The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-01-09
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1902.
THE COUNTRY FARED WELL IN 1901,

=
with a record that it will be difficult
for the new year to surpass. In 1901
the United States moved forward not
in the methodical way which had
Heretofore been characteristic of its
progress, but in such fashion that it
seemed possible to note distinctly the
steps of it's onward career. In the in
dustrial affairs of the world it sprang
into first place at bound. Europe
ceased to plan vexatious schemes for
the humiliation of this country, and
began to ask what must it do for its
own commercial salvation. The po-
litical influence of the United States
in Europe has become suddenly great
and the powers now realize that a
nation can be powerful without either
mercenary motives or unworthy am
bition. There is no brighter incident
in American annals than the expedi-
ton to China and its pacific results.
The United States, alone of all the
great powers, appeared to realize it's
duties and responsibilities as ma
ton.
At home 1901 was so prosperous, so
beyond anything which the country
had until then experienced, that it
may well make the people pause on
the threshold of new year to reflect
if it may not be prudent to safeguard
the future. Unprecedented prosper
ity is apt to make the judicious think
of possible reaction. The seven fat
kline were followed by seven lean kline.
There is no better time to take stock
than when all the wheels are in mo-
ton and the granaries bursting. 1t
does not follow, however, that there
will be anything to Justify introspec-
ton. If only the safe rules of trade
are followed, the waves of prosperity
may roll over each other year after
year indefinitely The United States
has in its own resources a magnificent
basis for continuous prosperity, and
it only needs that they be prudently
and intelligently husbanded.
From the treasury down through
all the various industries to those
who work for daily wages this re-
markable prosperity appears to run.
The national exchequer must be do
ing fairly well when it can exhibit
surplus of at least 1920, 200, 900. There
is. however, food for reflection in this.
1t always furnishes a temptation to
extravaganza, and when the govern
ment INDUCES in reckless extrava-
gance it strikes the keynote for the
public and the entire industrial struc-
ture may suffer.
The year which has passed away
was marked by distinct and impor-
tant advances in science. The devel-
opment of wireless telegraphy cannot
be too highly valued. 1t promises in
a short while to make every person
his own operator, and place every
body in communication with every
body else. In astronomy wonderful
progress has been made. The astron-
-omers have been able to see world
in the process Of formation, and thus
verify the commonly held theory of
creation. In paleontology the search
for fossils has been rewarded by i'm
portant discoveries, establishing, in
some instances, the missing links of
theories, and in others confirming
theories generally accepted. 1t is
worthy of remark that nearly all of
the valuable discoveries of fossils have
been made ON this continent. In
medicine progress has been made in
the direction of uplifting and redu-
cling to practice discoveries already
made rather than to the startling an
nouncement of new ones. Work of
this sort is, for the most part, quiet
but it is of the most Importance to
humanity.
While it is not easy to gauge the
morals of a people from year to year,
it is possible to note changes in their
feelings, the one to the other, and
there has been no year in history
where such marked exhibitions of
philanthropy have occurred, and such
distinct changes in the estimate of
duty towards humanity. OF course,
all have not changed in this respect
very few, perhaps-but they are
types, and their influence will entend
far beyond their numbers. They
have proclaimed to the world what in
reality is very old doctrine, but
which is new to the vast majority of
people as though it had never been
uttered. They have told the public
in simple and sincere language that