Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-01-09
OF THE YEAR THAT rs GONE

OF THE YEAR THAT rs GONE.
The year which closed but few days
ago differed from that Immediately preced-
ing it in not being distinguished for great
catastrophies by fire, food, earthquake or
cyclone, or for destructive railway or steam
boat disasters There were numerous cas-
uslties Of all descriptions, but in compari-
son with the appalling calamities of recent
preceding years they appear Insignificant.
Nor was the year notable for wars or rum
ors of wars. Not even "the speck of cloud
no bigger than mans hand" which has
so often attracted the attention and excited
the fears of those scanning the political sky
for signs of possible conflict, was visible
above the horizon. There were no indica-
tions of an immediate purpose among mil
itary nations to beat swords into plow-shares
and send soldiers home to the farms and
and purchases of munitions of war went on
without cessation, but this is as much
matter of course in European military ma
tions as the growing Of wheat or conversion
of cattle into beef is with US.
So far as our own relations with foreign
counties are concerned, the past year Of
fered hut little calling for remark. The
Samoan treaty was ratified by the Senate,
and that incident closed The Behring sea
controversy was languidly carried on, and
the cad u tlv- y5Ss.s foand no actual progress
toward settlement made since the year
began. The ratification of the extradition
treaty with Great Britain stopped an inter
national scandal, the United States and
Canada ceasing 10 be harbors of refuge for
the swindlers and scoundrels OF either coun.
try. The Pan American conference was
concluded, and we are now waiting patient.
ly to see if anything practical is likely to
come of il.
In United States political affairs there was
more than enough excitement. 1t will be
a memorable year on that account. Tho
arbitrary course OF Speaker Reed, his deter
mination 10 "see" a constitutional quorum
when the records showed none existed, the
subsequent authorization Of that proceeding
by the Republican majority in the House
and the adoption OF a rule virtually placing
the entire business in the hands ofthe Speak
er and few of his party associates, revolu.
tionized congressional methods in existence
since the formation OF the Union and gave
the year bad prominence in legislative
history
The year closed with similar revolution.
ary attempt, not yet completed, In the Sen
ate. The passage of the Mckinley tariff,
the suddenly developed strength of the tree
cd Age movementin Congress and the futile
endS 10 check it by compromise meas
ures, ~ Adriving under gag rule of the force
bill through the House and the sensational
struggle over 1t in the Senate, the over
whelming and unprecedented condemna.
tion at the polls of the Republican admin.
istration and Republican majority in Con
gress, and the rising OF the Western farm.
ers against Republican misrule, combined
to make 1890 one of the most memorable
years in the political history Of the United
States.
Abroad, the chief points of interest in the
years history were the virtually enforced
retirement of Bismarck from political life,
and the active personal interference of the
young Emperor OF Germany in the domes.
TIC and foreign policy of the empire, the
siisroptiolApf the Ir,sh hope.ru party as
consequence Dehe o'5bea divorce suit in
which Parne(I was dscreditably involved,
the extension Of European influence in un.
civilized Africa and the delineation of the
territory subjected TO the Influence" of the
several European commercial nations, the
promulgation Of the Brazilian constitution
and the financial difficulties in the Argen
tine Republic, which precipitated the fall of
the house OF Barring Brothers, and caused
financial disturbance that had not sub
sided when the year ended.
The list of distinguished dead of the year
is long one. Among those of public note
= in this country who died in 1890 may be
. mentioned Congressman William d. Kelly,
Of Philadolphia, Pa. "the father of the
House" and Elk Speaker Samuel j. Ran.
dali, Of the same city, with Gen. John c.
Fremont, the pathfinder, and the first Re.
publican candidate for President. Abroad,
the list includes Cardinal Newman, who
led the detection from the English estab.
lshed church to the Roman Catholic church,
and Dr. Dollinger, who led the old Catholic
movement out Of the Roman Catholic church
in Germany.