PREFACE. 



THIS volume of the Annual " Cyclopaedia " is the third of the new series 

 and the eighteenth of the whole series. The plan of this work comprises the 

 world's history during the year in every department of human affairs of suffi- 

 cient importance to be permanently recorded. 



A special article is devoted to the affairs of each country, which contains a 

 sketch of its history during the year, whether it is at peace or at war, in a state 

 of quiet or of revolution, and full official and reliable information on its area, 

 population, religion, education, army and navy, commerce, industry, military 

 affairs, the public questions agitated, and the reforms effected. (See the titles 

 of all countries.) No efforts are spared to secure the fullest information from 

 all parts of the world, and it is considered that in its several departments the 

 work may be safely consulted as the completest and most reliable book of refer- 

 ence. 



The details of American affairs in these pages embrace the speeches and pro- 

 ceedings of Congress on the important questions of silver remonetization, re- 

 sumption of specie payments, the use of the army, etc. (see CONGBESS) ; the 

 administration of the Federal Government (see UNITED STATES) ; its army and 

 navy (see ARMY AND NAVY) ; the successful progress of its finances to a specie 

 basis; the revenue from commerce and internal taxation; the demand for 

 Government paper money (see FINANCES); the organization of the National 

 party and its principles ; the unusual commercial activity ; the labor movements 

 in several States, especially Massachusetts and California, with the details of the 

 Chinese question ; the finances of the States ; their debts and resources ; their 

 educational, charitable, and reformatory institutions ; the struggles of their in- 

 debted cities and counties ; the various political conventions of the year, with 

 their nominations and resolutions ; the results of elections ; the proceedings of 

 State Legislatures on a number of local questions of importance ; the extension of 

 railroads and telegraphs, and all those improvements involved in the peaceful 

 and rapid progress of the country, for which see each of the respective States. 



In the Old World the year 1878 marks a turning-point of its history. The 

 reconstruction of Eastern Europe, long recognized by European diplomatists as 

 an unavoidable necessity,- was begun in earnest. By the treaty of Berlin, Kou- 

 mania and Servia have been added to the list of independent states ; Bulgaria 

 has actually become independent ; Eastern Roumelia has received the hope of 

 future independence, which decaying Turkey can not withhold for any length 

 of time ; Bosnia and Herzegovina will be reorganized by Austria ; Greece has 

 been promised an increase of territory ; Russia has gained new regions, both in 

 Europe and Asia, which she considered of strategical importance. Turkey, at 

 last comprehending the danger of an entire decomposition, has purchased the 



