Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-01-06
BRIEF HISTORY OF A YEAR
A Resume of the Leading Events
That Occurred in This and
Other Countries.
THE RECORD FOR 1897 FOREVER CLOSED
Matters of National Importance I'm
the United States-RevieY of Events
fn the Old worId-The Bright and
Gloomy Side OF Life In Our own
Country.

The year 1897 is one which Will long be
remembered In the political and economical
history OF the United States. Everything
has steadily improved during the year.
Crops have been richly remunerative to
the farmers. which has enabled them to
pay or their debts and get rid OF some
OF their mortgage burdens. The markets
have grown more stable. There Is more
buying and selling. The number OF en-
ployed is steadily increasing. There 10 less
suffering among the poor. Coupled with
all this II has been year OF abundant
harvests, OF good health, OF renewed ac-
tivities In all directions, OF peace and ma
tional security, while all the rest OF the
world is more or less perturbed.
Tariff and Currency Reform.
Immediately after President Mckinley
had been sworn into ONCE he called con-
Sress together TO legislate on the subject
Of the tariff and the revenues. After a SEES
sion lasting a little over four months the
Dingley tariff bill was passed. The cur
rency question was left untouched at the
special session. But when congress re-
assembled last month the president called
its attention to the subject and submitted
his proposition that after the revenues
OF the government meet its expenditures
Rreenbacks when redeemed shall not be
paid out except in exchange for gold. Sec
retary Gage also submitted his plan OF
currency reform, and II will be considered
by congress after It reassembles along with
drafted by the committee appointed by the
Indianapolis monetary convention, which
will be made public In few days.
The Treaties.
The treaty history OF the government Is
of more than ordinary interest Early In
January a general arbitration treaty be-
tween the United States and Great Britain
was negotiated and sent TO the senate. II
declaration OF the Monroe doctrine and
ruling out King Oscar OF Sweden as UNI
pire. On the attn Of February. however, the
treaty was hung up In the senate until the
next session. and there Is now prospect
that Ii may be reintroduced in some modi-
fled form, which may go no further, how
ever, than the recognition OF the principle
OF arbitration.
on June 10 the Hawaiian annexation
treaty was signed and sent to the senate
Japan making at the same time formal
protest, which the state department de-
cined to recognize. The senate commit
tee reported fayorably on the treaty on
July IL. and II Is likely that upon the re-
assembling OF congress the treaty Will come
up for debate. with its prospects for rati-
tication materially enhanced by the stir
ring events now Transporting on The Astatic
Pacific coast
Cuban Question.
AS whole the year has been a peaceable
and prosperous one at home and our for
etgn relations have not been seriously dis
turbed. The Venezuelan quarrel with Great
Britain has been settled in a satisfactory
manner, likewise some minor disagree
ments With Japan as TO the Hawaiian is
lands. The cuban question still remains
a veXed one. The administration, not
Wlth5tanulng the tmpatlence of the people,
stil pursues a policy waiting upon the ef-
forts Of Gen. BlancO to induce the CuDans
to accept autonomy. AS they show no
sigus OF accepting il or any settlement other
than rpeudenCe, and as during he las (
few Weeks they have won important VIC
tories and are nov III the immediate Va
emily VI Havana Itself. IL is evident that
the question VIII soon force itself upon the
administration IN manner demanding
urUnUf action.