The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-01
A HAPPY NEW YEAR,


events in the year which ended yester-
day one turns hurriedly and with hope
to the new year which opens today.
feeling that it will be more replete
with events for the general veal than
the year which is just past. So far
as our own nation 10 concerned the year
1898 will figure in history as one with
an unusually dusky record. Finan-
cially and necrologically. it was dark
year. It will be catalogued in future
history with the panic SEASONS of 1885,
1S46 and 1878; but in the increased
number of men out Of employment and
in closed manufactures it far exceeds
the record of any year of panic since
the free trade days just preceding the
opening Of the rebellion.
Its record therefore is not pleas ant to
contemplate, and the mind turns
quickly to the new year in the hope
that brighter days will soon bs upon
us and that commercially, even the ex
pectation Of dissdvantageous tariff
Legislation by congress, may cause no
deeper distress, because the prolon ged
dullness Of trade should bo naturally
followed at this time by reaction
caused by the working off of the sur
plussge which multiplied manufact.
urers have created, thus glutting the
markets. No matter what legislation
may occur, there are certain materials
continually needed by the community.
and if the goods demanded cannot be
manufactured at home, they must be
obtained from abroad so that instead
of there being no demand, trade to
some extent will exist even under re.
pressive and disadvantageous condl-
tions. The difference between the
opinions of thoss who advocate the
'reform tariff" and the adherents of
existing, high protective tariff is Diff
erenee of degree and volume, The
people of this country will have to OBJ.
tain certain necessaries even if foreign
made, and the contention of protect
ionists is that if purchased abroad the
demand will he less and the consequent
domestic supply also less, and that
American money will be sent out of
the country, instead of being kept
within our borders, if we do not manu-.
facture goods for our own consumption.
So that. looking at it in its worst light,
exceeding dullness and stagnation in
trade cannot long exist. And in spite
of adverse tariff legislation which for
the public welfare, is desired speedily
if we are to have it at ALL the outlook
is, that before another excess of com
modities shall be worked off, obnox.
ious tariff laws which Democratic leg.
islation may impose will be repealed.
protection to American workingmen
will once more be secured, and in all
respects, the year which opens today
cannot but be an improvement before
its close, financially, upon that which
has just ended
The yoar 1895 has also been vsry pro.
life in its mortuary list. More men of
prominence, not only in the m marcantile
walks Of life. but especially in this
city and vicinity, have passed away
than during any previous year for dec
ades. One by one, the pioneers in the
industrial life of Scranton are disap.
pearing, so that at present there are
only cry few of them left In the
deaths of E. G. Moffat, DR.. Hollister,
W. w. Manness. and only last Satur-
day, of Edward c. Lynde, this com
munity has sustained q great loss.
They had all been prominently identi-
fed with the commercial and material
growth Of Scranton; their deaths in.
dicating that the old generation Of
prominent citiz,ns is fast passing
away. The year that has iuSt passed
has been notable for the number Of In.
huential persons who have been called
away by death. In this aspect also,
we turn gladly to the new year
hoping that in all material prosperity,
in preserved life. and in resumption Of
labor to those who are now deprived
of it. all our citizens in all conditions
of life may enjoy Happy New Year. u