New-York tribune., 1898-01-01
WHAT 1897 HAS DONE.

1t is all unlovcy gift Of human nature to re-
gard the past and its bountles with little graft
tude and scant appreciation, looking forward
with eternal hope to the near future But the
dying year, from which all now look forward
with some inpatience, when we stand far
enough from 1t TO see fairly It's part In fhe
Nations history. will probably be recognized
as epoch-making in an exceptional degree. 1t
has done more than many now realize to estaD-
lish the position of the Nation and assure its
future, and generations TO come VIII look back
to 1897 as we now do TO the year Of specie
resumption and recovery from the prostratlon
Of 1873. What fruit will come from the seed
sown this year yet be surmised but i'm
perfectly nevertheless there are grounds for
belief that its results will make the year memo
rable.
It was the first necessity Of the Nation TO lift
Itself from the mire Of financial disrepute and
Industrial prostration into which Mr.. Cleve
lands four years had plunged 1t. Foreign af
fairs could not be treated with free hand until
the Nation had recovered its Industrial and
financial independence and yet the years work
in foreign relations will assuredly be remem-
bered. The Hawaiian treaty will probably
change the map Of the world. The efforts OF
the Administration have already brought about
marked change in the treatment Of Cubans
by Spanish authorities Negotiations regarding
seal fisheries have led to the enactment Of the
bill approved by the President on Wednesday
prohibiting the importation OF sealskins into
this country, which will probably have more In
huence on future relations between this country
and Canada and Great Britain than any guam
tty Of diplomatic appeals and protests. 1t Is at
least safe to say that the year has not been lost
in foreign relations.
The restoration Of Industries has called for
| frequent comment. While each day makes It
| clearer that the gain has been great It also
brings out more clearly the need Of further
| gain and the reasons for confidence that this
also will be attained The employment Of the
people with fair compensation was the neces-
sary first step toward any improvement, and so
much has been accomplished in that direction
already with such gratifying results in the
growth Of purchasing and consuming power and
demand for the products of industry, that the
| future is full of promise. No other year in the
history of the country has displayed more i'm
pressively than 1897 the industrial independence
| Of the United States, when the Nation chooses
TO be independent It's new aggressiveness in
| invading foreign markets with important prod
| ucts for which American consumers not long
| ago were mainly even wholly dependent
| upon foreign labor, and In taking contracts In
| their own countries from the best-eQuipped bid
ders Of England and Europe has produced a
profound impression The British Iron Asso-
citation. through its secretary, has made reg.et-
ful acknowledgment of American success In
! competition, English manufacturers are organ
izing to hold their own market against Ameri-
can makers Of boots and shoes, and the inva-
sion Of London Itself by American contractors
for electrical works. with the greatly increasing