political events
of more than ordinary interest have
occurred in other European countries.
Belgium has been the scene of extern
sive labor movements and strikes. In
Holland the elective franchise has been
extended. The Mexican congress has
adopted a constitutional amendment
rendering a president eligible for cleo
ton to a second term. A revolution
headed by Castano, ex-president of
Guatemala, has been suppressed after
several desperate battles. There is
nothing of especial interest to report of
affairs in South America, Africa, Asia
or Oceanica, if we except the calamities
which mark every years record in
some parts of the globe.
The death record of 1887 in both
hemispheres includes many distin-
guished names, among which we recall
ex-Vice-president Wheeler, Elihu b
Washburne, Henry Ward Beecher
Lord Lyons, Jenny Lind Godschmidt
Michael Katkoff, Cardinal Jacobini
Bishop Harris and Rev. Daniel Curry
of the Methodist church, Governor
Bodwell of Maine, Daniel Manning
Luke i. Poland. r.. M, Il. Hunter, w