New-York tribune., 1897-12-31

| fru,, no not m merit some regard rs 1t slips
forever beyond the pale OF time; not 'h''' "'
suredly, so near the august date wheh aho'ne'
century shall burst "fu-bossomed on 'ne
| thOrny stem Of time
| Imnerlallsm has been the masfer-"oru
! throughout the year in that nation OF all apro'u
most near to this in sympathy and interest,"! a
sovereign second in worth TO none III III '"c
splendid line has celebrated the endurance VI
her reign to a span exceeding that Oh any
other in the empires history. The occasion was
marked with pageantry compared win WHICH l
CTsar's triumph seems tawdry ana obscure ~
was well. Her reign has been the grea''S. III
British annals. and her sway Is such as makes
thar OF an Alexander or a Trajan seem circu'"
scrlbcd and petty The chief significance OF
the august event was n quickening OF lmperihF
ism. knitting together more strongly OF me
ties that bind the red-hued areas of all SIX con-
tincnts and countless isles in one. Yet to-day
some Of the oldest colonies or that imperiai
crown are trembling on the verge OF ruin. ana
look 10 alien hands for rescue. The imperial
authority has been disputed in the very lana
where Il was first proclaimed and though IN"
dlsaffection has been subdued II Is not dead Dut
slecping and ready to burst forth again at any
time along the ramparts Of the 1indoo Noosl.
The vexing problems Of the great Dominion are
still unsolved and the race for that command
OF the Cpper Nile which alone can make the
Land Of the Pharaohs secure Is yet undefermi-
/ nate II there Is single record or THIS Wnoe
unprecedented year Of British imperial jnoiiee
that makes the empire more stable or lis future
more assured it is not known. The results or
the year are as barren as the ashes Of its bon
fires.
Nor Is there greater cause for exultatlon TO
be found in the years story Of that kindred
Power which las now come to be Great Brit
aims foremost rival The imperial note IS al
ways dominant in Germany. The NalseT
mailed hand has fallen heavily upon the council
board of nations His legions have kept the
camps against all menace. His warshlps nave
been increased His merchantmen have reached
all markets Of the world. His flag has be'n
raised above lands where IL never flew before
Yet nlne-tcnths of his people are In the chilling
grasp OF actual poverty, disaNccton wakes
apacc mcnacingy, and rho imperial altocrat
himself confcsses that his most dangerous foes
are those that have arisen within The realm
itself. provoked by the very things which n"
accounts the greatness of the empire. France
has rcjoced in an alliance with her "netme
enemy. and feels herself at last rcstp. 10 an
uncha lcngcable place among the royal ana I'M
perial Powers. But the echoes OF Panama still
haunt her and the terror Of another and worse
Panama mcnaccs her. Russia has played a
strenuous part In more than one international
drama. and hns steadily pushed forward in the
direction Of what she deems her destiny. Yet
her progress Is not unlmpcded. and 1t may be
checked That she has gained any results COM
mcnsura,e with the years tumult Is not To he
perceived. Austrla-liungary has all The year
been in the throis Of intestine d!Scord. which
threatens her very existence. Tn" story of itaiy
is n tale ~ accomplishments ard of suffering \
sorry showing truly. for the six great Powers.
Nor Is Il better whea we turn from the 'ndl-
vlduals 10 the Concert The united VIII OF them
all was nouled by the weakest Of the States
which exist upon their suncrance, ana X 10
this day dcGcd by that "Sck Man for who's"
POSTPONED demise their hope has long been
weary Save for the transtory tumult OF the
hour AMI ts exhllaraiIon. what is there in the
record Of them all. for humanitys lasting veal.
well worth the writing?
The smaller or weaker Powers have Jared no
better Greece and Turkey fought n war with
little credit and no real gain To either Greece
is despolet In; Turkey cannot enjoy the spoils.
Long months of haggllng and worse In 'rct"
have loft that rroublons ISLAND where II was.
each other but make no progress toward set
tcrncnt Spain has run the gamut Of cruelty
and clcmcncy in Cuba and OF party chang" and
financial vlclSsltude n home. and finds herself
nj the years end no nearer peace and renewed
prosperity than she was nj It's beginning. over
the Central and South American States the year
has scattered murders and revolutions. r'iXcd
with some gifts OF grace. but tho whole harvest
from suCh seed does not enrich the stOrchousc.
Hawars ambition Is still unSatSiicd japan
hns little on which 10 congratulate herself.
China has reached the verge OF dissolution. but
still retains n scmblancc Of integrity. India has
struggled with plague and famine. and Is no
better and worse off than before those
scourges came upon her few savage dcSpois
in Africa have met fitting doom. and the
world IL n little better for their being no longer
In IT, Perhaps that Is on tho whole the best
that can be said Of all the record amid those
nations which call abroad.
Is It n pcssimistic record? Not at ALL There
are no doubt those who are disappointed that
the year was not more fruitful. But expecting
all things in IN hour is not the part OF wisdom
When we compare this empty year with those
OF earlier date. when nations were given up to
deeds OF evil. and force and fraud filled all the
world. and there n positive retrogresslon
toward n savage state. its barren days seem
almost glorious HnmatIng though the con
fcssIon may appear. It Is true that 1t IS n thing
worthy Of note and fruitful of encouragement
that men, in Governments. refrain for space
from doing wrong. even though they do no
good II Is the wrong they do that has hitherto
cursed the world The good proceeds from
other sources. The natural tendency Of the
world and Of the rncc Is upward. Only the evil
pa asslons Of men dressed in little brief au
thorty have checked II now and then and
forced II down. That such are. or for year