New-York tribune., 1907-01-01
THE YEAR AND THE WORLD.

1t was marked with activity and energy, and,
therefore, with progress either actual or pote1l-
tial. In most lands there was an unmstakable
uplift; IN the one important exception there
at least a fluX from which Improvement
must certainly proceed. Regarding our own
country in the first place, we may perceive IN
it a certain epitome of worldwide conditions,
perhaps last year more marked and complete
than ever before. Here were the activity, the
energy, the progress and the uplift which pre-
vailed elsewhere, perhaps in even greater meas
ure than other lands knew them, and here, too,
was much Of that fuX known to the most dis
turbed of other lands. with an inevitable anX-
iety for its outcome though also with, we trust,
a well founded confidence that in the end,
through whatever devious courses and yiciSs-
tudcs. the outcome must be good.
The President has dominated the American
scene. On the one hand receiving the award Of
the worlds peace prize from a sub-Arctic realm
In an alien continent. on the other destroying
vain superstition and setting a new precedent
by personally visiting q foreign land in the
American tropics, he has lavished his opulent
efficiency of mind and body upon his own cOun-
try and has left the unmistskable impress of his
vigorous personality upon It's most momentous
achievements His numerous and sometimes
unconventional messages to Congress recalled
the days when an early President would in per-
son go before that body and address it face to
face. Nor were they without result. 1t was
busy and fruitful year in national legislation
and the President wrote between the lines OF
many of the laws In addition TO signing his
name TO them. Conspicuously may be recalled
the laws dealing With railroad rates with the
inspection of meats. with the determination Of
the plan of the isthmian canal, with the reform
of the consular service, with the protection Of
food and drugs from adulteratiOn, with the
removal of tax from alcohol used in the arts
with the reform of the naturalization system,
and with the admission of Oklahoma into state
hood. Apart from the national capital, the
story of the year was filed with interest. The
business world was profoundly concerned with
the aftermath OF the insurance investga-
tions in New York with the exposure OF
corporate lawbreaking in various states and
with the action of the federal Department OF
Justice toward such lawbreakers. The general
Congressional election resulted in victory for
the administration party which in any case
would have been sweeping and which in the
circumstances unprecedented The local
results in various states implied singing re-
Dukes to selfish bossism and corruption. In
New York the state campaign actually over
Swallowed the national contest in general and
sensational interest, with its unexampled strug-
gle between the influences OF order and sobriety
the one side and on the other the forces OF
Fictitious discomfort and social incendiarism-
the former winning, but by margin so narrow
as to prescribe the utmost prudence and Wig
iance rs essentials of future security.
IN the midst Of general peace and almost un-
exampled prosperity two dark bots We're put
upon the land by the sordid and malignant
passions Of men. In tie South racial antag-
onisms, fitfuly mischieyOus for many years,
rose at Atlanta and elsewhere to large pro-
wifi rViI disorder ion
of property and loss of life, the sinister passions
In Texas involving some companies OF the fed
eral army and causing their dismissal from the
service. In California, or in the metropolis
Of that state, another propaganda Of race
hatred was organized under the auspices of a
corrupt gang which had been levying blackmail
upon stricken city and extortng tribute from
the necessities Of a suffering people. 1t Is such
things theSe-in Georgia, Texas. California,
and, by no means least OF all, in New York
that indicate the condition OF fux which still
prevails in the United States and that give
TO thoughtful observers cause, not for despair,
nor, even for great alarm, but at least for an
earnest heart searching and for renewed and
increased resolves and endeavors to defend the
common welfare against the evil Vaccinations
OF class and clique.
In the dependencies and near neighbors of
the United States the year was marked with
strife, but much progress Despite the
delay Of Congress to do full fiscal and CONNER
cal justice 10 them, the Philippines are stead
lily imuroving their condition. lawessness and
disorder are being subdued, and in 1906 long
advance was made toward fitness for that en-
larged degree of local selfgovernment which
awaits them In Porto Rico a year of real
progress was crowned with the Presidents visit
and the promse-which must surely be fulfilled
of much needed and we'll deserved citizenship
In Panama the influence OF America restrained
political passions and confirmed constitutional
order in what at one time seemed to be men
acing crisis. The absence of precisely that in
fuence in Cuba, on the other hand, permitted
affairs TO drift into revolution Finding that
he could not command support as a non-partisan
President and that the insular Congress would
not for all his urging. perform its constitutional
duties In enacting laws to protect the republic
from factional reprisals, President Palma denti-
fed himself with single party, the opposing
party reyolted, he resigned in despair, and tile
island was saved from chaos only by the prompt
Intervention Of the United States at the appeal
Of what left of the Cuban government
That Intervention is proving effective and WILL
we trust, soon restore autonomy to the island
on far more hopeful basis than before
The year saw general peace and prosperity in
South America, save in Venezuela, where tur-
buence and despotism continue to prevail and
where q complete breach Of relations with
France was precipitated. The invitation of ali
the South American states TO the next Hague
congress as peers of the European powers, the
holding Of the Pan-American Congress at Rio
Janeiro and the formulation of the Calvo-Drago
Doctrine for consideration at The Hague and
the circum-continental journey of the American
Secretary of State on what proved TO be most
successful and fruitful errand Of mutual under
"a fo hay