Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1919. THE CLOSING YEAR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1712, 31 December 1919, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1919. THE CLOSING YEAR.

1919 has been in many respects a memorable year, and one of unforgettable happenings—a year in which mankind lias experienced more than its usual share of joy and sorrow, luxury and privation, ease and pain, renewed health and abyssmal suffering; a year of tremendous contrasts, such as surely never lias been previously experienced in the history of the race, and such as it is to be devoutly hoped may never bo experienced again. The closing year will remain memorable as that in which peace was concluded by the Allies with Germany and Austria, although, unfortunately, it has not witnessed the cessation of war. With tho representatives of all the great world Powers, and most of tho minor ones, assembled at the Peace Conference in Paris for the greater part of the year, 1919 has still failed to witness the pacification of Britain’s quondam ally, Russia, and its close finds the Bolshevik iorces, whose leaders are avowedly engaged in a world conflict against tho existing order of civilisation, apparently more firmly established than ever. Although tho information wo have concerning it is of a somewhat scanty and disconnected character, Russia would seem to have been literally bathed in blood, and to have undergone the most hideous suffering and misery at the hands of tho misguided men who have so firmly entrenched themselves behind tho bayonets and rifles of their Chinese and Mongolian bodyguards, and who, by a long series of confiscations and exactions, making it almost impossible for men to live except in obedience, to their commands, have remodelled the Russian armies and brought them wholly in subjection to tho Soviet Government. The outlook for Russia during the coming year is one which must bo regarded with misgiving throughout the civilised world, for tho same disrupting forces that have brought Russia to ruin are knocking at the doors of every country in Europe and America Egypt, India, China and Japan, seek--i»g to gain a footing, so that everywhere they may spread the same hideous disaster and desolation ever the human race, in order that they may bring about a new order of things, in which mankind in the gross will simply exchange one form of service for another, more grinding and demoralising in its scope and influence. Bolshevism, as applied in Russia, and as its advocate's would apply it elsewhere, wars upon all human individualistic rights, and places religion and Christian principles outside tho pale of its activities. Knowing of the terribly sordid crimes committed in its name* wo may well deplore the fact that, so far, tho great world Powers have failed ’to find a satisfactory solution of the very serious problem it affords. It has come upon tho world as the aftermatii, or perhaps it would bo more •correct to say,' as the direct outcome of the war. The spawn of Hate, it

ottos its origin, and the facility with which it spread through Russia, to the men-who were directly responsible for the war, and it is deplorable to think that, while it has been possible to conclude peace with Germany and Austria, the unclean thing which the war evolved, remains unchecked ami almost unhindered. Ihat, and the poverty, hunger, suffering and misery rampant throughout Europe, and more particularly in Austria, liungary, Serbia and other of the Balkan States., and in Armenia, represents the dark aide of the picture. Living as we do in a Christian land, we can surely take courage and face the future boldly and fearlessly, seeing that we have escaped the creator dangers that have enveloped Gie Old World, and that still menace it.'

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. Twelve months ago Now Zealanders were keeping watch on the Rhino. For three months many of. our brave lads formed part of the Allied forces garrisoning' the towns east of the famous river, upon which British gunboats kept vigil. They dwelt, many of them, within the shadow of the stately Cologne Cathedral, and lived amongst the Huns with whom they had been fighting for four years and more. To-day they are, for 'the most part , back again, and, amongst their friends, arc enjoying the peaceful surroundings of home hie and domesticity. 1919 has not only brought peace to us, as a people, it has witnessed many a joyliil reunion between husband and wife, mother and son, friend and friend. Tho reunions of the year will alone suffice to make it memorable. But 1919 has been a year, fraught also with momentous happenings. Following the British General Election of December, 1918, the results of which came to us on the- dawn of 1919, there have been appeals to tho constituencies in Canada, Belgium, France, Italy, Australia and New Zealand. In each and every instance tho Governments making the appeals in the interests of law and order, have been retained in power by substantial majorities. We have to lie thankful that, during days of unprecedented difficulty and turmoil, the Allied peoples have kept their mental balance, and have decisively rejected the counsels of men of the revolutionary stamp, whose disruptive activities, if allowed free play, could only bring about ruin and disaster to the world’s democracies. Socalled “Socialistic France” has never returned a move conservatively minded set of Deputies than it elected to Parliament to support M. Clemenceau’s Government a few weeks ago. The Belgian Government has been 'confirmed in office by a substantial majority. In Italy, Signor Nitti, despite tho successes of Socialist candidate. 1 ; at the polls, as a result of the apathy of the peddle, has a good solid majority at his back, and, but for the unfortunate trouble caused by the lunr-braincd D’ Vnnmwio in Fiume and the Adriatic, Italy’s position and standing amongst the European Powers would lie stronger than ever. As it is there are signs that the worst of the trouble is over. In Canada, Sir Robert Borden’s Coalition Government has also emerged m triumph from the ordeal of a General Election. Similarly, in Australia* tho forces making for disruption have been sign all v defeated at the polls, and the sanie thing lias happened in New Zealand.. The year has not been without its Labour troubles, and the Commonwealth has had more than its share of them, and now its closing days have witnessed unfortnimto industrial dovelopments which are hanging up the mter-State and overseas shipping traffic but happily, with it all, there is no danger of the public losing their heads over the business. [For Now Zea- - landers, 1919 has been a year of unexampled prosperity, which has been apparent during the Christmas season just ending in a record expenditure everywhere. The coming year may, and probably will, bring its trials. There is a testing time ahead oi Ixitli the State and the jieoplo—one in which the Government may find it necessary to call upon tho people to make sacrifices and to accept deprivations, forced upon other peoples during the war, but which have not been found necessary hitherto. Whatever the coming year may bring in its train New Zealanders should be in a position to face it with equanimity. That tho New Year may be a happy and prosperous one, is the “Standard s I wish for each and all of its readers.