Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
TIE CLOSING rEAR.

1t has been II year of great material
progress for the United States. our
foreign and domestic trade has been
the largest recorded, industrial dcvcl-
opment has gone steadily forward and
all interests have prOspered. The clos
ing year has seen this country attain
II commanding position in the financial
affairs of the world, giving promise
that in the not remote future it will
have n controlling influence in this re-
spect. 1t has witnessed American as
ccndancy in the greatest of all the man
ufacturing Industries, iron and steel,
with every assurance that it will main
tain this supremacy. American intlu-
ence has been extended and strength
cned within the year and American
friendship is more eagerly sought and
solicitjusly fostcrcd by all the civilized
nations than ever before in our his
tory.
The Philippine wal has been costly
in men and money, but the insured
ton is no longer an organized resist
ance to American authority and while
the suppression Of the scattered hostile
bands may be troublesome for some
time to come the most serious part of
the task of establishing peace and order
there is believed to have been accom-
plished. In Puerto Rico American au-
thority is unquestioned. while in Cuba
good progress has been made toward
preparing the people for independence.
The Samoan question has been salts.
factorily settled, the efforts of our gov
eminent to obtain assurances from Eu-
ropean powers that American rights in
China will be respected are likely to
be successful, and on every hand our
international relations are amicable.
The differences with Canada, the most
serious of which. that of the Alaskan
boundary, have been the subject of eX-
tended negotiations between Washing
ton and London, are the only matters
in our international affairs that may
| prove troublesome.
Fol European nations the closing year
has been a period of fairly prosperous
conditions. English Industries have
been generally active, Germany and
France have made industrial and com
mercial progress, conditions in Russia
have improved and all other countries,
not excepting Spain, are better off than
ut the opening of the year. In respect
to political conditions there have been
some more or less important changes
during the year. The alliance between
France and Russia has been strength
ened and an understanding has been
effected between Germany and England
which, while its purport is not known,
is thought to be of very great impOr-
lance. Certain it is that the relations
between those powers are more cordial
than for many years. The settlement
of the Dreyfus affair saved France from
threatened revolution and while it is
probable that the bitter fractional ami
mOsitieS ~engendered by that case are
yet SmOuldering, there is reason to eX-
pect that they will be repressed ut least
until after the Paris exposition, which
is now the first consideration with all
Frenchmcn. The Hague peace confer
ence was II of the memorable events
7 VI lC'JJ anu Willie IL Ilu nOI accomplish
all that was hoped for by the friends of
peace, it is not to be doubted that its
influence was wholesome. The anna
ments of Europe have not been cur
tailed, but on the contrary all the mari
time powers are increasing their M
vics, yet the danger of war between
any of these powers appears more re-
mote than for ii number of years. Co
lOnial protection is the chief motive for
the augmentation of naval power. Tie
South African war is the most moment.
Gus event of the year and what il NAV
lead TO offers Il wide field for Specula-
ton. The promise is that it will be
II protracted struggle, costing enor-
mously in men and money and it is
among the possibilities that before il
Is ended other nations will become in
volved in it. The demands it has al
ready made upon British resources are
far beyond what was anticipated and
degree of certainty what the ultimate
cost will be.
Affairs in Asia have undergone no
very important change during the year.
The policy of European power in re-
gard to China has developed no new
features of an aggressive character.
though ii is not to be doubted that Rus,
sia is awaiting IA favorable opportunity
TO acquire IA larger territorial interest
In that empire II possibly France also.
1t is more than likely that the under
standing between Germany and Eng
land has reference TO this. Meanwhile
the powers having territory in China.
except France, are recognizing the prin-
ciple {. the open door in trade and
there is season 10 expect will continue
to observe 1t, 1t is not improbable that
France also will be induced TO adopt
that policy, Japan is making steady in
dustrial and commercial progress. the
only apparent danger to the continu-
ancc of which is "A possible conflict with
Russia. Recent advices indicate that
this danger may not he remote.
Mexico has had a prosperous year
and that country is making rapid ma
terial progress, 1t has Just concluded a