The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-01-08
What 1891 Has Added to the Worlds
Uplifting Activities.

What 1891 Has Added to the Worlds
Uplifting Activities.
1891 has witnessed a good deal of the
worlds upward and forward movement
and very little in large view for the
pessimist to feed on. Europe has kept
the peace. The term of the Triple ALI
ance has been extended. Russia and
France have come to a secret under
standing. Parnelrs melancholy down
fall and death, followed by the bitter
brawls of the Irish factions, seems to
have failed of the harm that would nat
urally be expected, because the English
Liberals adhere, in spite of it all, to their
Home Rule policy. Primary education
in England has been made practically
free by the passage of bill by Parlia-
ment appropriating money for the gov
eminent to pay the fees heretofore ex-
acted of pupils in the schools. France
is advancing hopefully towards solu-
ton of the problem of the complete sep
aration of church and state. The great
strike in Belgium for universal suffrage
"a Just demand in country where only
133, 900 out of 100000 are permitted to
exercise that right-has had some fruit
of good. An interesting mavement is on
foot in Norway for separation from
Sweden ON lines of Democracy. Switzer-
land, the most wonderful exemplification
in all history of Democracy, has cele-
brated the ix-hundredth anniversary of
the union of her cantons. Italy has
changed her ministry-Crispi going out,
Rudini succeeding him, and continuing
his policy toward the foreign States.
Russia as usual is the dark spot of
Europe with her terrible famine and her
persecution of her ., 900, 900 Jews doomed
to expatriation. Fortunately for the
Jews, princely benefactor has been
found in one of their own countrymen-
Baron Hirsch-who gave $2,500,000 for
the purpose of educating and making
self-reliable the Jews who come to this
country, and who has furnished the bulk
OF Cne SlU,OOO,OUO CAP ltal.
Some of the English Colonies-notably
those in Australia, where common
wealth is evolving-have had an event
full year. In India the Manipur massacre
caused much excitement at the time;
but probably the strongest sentiment in
that vast empire of 2S6OOO, 900 souls is
the desire for home rule.
Canada has been shamed to the ut
most by revelations of corruption on
every side in her government. She has
lost her foremost statesman in the death
of Sir John A. Macdonald, but his rejec-
ton of free trade with this country,
though adhered to by his successor, Alb
bot, will ere long, it is believed cause
the defeat of Tory rule.
Our own country has been blessed on
almost every side. The Behring Sea
difficulty is nearing arbitration, the dis
pute with Italy had no serious conse-
quences and the same may be hoped of
that with Chile. The approach to free
trade represented by the reciprocity
treaties adds considerably to our pros
perity. Besides it is estimated that the
farmers will receive for their produce
$500, 00o,0 900 more than they received last
year The new copyright law shows an
advance of international morality. A,
steady fight has been kept up against
the proposed extension of the lottery
franchise in Louisiana. Kentucky has
revised her State constitution. Inter
nally there has been no outbreak against
established law if we except the miners
rebellion in Tennessee. The census re-
turns show that one-half the population
in the Northern States is congregated IN
cities of not less than 5000 inhabitants;
also that the negroes are not keeping
The Indian problem progresses toward
a peaceable and permanent solution.
The surveys for the Intercontinenial rail
way have bee II in progress during the
year, the engineers meeting everywhere
on the proposed route hearty native
welcome. The new railroad mileage is
4, 16S, increasing the total of the country
to III 900 miles.
Spanish America is making her way
up out of woful difficulties. Brazil and
Chill have each had a revolution, the
former nearly bloodless, and both as
nearly as can be judged at this distance
something of progress towards
sound principles government Argen-
tina is struggling with her financial diff
fculties and in danger of internecine
strife on the question of presidential
succession, but is considerably better off
than year ago. Venezuela has adopted
a new ''bill of rights" which makes re-
ligion, the press and the public schools
free, abelishes the death penalty, and !
provides for universal suffrage. Some
noticeable reforms have been undertaken |
in Mexico. The governor of one of the
States has abolished bull-fghting, and
the governor of another has forbidden |
baccarat, roulette, and similar games of |
chance.
Social reforms are moving the best |
thought of the world as never before.
The Socialists at their annual conference
1T Erfurt decided to accomplish their