St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-01-03
THE YEAR 1895.

to a glance backward to the events
of the year that has passed. We
give below a few of the events, which
will take their place in history as mark
ing the worlds history for the year 1895.
In the political world, and as affecting
the life Of the nations, we notice the fol-
lowing. In the Sandwich Islands a con-
stitution has been adopted and a repub-
lican form Of government set up, which
is recognized by all the nations, and an
effort to restore the monarchy was sue
cessfully overcome. In France, President
Casimir resigned, and M. Francis Felix
Faure was chosen as his successor. The
French troops have accomplished the
conquest of Madagascar, and henceforth
that island will be subject to French rule.
In England the Liberal party has been
displaced from power and Lord Salisbury
is again Premier. Germany shows a
large increase in the growth of Socialism
anu SIG mas CCiSpldlSu lHS opening VI
the Baltic canal at Kiel. The war be-
tween Japan and China has been brought
to an end, as the result of which, the for.
mer takes her place among the leading
nations, while the latter lies a helpless
hulk, fettered by old traditions and Gus.
toms. The riots in several of her cities
and the massacres of missionaries reveal
the ignorance and prejudice Of the people
and the weakness of the government.
Bulgaria witnessed the u~navenged MUIR
der of n of her strongest patriots,
Stambulof. Italy, in her aspiration for
colonial possession, has made an advance
on Abyssinia, but has met with most
stubborn opposition. Spain has been
called to cope with a serious uprising in
Cuba, which has for months persistently
resisted her power to subdue. The most
amazing and shocking events of the year
have occurred in Armenia, where through
the whole year, the Sultan has counte-
nanced and instigated the determination
Of the Christian Armenians, and that in
spite of the expostulation of the Powers.
All missionary work there has been
brought to a stand still. Our mission
aries, though protected from personal
violence, are virtually prisoners and their
lives are spared only from fear of the con-
sequences, ifthey should be murdered.
In the United States, Utah has taken
her place among the sisterhood of states.
Georgia has rejoiced over the successful
exposition at Atlanta, while South Caro-
lima has revised her constitution with
the avowed purpose of DISTINGUISHING the
great body of Negroes. A protest has
been made by our government against
the course pursued by England, in as
Stunning to appropriated to herselfterritory
claimed by Venezuela, without submit
ting the question to arbitration. The
Monroe Doctrine" is made the basis of
this protest.
Among the roll of the dead of 1895 are
the following names: Rev. Drs. A. J..
Gordon, VIM. M. Taylor, Edward
Beecher, David B. Coe, A. A. Miner,
Henry w. Scudder, Samuel F. Smith, and
Robert w. Dale. Also Professors John
Stewart Blackie, Thomas H. Huxley, 7.
D. Dana, ]. r. Seelye (author of "Ecce
Homo"), Sir Henry Rawlinson and ex-
president ]. II. Seelye. Among those
noted in political and business affairs,
who have passed away are Hon. Freder-
lex Douglas, Walter Q. Gresham, late
secretary of state, exJustice William
Strong, Judge E. lockwood Hoar, ex-
Governors Rice and Ames, Hon. Franklin
Fairbanks, Lord Randolph Churchill,
Marshal C%anrobert, Henry o. Hough-
ton and Judge Allen G, Thurman.
In the religious world there has been
steady progress with little of internal
~dlssension. A great quiet hasfallen upon
the churches, so far as Progressive The
ology" and Higher Criticism are con-
cerned. These are discussed without
heat and, as the result of fuller investi-
CATION and deliberate judgment, solid
foundations are being formed to stand
on. Hastily formed conclusions are cor
rected and the friends of truth are en-
couraged. The additions to the churches.
of different denominations, have been
larger than usual and give courage for
continued effort. The missionary socie-
ties, though still burdened with debt and
obliged to leave important work undone.
yet are, on the whole, in a more hopful con-
dltion than a year ago. The foreign
missionary work in the Turkish Empire
is at present in the most critical condi-
ton. The work among the churches in
this state, including that conducted by
the Domestic Missionary society, has
been attended with the blessing of God
and we have at the beginning ofthe year,