The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-01
THE NEW YEAR AND THE OLD.

On this opening day of the new year,
The Tribune congratulates its readers
upon the prosperity that prevails
throughout the State and that has been
so conspicuously manifested in the busi-
ness and advancement of Salt Lake
City. 1t offers congratulations also on
its own account for Il year of uneX-
ampled volume of business, exemplify-
ing within its own domain the general
prosperity which has prevailed. And
we hope for all, from state and city tG
individual, as full a measure OF pros
perity for tho ensuing year as they have
enjoyed in the year Just past
The past year has been one of more
than average prosperity for the world
at large. The crops of the great grain
raising countries have been much above
the average. Russia, especially, shows
up splendidly in her wheat crop, re-
porting a greater yield by almost l0O,-
900 900 bushels than in 1908, 1907, 1906.
or 1905. The heaviest yield of wheat
in Russia for four years prior to this
year was in 1905-592, 900, 900 bushels
This year the wheat crop is 6sS, 100000
bushels, and it is assumed that where
the wheat crop is good the other crops
are also good. And as the world s total
of wheat is 3,346, ,96S.000 bushels this
OF five years of 1926, I6s,000 bushels
in 1906, the world is considerably over
100000 bushels to the good, with
the other crops in corresponding ratio.
There has been general peace through
out the world, the war between Morocco
tribes and Spain being a feeble affair;
but an immcnsity of diplomatic wrang-
ling. Very much of this has occurred
with operations in Manchuria and north
ern China as the center of disturbance.
But diplomatic wranglings are not
wasteful of blood and treasure. where
they end peaceably, Our own little
ruction with Nicaragua has been more
of a nuisance and a core of diplomatic
contentious hereafter than of real trou-
BILE this year.
The death OF Leopold, King Of the
Belgians, will he vast relief to an
afflicted region in Africa, for it is not
conceivable that two such monsters of
cruelty and rapacity as he could contin-
uously rule over Belgium and the Kongo
Free State.
The world is increasing amazingly in
population. The wars and devastations
which in former centuries kept down
population and forbade the accumula
tions of great wealth have now happily
been discontinued The wars of the past
were more wars between neighbors, were
more unceasing, were more devastating
and mortal than the wars of modern
times could possibly be. II is commonly
said that war has become too costly
for us moderns TO indulge In, which is
absolutely true. And yet, no expendi-
ture of blood and treasure even in a.
modern war could possibly rival the
continuous neighborhood warfare of for
mer ages. And though it is commonly
assumed that war was less costly in
times of old than now, il was, in fact,
far more costly because II was more con-
tinuous, more general, and more de-
structive But this is not in the least
to be construed as an invitation to war,
for war is an unmitigated curse to hu-
manity whenever indulged in.
But as stated, the year has been kind
to the world at large. There has been
great advance in science, in humane and
charitable effort, in the upbuilding of
religion ard morality. There is keen
CT sense of obligation to be decent and
good than ever before. And with the
increased diffusion of Christian light
and human recognition of benign Chris
tiau principles, the world is, ON the
whole, getting better year by year. more
aversc 10 strife, more determined that
She right shall prevail not by force but
by reason and Just recognition of the
common rights Of humanity, and the OBJ
legation upon rulers to preserve the
peace and recognize for others the same
rights that they claim for themselves,
The world is, in fact, growing better
and better. 1t is growing more able to
help itself in every line Of need and of
effort. And so the old year closes with
satisfaction at the accomplishments of
its time, and the new year opens with
brighter and pleasanter prospects than
nny year heretofore in the history of the
human race.