Year: 1878

Once more the wheels OF Time have
made their annual revolution and we
have entered upon the life and labors Of
another year. What it may have in
store for us as a people, in our domestic
relations or for US singly, is hidden in the
impenetrable mysteries Of the future
We can only judge what that future may
be from the lessons Of the past and even
these may not be safe ones on which to
found our prophecies.


The year 1877 has passed away and its
events have become a part of history.
Upon what is yet to follow will the char
acter Of that history in great measure
depend. In our own Republic the dan
ger which at one time threatened to kin
die the flames of civil war anew, was
averted. After century Of National
life, after nearly century under the
forms Of our present constitution, the laws
governing the method Of choosing ma
tional ruler were found TO be inadequate
for an unexpected emergency. The wis
dom and prudence of those in whom par
( ty leadership was vested, averted the
threatened collision and the government
Of the country moves in its accustomed
peaceful channel. 1t is the part of pru
dence to guard against exigencies of
like character, which may threaten the
public peace hereafter.


The most portentous event OF 1877 has
been the Russian onslaught upon her
Turkish neigh Dor. For nearly two cen
turies past Russia and Turkey have
stood in the light Of hereditary enemies,
and only the knowledge that other Eu-
ropean States would not permit the alb
sorption of the Turkish Empire by her
more powerful foe, has kept Turkish ma
tionality intact. When, more than
twenty years ago it was threatened,
! France and England came to the aid of
the weaker power, and the advance Of
Russia was stopped in the CrimeA. With
in a couple Of years past, the Turkish
government has permitted atrocities to be
perpetrated upon the unfortunate Christ
ians who are its subjects which have
alienated completely the sympathies Of
Christian Europe, and led it to look upon
the Turkish Empire as a blot upon the
civilization Of the nineteenth century,
1t is true that Russia exercised the same
despotc sway and committed crimes as
great if not greater, upon Christian Po-
land that she holds the subjects of that
unfortunate kingdom in subjcction with
an iron grasp, but the recollection of
Muscovite barbarites are not as fresh as
those committed by the Moslem fends
upon the Bulgsrians. The death Of the
'Sick Man of Europe" is only question
Of time Unless the Western Powers unite
to stay the conquering band ofthe North
ern Colossus. Superior strength and su-
pericr resources will tell in a contest where
each side is alike brave, and alike ami
mated with the fury born Of ofreigious fa-
naticism.


In our own State ar d county The past
year has brought little beyond the occur
rences of ordinary years. The season of
last year was dry one, and we need not
add that such a season is fraught with
injury to every industry Of the State.
The hidden treasures of the mine remain
entomb bed in the bosom of earth without
the loosening power of water, and be
meath the parched skies of Summer the
grass and foliage withers away unless the
storms of Winter have been heavy
enough to ssturate the earth. We live
from year to year with the hope that
each will bring in its train abundant wa
ter which we know means abundant pros
perity. 1t is most devoutly to be hoped
that the Winter through which we are
now passing will be more favorable in its
outcome than it has shown itself thus far.
Where SO many interests are dependent
upon the storms Of Winter, one dry year
is sufficient to produce a general stagna-
ton Of business, and should 1t be followed
by another of the same character, it will
be hard to tell what the consequences
will be.