Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-14
A WORLD VIEW.
\ Glimpse ut the Events Of Most
Notable Year.

II is difficult for those living in the be-
SHINING of the 10Th century to decide wha
events of the present their grandchildren
viii regard as notable since so much de-
ponds or the frution of the seed planted
If the possibilities developed by the pro-
posed plan of British fiscal reform should
be fully realized. the beginning of the
campaign for its adoption will be deemed
by those who come after MS the most I'm
purtant event of the year just ended
Whether the plan succeeds or not the
proposal of it has marked an epoch in
Blt history for it indicates the be
ginning OF systematic policy Of attach
ing the colonies firmly to the mother
country. and of consolidating the empire.
Next in impOrtancc dnubtless is the
progress made toward cutting a canal
across the isthmus of Panama. The al
tempt to deal with the republic of col
ombia failed and the department of Pan
ANA revolted and set up an independent
government because it was determined to
have the canal at any cost. The desires
of Panama and of the United States har-
monized; consequently il did not take long
to negotiate Il treaty providing for the
construction Of the canal by the United
States governments
The decision of the people of New York
to spend Il hundred and one million dol
lars-a sum larger than has been spent on
any existing canal-for deepening the Erie
canal and its branches is important as
evidence of It popular determination to
escape from dependence upon railways by
developing waterways. The laying of Il
cable across the Pacific from san Fran
cisco to Manila. completing the t"l"-
graphic circuit of the gloh". has made tine
earth smaller by bringing it's different
parts into closer communication
The cable aud the Panama canal will
make war less likely ana arbitration more
common although recourse to arbitration
Is now satisfymgly frequent. The Alaskan
boundary has been fixed by an interna-
tional commission appointed in conformity
with tho provisions of A treaty. France
and Great Britain have agreed to arhitra t.
many of their differences. and Brazil and
BOLIVIA instead of going To war over Acre,
have com. to n pcaccahlc understanding.
The friendly temper Of the year has
manifested itself. further. in the establish
m.nt OF more intimate relations between
Italy ana Great Britain. Portugal and
Great Britain. and Germany and RUSSIA.
Austria Hungary and Russia are cooper
ating. with the consent of the powers in
an attempt to solve the Macedonian prob
lem. and the general desire for peace has
induced Japan ana Russia to listen t. thu
counsel of those who objected 10 war
over Korea
Soryia has PASSED through a bloody and
tragic revolutions Attempts were made tn
pacIfy tho disamcctcd races in Austria
| hungary where concessions have been
made to the Ilungarians respecting the
use of their languag" in army tactics, In
Great Britain. the Irish Land purchase law
Vas passed in the hope that 1t would re-
mnvc thc cause of So much Irish discon-
ION, The car issued his reform procld-
nation because of dissatisfaction among
his subjects
The [ nited States government has made
progress toward the fullllment of its
pledges to cuba by the withdrawal of sol