The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-01
somE EVENTS OF THE YEAR.

affected by IL in the slightest degree.
SOME EVENTS Of THE YEAR.
The war in South Africa, and the OUT
break in China are the events Of the year
which have attracted the most attention,
and been fraught with the most impor-
tant consequences. Interest in both has
been world wide. The war in South
Africa began before the year came in, but
the principal engagements or the conflict
have occurred within the twelvemonth.
The Chinese uprising began during the
year, and the last day of the year saw Its
end, assuming, OF course. that the accep-
lance of the note of the powers By the
Chinese government Is practically set
Element. Both thess affairs are too fresh
In the public mind to call for any ex-
position or detailed narrative. The CON-
test in South Africa Is still unfinished,
and nobody can predict when 1t Will end
or exactly how IL will end. 1t lie blot,
both In Its inception and in the manner
in which 1t has bsen carried on, on the
record of this closing year of century
which has witnessed wonderful advance
In all the arts that make for the anchor
alton ana Improvements OF the condition
OF mankind. Had the principles SUBJ
scribed to at The Hague been applied TO
the dispute in South Africa, as they might
have been, a country nesd not have been
laid waste and thousands OF lives need
not have been sacrificed In front or Maxim
guns and Martini rifles. The war In
south Africa was an avoidable war, and
slight sacrifices on this part Of the pellig-
ersts would have prevented it. 1t was
not really undertaken for the protection
of human rights no matter what the pre-.
tence may have been. The narrowing
lust Of gold" had a good deal more to
DO with 1t. Inc outbreak In China was
primarily an outburst OF fAnaticism,
though undoubtedly the ruthless en-
croachments of Europeans were not with
out effect in bringing 1t TO head.
deal with it, and that was to employ
foros to suppress 1t. The invasion of
China was therefore not only justitiable,
but necessary, unless innocent foreign
ers were to be sacrificed to the fury Of
the mob. The thing to be regretted Is
that the European troops conducted them
selves in q way scarcely less savage than
the Boxers whose outrages upon defence.
loss men and women called them there.
Turning to strictly home affairs the
presidential election ana the war In the
Philippines stand out with greatest
prominence. Once more the American
people have set the seal of condemnation
upon an attempt to sully the nations
honor by debasing the currency and
scaling down our obligations TO nations
an individuals, and 10 is to be hoped that
the lesson has been SO well learned this
time that no attempt Of the kind will
ever be made In the future. The Philip
pine war still drags on, the defeat Of Mr..
Bryan not having produced the effect in
those islands which was confidently pre-
dicted during ths campaign. Observers
diner to such an extent that 1t Ia impos,
sible to form q satisfactory conclusion as
to ths exact conditions In the archipela-
go. While on the one hand IL is claimed
that the war 10 practically over and that
resistance is confined to a few rowing
bands, on the other 1t is alleged that the
opposition to American rule is more de.
termined than ever, and nothing short of
determination will bring about this
pacitcation of the islands. The part that
the Unitad States has borne in the ssttle-
ment OF the Chinese troubles has been a
most honorable one, and has added lus-
tar both to our arms and Co our dtDIo-
macy. The year has been at home one
Of remarkable prosperity, barring the ter
rible catastrophe at Galveston. The GEN.
sus report has shown a magnificent
growth in population, ana growth in
commerce and trade even more magnifi-
in many of the most important industries
of the world, and our enormous strides
during the last dscade have excited the
admiration of the world, and It's envy as
well. PROFESSIONALLY the past year has
seen still further advance ON our part
in the estimation and respect of foreign
powers. Our horizon Is feee from clouds,
and the outlook for years of rapid pro-
gress in all things that tend to the great
ness of a nation was never more brilliant.
We ara at peace with all nations, from
one end Of the country to the other our
mills and factories are running, there is
work for all those who want work, con.
tentment reigns, sectional distrust and
suspicion have largely disappeared, and
all over the land there are hopefulness
and oopfdepca in the future