The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.
SATURDAY, DEC. 29, 1888.
Equal and exact lustice to all men, Ot whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.
Before the next issue of this journal comes befove our readers, the year 1888 will have passed away, and 18S9 been ushered in. Though the dying year has not been without its impress on current history, the portcntious events anticipated at its commencement did not come to pass. The past twelve months have been a period of peace, but peace maintained in perpetual fear and trembling and at a fearful cost. The war clouds which darkened the political horizon of Europe, the centre of the world's civilisation, when we began the year, have gradually rolled away, and the terrific onslaught of the nations which was expected, has been deferred a while longer. The Great Powers, however, remain armed to the teeth, eyeing each other suspiciously, yet each dreading to overstep the mark in the offonsive that will create the casus belli. Immense expenditure is being incurred by them all to increase their naval and military strength against the day when the storm wili gather together again and burst upon them. The fearful strain of these huge preparations for human slaughter must be sapping the life blood of each country, and is such a tax on the industry of the people, that it cannot be long before relief is sought from the oppressive burdens in some way or another. There have been diplomatic ruffles which have tried the patience and skill of statesmen. Such misunderstandings have occurred between Great Britain and the United States, but they were not of that serious complexion that the amity of the two kindred countries could be impaired for long. A similar difficulty took place between these colonies and China. The question at issue is more one of domestic economy, and though presenting intricacies in the way of solution, it is, we trust, only of a temporary character which the good sense and judicious treatment on the part of British statesmen and the Chinese Court will bring to a satisfactory and friendly termination. The Soudan trouble has dragged itself along, a source of annoyance to the British Government who have otherwise succeeded in affecting great beneficial reforms in the finances and general administration of Egypt. We have also had the usual little difficulties which are always arising in some part of the wide boundaries of the British Empire, which, though leading to what are called by some people inglorious little wars, are the neces sary instruments by which the weight of England's power is made felt and respected by heathen people, and her glorious empire itself sustained. Other events have made the year 1888 memorable, such as the deaths, within a short period of each other, of two great rulers, the aged Emperor William I, and his noble son, the Emperor Frederick 111. The Australian colonies in their wonderful course of material progress, have also risen in national importance and have exhibited a potentiality in the politics of the empire, of which they are proud and worthy members, that will not fail to raise their status in the eyes of the Mother Country and of the world. Whilst the severity of the drought has operated adversely on the production of the Australian colonics, the effects, disastrous as they may be in several quarters, will be speedily overcome by the wonderfully recuperative powers of the colonies. " Marvellous" Melbourne, through her great Exhibition, has been displaying her progress in the arts of peace and industrial wealth to an astonished world. The prospects of the New Year are very hopeful, more so than those at the beginning of the year now ended. The numerous signs of improvement in trade and commerce seen in all directions bid fair to bring prosperity and plenty to New Zealand, in common with the rest of the Empire. There is no immediate danger of war, such as diplomacy cannot surmount. The year 1889 should be one distinguished for a general advance in human enlightment and industrial progress, and in which we shall share individually and collectively ; therefore we wish the Waikato A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
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Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2570, 29 December 1888, Page 2
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697The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, DEC. 29, 1888. Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2570, 29 December 1888, Page 2
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