The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1909-01-04
THE PAST YEAR.

The year 1908 marked a decided
advance in the governmental progress
of the world. Never before were so
many national movements favoring a
participation of the people in affairs
of government seen.
In India, 1000 delegates attended
the Indian National Congress and
discussed reform plans submitted by
Lord Morley, the Indian Secretary.
Never has India been so peaceable
and so reconciled to British Rule.
This recognition of the rights of the
natives to participate In their own
government has done more to quiet
unrest there than any other step
taken by the British Government. 1t
is proposed to increase the member
ship of both the judicial and the
Ficeroy's councils by nomination and
election, giving the different classes
In the community each its representa-
tive; and to repeal the, present prohi
bition against the legislature council
discussing matters of general impor
tance.
The Turkish parliament met during
the latter part of the year. In an
swer to the speech from the throne,
a strong reply was sent to the Sui
tan warning him that the people
would not submit to anv trifing with
their new born liberties.
In Persia, national assembly was
convened but later dissolved by the
Shah. But the Nationalist movement
has taken such hold all through the
provinces that it is but a question OF
time until the autocratic government
bows to the inevitable.
Peace has been fully assured III
Cuba. The presidential election pass
ed SO quietly that already the en-
barkation Of the American troops is
taking place and by April, Cuba will
be left to work out its own. destina-
ton.
Progress is slow in Russia; but the
Duoma seems to be finally a recogniz-
ed part of the government. The en-
tefing wedge has been made and with
In the lifetime of middle aged men
constituting government will be es-
tablished.
The death of the Emperor and En-
press Dowager of China has placed
on the throne a new force, more in
sympathy with modern thought and
the promised national gathering will
probably materialize shortly. The
only cloud to the silver lining here is
the announcement in Sundays pa
pers that Yuan Shat Kai, Grand
councillor and Commander in Chief of
the army, the leader of the modern
izing movement in China, has been
-deposed.
In the Philippines, the National As
sembly has been a success and the
people are reconciled to the American
rule. They are discussing plans for
the future of the islands and their
development.
Such are some of the world move
ments in the so-called backward ma
lions of the earth. The Western peo-
Piles have seen nothing so spectacular.
The rights of the people in Western
Europe and America are more fully
recognized than ever before. Even
the Emperor of Germany, with all his
talk of 'God-given perogatives" has
been brought to understand that his
people are to be considered and con
suited.
In the United States there has been
a moral awakening in the business
world. We have finally realized that
to make great fortunes was not the
sole end in life and that mere mil
lions were no excuse for a violation
Of the law.
The great packing houses of Chi
eago have been brought to taw; the
Standard Oil has seen the hand writ
ing on the wall; the steel trust is
spit on the tariff robbery; the raile
roads, or some of them, are coop
Grating with the government to work
out plans for their regulation and
control.
No longer does wealth place the
offender above the law. Even the
strongest have been hailed before the
courts, and many of them punished.
All in all, the year just passed, has
been memorable one in the history
of the world.