Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-27
TIE CLOSING YEAR.

splendid victory for the party that stood
for national integrity and good faith.
If 1t be said that the good effects cX-
pccted from that decision of the people
have not yet been fully realized, 1t is to
be said on the other hand that a great
threatened calamity to the financial and
! business interests Of the country was
avertcd II there Is still some depres-
sion there is no trace of panic. If the
realization Of general prosperity is still
| In The future its coming Is assured. Con-
! fldcncc i'm our financial soundncss and
stability has been restored the condi-
! tionS Of our foreign commerce are favor
able. domestic industries are more active
! than year ago and the full resumption
! of work i'm the mills ana factories of the
country awaits only such a change in
the tariff policy as will give reasonable
protection against damaging foreign
competition. 1t Is unqucstionable that
| the triumph OF republican principles at
| the ballot box has wrought a change
| for the better and there can be no doubt
that when those principles become fully
I fll''NlN y lll' ''hilNlN WIN 'iA''i upon -
period of great if not unprecedented
prosperity
The wear will he memorable in con-
ncction with our international relations.
| The amicablc arrangement for settling
the Venezuelan boundary controversy by
arbitration was diplomatic triumph
highly creditablc to this government and
Of great Importance as precedent. The
concession made by the British govern
mcnt involved Il recognition of the
Monroe doctrine and the right of the
| United States to intervene in cOntro-
vcrSics between the Independent coun-
tries of this hemisphere and European
nations. and while this recognition is
not binding upon any other power than
| Great Britain, there can be no doubt
that the example of that government will
! be followed by other governments of
| Europe if ever another occasion shall
| arise for the assertion of the American
doctrine. The progress made in ncgoiat-
| ing Il treaty of general arbitration for
all differences between Great Britain
and the United States is II notable step
| in the direction of securing permanent
peace between the great EngliSh-Speak
! ing nations, the credit for which is
largely due to this government. The
| Cuban question. offering opportunity for
the gravcSt International complications,
has been treated with conservative wis
| dom and prudence by the national ad-
ministratiUn and although ii is still Il
menace to the peaceful relations of Spain
and the United States. owing to the dis
position Of men in congress to urge cX-
trcmc action on the part of the executive
branch of the government, there is
reason to believe that the influence of
| conservative public sentiment will de-
feat the purpose of those who would
lead the country to the verge of war and
perhaps into war. Pursuant to the uni
form policy of the government since its
/ foundation, it has kept aloOf from all
| European cntanglemcntS, though there
has been n strong incentive to aggressive
measures for the protection or American
missionaries and the property of our
people in the Turkish empire. While,
however. firmly demanding protection
for our citizens ana interests there and
asking rcparation for injuries sustained,
there has been nothing done to involve
us in trouble in that quarter of the
world or to identify the United States
with the complications existing there
In u word, we have maintained friendly
relations with all the world and the close
of the year finds this republic as strong
in the respect of the world rs 1t has ever
been in its history.
In the old world the Turkish situa-
tion has continued to be of paramount
Importance. The massacre and perSc
cution of the Armenian subjects of
the Porte have not been so appalling
recently as they We're earlier in the
year, but the situation of the unfortu-
nate Armcnians continues most depor-
able. Tens of thousands of widows and
orphans are suffering for the ncceS-
sarics of lifr-the former liable to be
come at any time the victims of Turk
iSh brutality, while the latter roam
about as beasts of the field, Shelterle,sS
and starving. Although there has been
much promise of aggressive action by
the powers to compel the sultan to in
stitutc the reforms demanded by those
powers, nothing has been done, because
it seems impossible to bring about con
cert between the powers-not because
they are not agreed that something
ought to be done, but for the reason
that mutual jealouses and diversity of
interests prevent united action. EX-
cept the Turkish situation there has
been no occurrency during the year
menacng TO the peace of Europe. All
of the great powers, however. have
fully maintained the strength of their
military establishments ana are incrcas-
ing their naval power-preparation for
possible war that may serve to pre-
serve peace. As to the internal affairs
of the various European countries there
have been no Political changes of great
Importance. In ASiatic countries there
have been events of interest, but not of
worldwide consequence.
On this continent, outside of the
United STATES the government of. Can