Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-05
AN HISTORIC YEAR.

A WRITER who compiled a rather
incomplete chronology Of what he re-
garied as the leading events Of 1891,
introduced the list by u statement 10
the effect that It would not, In future,
be noted as onelspecially important In
the history Of mankind. He referred to
the great earthquake In Japan-the
most destructive Of the present century
as about the only really striking oc-
eurrence OF the departed year. Such
an opinion must surely have mere
surface basis, and could not have been
formed after careful reasoning from
cause 10 effect. In order 10 correctly
estimate the Importance of events OF
the present we must calculate upon
the results that will ilow from them In
the future. I IL not sui'lcie to estimate
the character OF ayearb by the completed
events that have occurred within II, as
n great many OF the most important
are merely in their inciplcncy, and
necessarily run over the edge Of the
limited cycle Of time into those that are
yet unborn.
AS nh instance, take the occurrence
that 10 designated by the writer re-
ferred to rs the greatest Of ls9l--the
earthquake In Japan. The seismic
disturbance was complete In itself, and
the destruction caused by It was great.
Some Of the disastrous consequences
remain, but the process OF recovery, by
the energy ard recuperating power Of
the people, Is in progress, and con-
ditlons In the affected region viii soon
be normal.
How does this event compare with
the social upheavni that broke out Ia
1881 In China, and Is now In progress?
No person Is capable Of for, telling the
duration or the gigantic character Of
the consequences Of that revolutionary
outbreak. Thousands Of people arc
being horribly butchercd and
while arson and robbery run
riot, the fate Of the empire itself II
jcopardized and there is danger Of the
whole people being plunged Into the
maels,rom OF anarchy. In the con.
s,quontial aspect OF this remarkable
outbreak OF popular barbaric fury, Its
effects on other nations may properly
be- considered, as they may be COM
PEELED TO interfere, and thus superin.
duce International disagreoments OF an
important character. Disturbance In
the elements are ordinarily OF short
duration, but social outbreaks, whose
fires are famed by humsn passion,
are generally prolonged. and horribly
calamitous In their effects. AS be-
tween the seismic disturbance In ia.
pan and the revolutionary outbreak In
China, the weight Of importance seems
to fall to tho side Of the latter event.
The compact between Russia and
France, ms an offset to the, triple ALI
auce between Germany, Austria aud
Italy, with England AS a probable
fourth, TO make the agreement quad.
ruple, is an event out Of which may
grow one Of the most mammoth Issues Of
modern times. As au III ustration II Is
only necessary to observe the co.opera.
ton Of France with Russia In Bulgaria,
the great strategic centre OF the east.
And but for the support OF the French
Republic the Car would not make the
military demonstrations W hich he has
been pushing during the past year In
the Pamir region, where he must
necessarily be confronted by Great
Britain. When the mighty national and
international disturbances which shall
distract the people o. the earth in the
years that are approach ing are describ-
I'd upon the pages OF his tory, they Will
be traced to their inoiplent stages,
which made them possible. The
circumstances out Of which great
events grow are themselves potential
occurrences, and In that respect 1891
will be regarded "a one OF the most i'm.
portant years In the history OF man.
kind.
The past year has been dlstingn ished
above all others in mo dern times ms an
epoch o, suicide, Of ingenious, COM
plicsted aud revolving crimes, and OF
continuous, unceasing rumors OF war.
II has boen characterized by storms,
and by famine and other distinguish
ing conditions. Yet, the picture has
only been gloomy In part. Some por.
lions Of our globe have been favored
with immunity from many OF tue Ills
that have afflicted large proportion
OF humanity. Aud we contend that,
regarding It as an epoch during which
have arisen and been devel-
opei out OF of which momentous con-
sequences will come, 1891 has been
one OF the most memorable years OF
modern times.
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