Year: 1877

The year that is now dead and gone
was the Centennial year Of the Republic,
and it was ushered in with more eclAt
than any previous year in American
history. The new year's owe that pre-.
ceded il will not soon be forgotten by the
present generation. In all the cities Of
the land the bells we're rung. and in many
Of them cannon were fred, houses illu-
min ated, and a grand carnival Of noise
and hilarious demonstrations INDUCED
in such as was never known before. The
next morning we wrote Of il thus:


For an hour before midnight and for
two hours thereafter, there was surge
Of noisy humanity in the streets such as
the oldest inhabilant had never witness.
ed, and as for the clamOr that rose at
midnight Of dangling bells out Of tune"
mingled with the resonant discord OF
horns, drums, tire.Crackers, pistols,
steam engine whistles, and the shouts OF |
half the boys in Wheeling, who Ahall
describe it,"


How different from all this wd4 the |
contrast presented last night. First, the
weather Vas wholly changed. New
Years eve one year ago we were beneath
Italian skies, rs il were. There was no
snow on the ground nor warning OF it in
the air. People spent hours in the atreets
without any sense Of discomfort. Lust
night the scene had changed like an act
on the stage. Instead oi the genial at.
mosphere OF the memorable closing night
Of 1875, We were transferred 10 some Arc.
tic region where the streets and the houses
were deeply covered with snow, and
quietness and cOldness held unmolested
sway. The few persons seen ON the
tsreets at midnight were hurrying along
as If abroad on compulsory errands,
and their nUiseless tread on the Crispy
:, snow seemed like the Hitting of spectres
who had watched the dead year out and
were passing away from deserted scene


The change in the physical surround.
inSs Of the old and the new wear is In
keeping with the remarkable change
that has occurred in their political and
moral surroundings. A year ago there
o. was no pOrtent in the sky warning us OF
the trouble that in so short a lime has
come upon theconntry Nature herseltdid
not hold out a.more assured prpssQeal"oi'
>sSes;fsinr E'@ 4HHrest riffan did the polit.
ical horizon Of continued peace and pros.
perily. There were no sonls among US
prophetic enough to even apprehend what
has actually occurred within the year.
The universal feeling was that the country
having passed the test Of the civil war
had nothing more 10 fear during the in
definite future. No one could see how il
was possible FOR another stumbling block
to fall athwart the National pathway so
soon. And yet here we are inso short a
time face to face with another crisis in
our public affairs.


There is strange feeling abroad in the
land that seems almost unnatural in view
Of the gravity OF the situation. Nerefer
10 the general feeling OF incredulity in
regard to the probability OF any revolu-
tionary trouble in connection with the
inauguration Of the next President. The
American people manifest confdenCein
themselves at this time that cannot hut
strike the attention Of the European
world. And, in return, we may say that
Europeans manifest confidence in us
that is highly complimentary to the
American character. Gold not only
refuses to 80 up in price but ac-
tually goes down, and the govern
ment credit remains unshaken in all
the markets Of the world. This is
after all the true test OF public feeling.
Financial serenity is not apt to prevail
pending preparations for revolution, In
1861 the Government credit fell 10 90
cents on the dollar before a gun was fired.
The fact that it now remains far above
par shows that the monied interests OF
the country lave an abiding faith in a
peaceful solution OF our present troubles.


This exhibition Of entire confidence in
peaceful result does much to assure
such resulI, and il the patriotic people
in every community Of the country will
only set their faces resolutely against all
Sttempts on the part Of the professional
politicians and Office seekers TO impair
this confidence, there is every reason to
believe that he close OF this new year
will Tee the cloud that now lowers upon
lis dawn etItctuullY and forever dispelled.


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