New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-01
THE NEW-YEAR And ITS STRUGGLES.

To all Happy New Year This is not
merely the wish of TIE TRIBUNE. but the end
to which its efforts will be devoted. II it sue
ceeds, to the full measure of its opportunities
and powers, in aiding to uplft the standard OF
thought and of life, to uphold justice and re-
press evil, to encourage the progress OF educa-
ii, II and of science, to promote the public pros
perity and avert disaster, the year will at least
! bring the happy consciousness of duty done.
Ii is TO he year of unusual uncertainties
and dangers. No prophetic gift is needed to
see that a change of the government from the
industrial policy which has prevailed for more
than thirty years cannot be made without serl-
| on, risk or that the failure Of the brussels
Conference may quickly bring the silver ques-
ton to a crisis Across the ocean, the French
| Republic has to meet graver dangers than have
| confronted it for many years, and the hnanca
| strain in England and Germany may result III
| serious disasters. Either Of these causes may
| produce results in this country which will at
| feet the welfare of the millions here before
the year is fully spent. The spirit OF the alarm
! st is not in order. But he is not the best
soldier who goes into great battle without
a thought Of its possibilities. Here and abroad
| the wear 1913 may usher in struggle by which
| the history of nations and the happiness OF
many millions may be affected. and the best
| efforts to promote the welfare of mankind will
not be made by those who ignore all dangers.
| The Anarchists conspre against the estab-
lished order of things in France, and threaten
not only political revolution, but all rights of
| property In this country, under different
names, the spirit of Socialism held the balance
l,t oil md
wear TO realize in legislation beginning of the
financial and industrial revolution it desires.
| rr, tected laborers who wanted 10 ruin employ
ers. farmers and traders who wanted to smash
the tariff barons,o debtors Of every kind who
wanted to iniure creditors by debaSng cur
rcncy men who have saved nothing and wanted
| TO destroy the advantages OF those who have
/; saved something, shippers who wanted to make
railroads transport their goods for nothing
| turned the scale in favor OF a change, and are
now going to see how great a change and what
sort of change they can get. The first STEP
| here as in France is to break down the con-
| sentative force which maintains existing in
| situations and laws
The strife between Democratic factions seems
! TO make it improbable that an extra session OF
| Congress will he called before September. This
| will put off for more than nine months de-
struc;ve and radical changes and leave the
| country to cultivate and harvest the crops of
1898 without revolutionary legislation. Yet
nine months of delay and uncertainty will be
q trial to all business interests. The struggle
u get control of the next Congress, so As to
shane its legislation. will begin at once. In
that struggle the conservative forces of the
| M, fi, find IN
| break from the shackes of caucus.
! While the manufacturers may wait many
mcnths in uncertainty about changes of tariff
| the dangers of monetary disaster may be more
speedily removed. 1t is possible that the pres
ent Congress, by repeating the Silver Purchase
! act, may arrest the outflow of gold. The next
President. at his Inauguration two months
hence, has the power t. make such definite
| declarations regarding new silver coinage that
the fear OF such measure will be reduced to
| the minimum. TO do so would bring on a
| direct conflict between him and powerful ele
ments in his own party, but before the two
months have passed he may find that frank and
| fearless, action opens the only path of safety.
The struggle of 1893 will not be between
parties, but between the revolutionary and the
conservative forces in all parties. The order Of
the day is not a new one, but was never more
Necessary" lie serves his party best who serves
his country best" II is not a time for intelli-
gent men of either political organization to
seek paxisan advantage at the cost Of peril
TO the country Before the year 1898 has
come to an end the truly conservative men of
all parties may realize that their highest duty
is to act together on all questions affecting
the rights of property, the public prosperity
and the National honor