The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-01
TIE NEW YEAR.


So far as this country was concerned
the year just closed was fun of the most
momentous events. For this country will
the year which began to-day be equally
as fun of such events? A year ago To-
day no one felt that we were on the verge
of war. There was a strong pressure in
favor Of interference in the war between
Spain and Cuba, but " any one of our pub
lie men had ventured to assert that we
would interfere within three months he
would not have made any impression on
the public mind
The war came suddenly and came to an
end long before it was expected II would
when 1t was undertaken. Although we
were not prepared for war Spain was
| quickly convinced that she was no match
! for as and that it would be better for
| her 10 submit 10 whatever terms we might
impose rather than to continue the war In
fact. she could not have continued It mucn
! longer than she did because of her de-
! plorable financial condition.
AS result of the war vast amount Of
! territory has come in 20 our possession,
or will come just as soon as the treaty OF
peace is ratified And along with these
possessions there have come Responsible
| ties Of the most stupendous character.
These new possessions present questions af-
lvfecting the principles upon which our gov
4 eminent as founded. These questions will
in all probability be settled this year.
| Therefore, the events Of this year. so far
as our own country is concerned may be
even more momentous than those of the
year just closed.
We have made a treaty with the gov
ernment Of Hawaii by which we agree hat
The Hawaiian Islands shall become a part
Of our territory. Shall Porto Rico and
become part of our territory, their peo-
| ple becoming citizens of our republic or
| snail they be held as dependencies, and if
| dependencies what sort of government
shall they have? The importance of these
| questions cannot be overestimated. That
| The settlement of them may affect pro-
| foundly the future of the republic is well
| understood. If they shall be settled wise
| ly. and in accordance with the principles
| which have made us a great and power
fu1 nation, the nation viii he stronger
| than ever. and it viii become stronger ard
greater with each succeeding year. But
| if they shall be settled in accordance with
The demands of pride and greed, if in set
ling them the principles on which our
| institutions are founded shall be violated,
this year may mark the beginning of the
decadence of the republic.
The struggle between the opposing fac
tons one striving to hold the republic TO
its ancient moorngs. and the other in
sisting upon a policy tinctured with i'm
periahsm, has already begun. What the
outcome viii be cannot be predicted with
I any degree of certainty. The events of
this year win be watched with as much
interest as were those Of the year just
ended.
| The past year was a notable one in this
country for industrial development and
commercial growth. In these two fields
there was such advancement as to justi-
! fly the conclusion that this country is TO
lead the world in commerce and manu-
featuring. In the past twelve months our
exports We're greater than in any previous
year. They were more than double our
imports. That as a remarkable showing,
and means that the rest or the world viii
soon be in ou debt. if il is not so al
| ready. Another remarkable fact is that
our exports of manufactured articles were
greater than our imports of manufadtur-
ed goods. The significance of this condi-
| lion Of affairs can be fully appreciated
only by those who have kept themselves
| wen Informed respecting our exports and
| imports of the products of factories
Never before did the future of the re-
! public from material point of view APP
pear more encouraging, more promising.
Never before was the republic more be-
loved at home and respected abroad If
We settle the questions which are press
ing upon us wisely it win be but a few
| years before all other nations will ac-
! knowledge our superiority in everything
that makes a nation great and glorious.