New-York tribune., 1896-12-31
THE YEAR AND THE WORLD.

,,, ,oor which closes with to-day has OH the
,,.ho,a made for peace and righteousness among
49, oo,i,ps II has cmphatically done so III the
,.aso of tho United States. Not only has Srei'
..,,s,s ,n domestic politics been passed Win nap
,>,o., ;ssre but relations with other countries
h,v. heen materially improved. year ago 'lilS
Co,.rnmont WAS in & serious controversy WIN
croot pr;ta,n over the Venezuela Guiana Donhd-
= ord tb.ra wos even some ill-advisCd talK Oh
,.or Thot controversy has now been se'tied so
,or &C this country IS concerned. III peace ana
,,,,h honor and its speedy and just settlement
.,o.,roon Creat Britain and NeneZuela - as
a,rod thanks 10 the Intervention OF the | ni'ed
S,otoe Moreover. out of that very dispute mas
,rown treaty. now on the point OF cohcius'oh'
.h,oh will baniSh all fear of future wars De-
,u.een the two great Anglo-Saxon POWERS anu
mark the opening Of new era III ln'erna''on'''
law Cuba is still a cause OF anxlet! ah" i'''"
t,on hut not more than year ago: ms "o'ern'
n,ent's offer of mediation has proved iu'ile' 'he
;rsrrcents' requests for recognition nave hol
been s-anted. and the policy OF neu'rai'! has
hoon consistently maintained The behrihs sea
scaling scandal gives some promise OF apa'e-
mont The only new trouble or the year naS
been a slight commercial connlc' WIN "e'
many which IS not suffcient seriously ~ MAJ
tho increasing serenity OF the Foreign OUTLOOK.
Nor hive our Southern neighbors Deeh huch
loss fortunate. Mexico pursues lhe even tenor
~ her way under the wisest and most capaDie
NJ bor Presidents Three Of the Central Aherl-
CON States have united in Federal League ana
the other two will probably soon join them.
There have been some disputes ana threa'eh-
ines aud financial mishaps in South America
Inn the peace has remained substantially uh-
broken. and the progress OF civilization has been
maintained in all parts OF the Continent
The British Empire began the year with the
Transvaal imbrOglio. That AFFAIR has Deeh sat
isfactorily disposed Of with actual strengthen
ing Of British interests in South Africa Inc
Nile expedition has made gratifying progress
toward the redemption OF the Soudan ana tue
British hold upon the Land OF the Pharaobs mas
not been relaxed. All amicable understanding
has been established with France and Russia
The two Powers which have long been supposed
10 be leas, friendly. India is being scOurged by
famine and South Africa by cpzOoiic pesi
lence. but those are the only serious troubles the
Empire now suffers. France has endured the
usual amount of socOpOlltical agitation with
On, dctrlmeDt to the stability Of the Republic.
Tunis and Madagascar have been added 10 her
colonial possessions. Her place in the family OF
rations has been fully recognized by the visit OF
the Gar and by close alliance with Russia
she has made herself stronger Power than she
has been for many years. That alliance has
also strengthened Russia. which has made some
amazing strides in three continents. One prac-
.ical protectOra;c has been established over
Turkey, assuring TO her the Ultimate and proba-
bly, not distant possession Of ConstantinOple;
second over Manchura and Corea, giving her
great Siberian railroad several fine alwaysopen