The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-01
1901


ever saw before, and few now alive will
see again-the beginning of new CEN
tury. The event is suggestive OF many
serious thoughts. The most wonderful
era of the worlds history in material ana
educational development is embraced in
the century which came to an end at
midnight last night. The human race is
now upon higher plane than was eve-
before occupied by it, notwithstanding
Jhe croakings OF those who lament the
passing of the good old times" times
indeed when courts were crude and lib
erty was jeopardized by blue laws; when
school houses were few and far between
and superstition often masqueraded as re-
ligion when books and newspapers were
scarce and dear, and only the rich might
enjoy literature: when n days journey
was thirty miles; when the taiow dip
was practically the only means of lllu-
mination, and men claimed It as a per-
sonal privilege 10 beat their wives. is
there any sane person who would turn
back the wheels of time one hundred
years, in order that the good old days"
might be restored? We do not believe It.
Still looking back from the twentieth
upon the nineteenth century there can
he no quarrel with il. There were both
parlous and dull times during the first
half of It. Advancement was slow. Ola
customs were deep-rooted and We're 10
be thrown off only with difficulty. But
in the first half of the century the foun-
dalton was laid for the marvellous spurt
of advancement and enlightenment that
characterized the second half. With the
development OF the steam engine and its
e,daptation to transportation and manu-
featuring, the real Transformation to
modern life began. 1t may. indeed be
claimed that the steam engine was the
greatest developer of the century. Its
benefactions have been innumerable.
During recent years 1t has been powerfully
aided by the electric dynamo and motor;
but it will probably remain for the new
century to bring the new servant of man,
electricity, TO its Highest state Of eff
cheney. No more valuable legacy comes
to the new century from the old than APP
piled electricity, with its manifold and
multiplying uses.
1t is not within the scope Of this article.
Of course, to note specifically the ad-
tancement accomplished in arts and
sciences during the past hundred years.
1t must suffice to remark upon conditions
as they exist, 20 characterize the last
fifty years as the flower of the period. and
leave the reader to 90 back in retrospec:
over the century for details that may be
wanted.
From weak little union of states
along the Atlantic coast, we have now
become one Of the greatest and richest
nations of the earth. We are the gran
airy of the world. and are so wealthy that
we have money to lend to Europe. From
a debtor nation we have become cred
itor and from an insignificant little gov
eminent we have become a World Power,
courted and feared by all of our contem-
poraries And our prestige is growing
every day We have entered the new
century with hope, courage and brilliant
prospects.
The two last sentences in the foregoing
paragraph may be applied with equal
force and truthfulness to our beloved
state of Georgia and city of Savannah as
to the nation. Notwithstanding the vicis-
STUDIES of war, and the horrors OF hostile
invasion, the state and the city find them
selves at the beginning of the new cen
fury in impregnable positions. They have
become populous and prosperous. and
have every reason to look forward to the
rev cycle with the utmost confidence
During the hundred years past Savannah
has risen from a small settlement of a
few thousand people to the position Of
leading seaport of the South Atlantic,
and one of the great seaports Of the
world. In many articles of commerce
she stands among the very first markets
and ports of the United States. While
making splendid progress in trade the
aesthetic side of her nature has not been
neglected She is a student and patron
Of the arts and sciences, and her culture
and beauty are proverbial. She is a city
to love and be proud of. May she grow
in the graces and in riches steadily dur
ing the next hundred years! 1t should be
the pleasure of every Savannahian to do
whatever is possible towards the reaiza-
ton of that wish, by giving her good gov
eminent and loyal and unselfish support.