The Press. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1895. 1895.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9301, 31 December 1895, Page 4

The Press. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1895. 1895.

Another year passes away to-day, freighted with many momentous events which will leave their impress on the world, and may materially affect it 3 future destinies. In foreign affairs we have had a startling development in the far East, the end of which no man can yet foresee. The rapid and crushing defeat of China by Japan will long be remembered as one of the most remarkable incidents in modern warfare. Following hard upon its heels came a fresh sensation in the same quarter in the shapß of the most horrible massacre of white people by Chinamen recorded in modern times. We refer to the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Stewaei and a number of other missionaries by the fanatic sect known as the Vegetarians. As to the relations of England with the Powers, they have been generally friendly, although the Armenian question, and more recently the extraordinary behaviour of the American President over the Venezuelan affair, have given our diplomatists some cause for anxiety. Every year, with the growth ol our Imperial responsibilities, we expect to chronicle one or niora "little wars " in which England

has been engaged, and tho past twelvemonth has not proved an exception to the usual rule. The Chitval campaign exhibited the pluck, dash and endurance of British troops in a marvellous degreo, and will stand on rocord as one of the most brilliant military exploits in our annals. The expedition lately despatched to Coomassie will, no doubt, bs as successful in its object, even though th.c incidents may not be so picturesque or sensational. On a much larger scale than either of these operations was tho French war against Madagascar, which ended in the subjugation of the island, although at the sacrifice of an immense number of lives among the French army, chiefly owing to the deadly effects of the climate. Turning to English domestic affairs, the year is made specially memorablo by the defeat of Lord Rosebery's Government, the resumption of office by Lord Salisbury, the subsequent dissolution and the return of the Salisbury Administration to power with the tremendous majority of 152. The immediate ground on which the Rosebery Ministry was turned out of office was a question of War Office administration, and the reform of the War Office has been one of the most important among the executive acts of the year. The Duke of Cambridge having resigned the position of Commander-in-Chief was succeeded by Lord Wolseley, and a scheme of re-organisation has been adopted by which it is hoped greater efficiency and less circumlocution will be secured. Casting next our retrospective glance across the -Tasman Sea, three things strike us in tho history of the Australian continent as especially worthy of note. First in order of importance we place the victory of Mr. G. H. Eeid and froetrade over the unholy alliance of Sir H. Parses and Mr. Dibbs under the banner of protection in New South Wales. The oldest colony in the group has now adopted a freetrade policy pure and simple, and is working out an object lesson for the rest of us which cannot fail to bear very striking, and, as wo believe, very beneficial results. The mining boom in Western Australia has caused a great influx of English capital to that colony, and has probably helped in some measure to bi'ing about the smaller boom nearer our own doors at Auckland, which, however, has latterly shown signs of subsiding to a quieter tone. Finally the Dean case will take its place in the history of jurisprudence as one of the most remarkable criminal trials on record, while in its effect on the political and personal reputations of the more distinguished persons connected with it, it is probably quite unique. In tho history of our own country during the past twelve months if wo see a good deal to deplore, wo are also glad to find grounds for 'hoping better things in the future. The banking legislation and the tariff are the chief iteni3 in the wck of the past session, and we need not go over whac is familiar ground in referring to these again at any length. Looking at politics in their more personal aspect, the collapse of Mr. Ward's political reputation and influence after his return from England affords a striking illustration of the fact that, although a politician of superficial attainments and great assurance may succeed in imposing on the public for a time, he is sure to reach his true level sooner or later. The Midland Railway arbitration came to a close with tho Christmas holidays, and the award, which releases the colony from having any damages to pay, although leaving ifc with a heavy bill of costs, has come to hand as these line 3 are being penned. The close of the year finds Mr. Seddon with his hands pretty full of difficulty if he is to maintain the equilibrium of the Ministerial coach. One of his colleagues, Sir P. Buckley, has accepted a Judgeship, another, Mr W. P. Reeves, is about to go Home as Agent-General, a third (Mr Montgomery) has resigned from want of accord with the Ministerial policy, while it is feared a fourth (Mr. Cadjian) may have to retire owing to ill-health. The arduous task of reconstruction is made all the more anxious from Jkhe faci which by this time must be fully borne in on the mind of Mr. Seddon himself that the trend of public feeling in the colony has set in against him—that the colony is tired of class legislation and crude experiments in Socialism, and anxious to see a return to a policy of careful administration, and relief from " fads." The prospects in the commercial world, chiefly owing to the improvement in the price of wool, are more hopeful than they were, and there is reason to believe that with a prudent and economical Government in office, the colony would emerge from its troubles into a brighter future. In concluding our summary for the year, we may fitly meditate for a moment on the illustrious dead whose loss we have to deplore. The world can ill spare such men as Huxley and Pasteur in science, as Froude in literature, or as Lord Selbojjne 'in the highest fields of politics and law. The winning personality of Professor Blackie causes us to regret his death &3 that of an old friend, and not only religion but society at large is distinctly poorer when such men as Dr. Dale, of Birmingham, or Bishop Moran, in our own less ambitious sphere, pass away. Yet we know that they are but fulfilling the common lot of humanity, a-nd that though officers and men fall 3ut of the ranks, the army is still marching on, and the battle of life will be fought as manfully in the future as ifc has been, in the past.