Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-31

The survey of the years events, printed
elsewhere today, is unusually interesting.
The twelve months just closing have been
filled with stirring events. Foreign wars
have disturbed the serenity of the world,
and as the new year approaches the situa-
ton in the far east grows acute to the
point of a Breach between some of the
worlds most powerful nations. New prob
lens have arisen in international politics.
New territory invites the greed of the DOM
irant powers. 1t seems certain that the
great empire of China will be curtailed in
territory and independence, either by the
comparatively peaceful method of COM
bred aggressions by the nations Of Europe
o. as the result of general outbreak. The
peace of Europe" survived the strain of
the struggle between Turkey and Greece.
hut the year dies with an even more serious
problem on hand touching the ability of the
powers TO keep from fighting.
This country is free from any such en-
barrassments- 1t has passed placidly
through the peaceful revolution which It
may experience each four years. and its
administration has been completely changed
without disturbance. Its revenues have
been placed upon a new basis and pros
perity is returning to both public and pri-
ployed has steadily dwindled and wages
are being safely restored to the high points
which they reached during the good times
of six years ago. The worst effects of the
panic of 1893 were obliterated during the
year. There have been few outbreaks
among the work;ngmen. What promised to
become a formidable strike in the coal re-
sion was wisely handled and a peaceful
settlement was effected, thus sparing the
record Of the year from an ugly blot. The
q eatest city in the country is about TO ex-
pa nd under the operation of consolidation
law into the front rank of the nunicipali-
ties of the world. The entire country
watches the results of the experiment with
keen attention, especially in view of the
return TO power of the political organiza-
ton that formerly corrupted every public
agency entrusted to its charge
During the year the islands of Hawaii
have once more come knocking at the doors
of the United States for admission into the
Union These beautiful. prosperous and
valuable Islands are allied so closely to this
nation by nature and environment, as we'll
as by a manifest political destiny, that as
the year closes it seems certain that no
course OF events can prevent the annexa-
ton of Hawaii from becoming one of the
Nio"HilS OF record OF hap
penings- Meanwhile the people of Cuba are
In about the same condition as regards
their struggle for independence as they
We're year ago. The Spanish government
has proclaimed a system of so-called auton-
omy but it is rejected by the men in the
held and by many others more or less
closely affiliated with the Spanish admins
tration. The common people of the island
are in a deplorable condition and the state
u affairs in Cuba is indeed one of the sad
dest spectacles that the year has brought
forth
Taken as whole, this country has many
reasons TO express gratitude for what the
year 1897 has brought to it, Preserved
from war, its harvests abundant its pock-
cts beginning to expand with money it's
credits good everywhere, its people happy
and contented, spared from the full raw
ages of a threatened pestilence and from
the demoralizing effects of a great labor
disturbance, the United States has seldom
known better year. If 1893 will bring as
many good things and as few undesirable
ones. there will be every reason to be con-
tinuously contented and thankful