New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-31
The YEAR.

| mr. 1EfI'
An accurate sense Of perspective is lacking
at no oni Of a wear What il, Of tran>itory
Importance j likely 10 be exaggerated. ana
what j Of iar-rachiug influence in affecting
the conditions 81 human plOcre,> j. temporarily
oycr>hadowc1 and ob>cmcd. Americans who
have emerged ftom u year Of economic con-
troycs>y will he inclined ~ regard the \oycm-
Ter election with the political reaction therein
disclosed A. the most mOmcniou> event IN the
circuit Of the world, recent history. Two
wears hence the real force of the popular move
mcnt against the industrial system under which
American progress has become the marvel Of
the modern age can be measured more delib-
cra,cly: and "A decade hence the student who
reviews the events Of 1890 may perceive that
what had the >cmblancc OF an economic rcvolu-
ton wa> hardly more than a stage q arrested
development # enduring National policy. Dr.
koch'S discoveries may have Transformed mcdI-
cal practice. or have been forgotten a. an I'M
fulfilled expectation. In IN" perspective which
either two or ten years will ofler 20 the future
observer many things which now seem 10 be
If oycr>hadowiug importance will have >hnink
into in>icuihcan,e and some things which are
now moderated will have loomed mp n land
marks of progress.
/, j, apparent however. even :" superficial
Observers. that moro history has been made
during the year that j now ending IN the New
than in the Old World The retirement Of
Bismarck. the paffioning of large extent "f
Africa on paper. and the revolt Of 4 majority
Of the Nationalist members Of Parliament
against NJ PANEL have been the chief events
Inn in ho Of he
Of progressive civilization nothing that has o.
CURED in the Old World j. comparable in i'm
portancc with the Pan american Congress
which closed il, work on April 10. The han
moulou> sessions NJ thar unique amphlctyoulc
council of the republics e IN" continent. and
the many practical recommendations made for
bringing the three Americas into closer com
mercill relations have created a comprehensive
continental policy which seems destined =" en-
large the influence Of he English speaking race
over Portuguese aun spanish America for the
prom ton Of the hi-hc>' ends 81 civilization
The adoption ~ thu international Congress 81
the principle o' compulsory arbitration A.
means 81 aycr'inc war was the most significant
event Of 90" ycir-i proclamation o. the Ne"
Word, pomd,ic gospel 81 peace a. an alter
native for he Od Worlds malign and barren
policy e ovorNcIghtcd aimamcui> AMI uuco1~-
ing preparation, ior devastating. campaigns
The aIIaa..mcr'> made for conducting survey,
or railway, for uniting 'hc three Americas. 'or
holdin. monetary conference. for establish
inc steamship Lines, and fps carry ing into "Nc-
cutiou o.hcr recommendations of the Congress
are signal proofs tha' the continental policy
J., not . yagaiy Of optimistic sentiment. hu' an
,.i,
designed ~ affect powerfully She destiny Of
both hcmi,phorc~. 1hc>" great result, could
not have been accomplished if The prestige Of
American diplomacy had not been restored
carly i'm me year by the honorable adjustment
81 tine samoan controversy al Berlin. hy the
negotiation OF am effective LNirldiIou Treaty
with Grcar Britain. and hy the strong stand
taken ly 'hc state Department in defending
National right, in Bchiing sea
Washington has been in large sense the
political Il, we'll ~ the diplomatic capital % the
continent. The new Constitution submitted
on November H. the anniversary Of the Icyo-
luton, to a National Assembly elected on sep
lcmLcr u in Brazil bears the strongest pos
>hlc impress of American ideas. j. repro
duco> all the essential features Of the Federal
state. administrative legislative and electoral
~ stems of the United states and i tho hc>,
and mos progressive scheme Of constitutional
government known IN south America. II Sc
cruc> TIE di>r>tabllshmcnt Of the Church. and
the settlement Of the ciyil marriage. cemeteries
and secular education questions. which have
excited hara~>ing controversies, IN Chilli the
Argentine Confederation and Venezuela Bra
I'll has not only reproduced American idea, in
il, political system. but il has also heartily
supported the arbitration policy OF the lnt"rna
tonal Congress. and apparently il j, preparing
10 enter into special treaty engagements with
the United states respecting reciprocity 81
trade. With TWO exceptions civic government
has been normally conducted throughout south
America. Presidents have been inauguratcd in
Uruguay. Peru and Venezuela without political
strife or blood>hcd and in Brazil there has been
an orderly Development of new institutions
without reaction % revolution. I'm Chill there
has been a protracted struggle between an AFRO
CANT President and Il patriotic Congress- which |
has ended without the surrender OF con,iiiu-
tonal rights; and in the Argentine a Ion.
period Of financial disorder and corriDi admin
i>ildtlon has eliminated i'm revolution. the |
Presidents enforced resignation and a collap>c
OF national credit which hd, impaired the nrrs
tlSc OF the BarinCs IN London. I'm Central |
america a unilicaton scheme by which five re- |
publlC> would have hecn brought into federal |
relations has unhappiy been retarded by tho |
assassination Of the President Of salvador and |
the outbreak OF short and indecisiyc war with |
Guatemala but the prompt restoration OF reace |
encourages belief that the States will specdily |
carry out the patriotic project Of the numbered |
PRESIDENT. The collapse Of the Panama Canal |
has been followed by laborious a,,empts to |
secure an extension of the conce sSions orig
inalIy made by the Colombian Government
bui the best prospect iol the opening OF an
ihtefocclmc waterway now lies in Nica.acla.
where an American corporation j. res lutaly at
work. The passage Of the >hippine bills nov
before the House, the negotiation of Rcciprocitv