Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31


The year 1902 has contributed much
that is notable and valuable to the
worlds history. For this nation it has
been a period OF progress in all direc
tons, of growth in power, influence and
prestige. We have had unbounded bust
ness prosperity, bountiful harvests thai
have richly rewarded the industry OF
the producers, a constant demand fol
labor in mill and factory, unprecedented
activity in transportation, heavy invest.
ments Of capital in industrial enterprises
and a marked development of resources
along all lines. In material well being
no country has ever occupied a higher
plane than does ours at this time.
The United States is playing a large
part in the world and it is doing SC
in the interest of peace and civilization
In this second year of the twentieth
century no other nation has done SO
much for the betterment of mankind.
We have given to an alien people a
government Of liberty and law, with
every assurance Of future care for their
interests and welfare. We have as
sisted in establishing a new republic,
modelled upon political insti-
buttons and which we are pledged to pro
tect in its independence and aid in its
material development. We have taught
Europe a fresh lesson in the interest of
peace in inducing three of the powers
to submit to arbitration their claims
against a state Of this hemisphere. We
have again shown the Independent coun-
tries of this part Of the world that the
United States is their friend, ready
at all times to protect them from for
eign aggression, but requiring of them
the fulAllment of their just obligations.
We have demonstrated anew that as a
nation we love peace and that we desire
to cultivate friendly relations with all
countries. There is no doubt that
today the influence of the United States
upon international affairs that touch its
is greater than ever before.
European countries have been less
favored than ours in the past twelve
month, many of the people of some of
them having experienced severe hard
ship and privation. 1t is stated that
British trade for the year has been good,
yet there is a great deal of restitution
in England, especially in the larger
cities, recent reports stating that pow
is more general and distressing
than at any time since the repeal of
the corn laws. England has enlarged
her empire by a~nnexing the South
African republics, but the taxation
the war made necessary bears
heavily upon her people and her indus
tries. The British isles will not soon
recover from the effects Of the Boer
In Germany the Industrial depres-
sion that has continued throughout the
year is not being relieved and great
numbers of her people are out of en-
ployment and destitute. The conditions
in Austria-H Hungary and Italy are no
and France is by no means
prosperous. In Russia there is a deplor-
able state of affairs, a late report from
st. Petersburg stating that the govern
ment is face to face with the grave
problem Of how best to feed 1 5000, 900
hungry peasants scattered wei numer-
Gus provinces. Throughout Europe, in
short, many more millions of people are
now. feeling the pinch of poverty than
a year ago and the governments gen
orally are finding in this the most
and difficult problem with
which they have to deal. But they CON
to heavily burden their people with
taxation to maintain great military
establishments and there is no promise
Of a change from this policy.
The American people will say farewell
to 1902 with a feeling Of gratitude for
what it gave them in such rich abund-
ance and will welcome 1903 in the con-
hdent expectation, which all signs seem
to warrant, that it will contribute no
literally to their prosperity and
happiness.
AN "OPEN DOOR" QUESTION.