, 1869-11-09
PROSPECTUS OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE
FOB le1Q,

since Out Last Annual prospectus Was Is
SUED, some Of the most important events in
American history have taken place. Tho
election of General Geant to the Presidency
has had the anticipated effect to 20 far recon-
clc the opposition IN the Southern States
10 the Congressional plan Of reconstruction
that it is safe to consider that plan practi-
cslly ndoE$ed, md the right Of suffrage
conferred upon the freedmen The Fif-
srenth Amendment to the Constitution, de-
signed to secure this right, not only to the
freedmen Of the South, bn. to oil native
born and natu1alizsd citizens, throughout
The United States, has been rntiHed by
twanty.one States. The ratihcatious Of
sevon more States are required to make it
Part Of the National Constitution. It is
confidently expected that Iown. Minnesota,
Ohio. Alabama, Rhode Island, Texas, and
Mississippi will zatify tho amendment duz-
ing the coming w1nter, end that Nebraska
will do so whenever the Governor shall
convene the Legislature Of that State. It
il worthy Of remark. also, that the Demo-
cratic Conventions Of Wisconsin, Iowa, and
Minnesota, this year. each rejected reeolu-
i,oas which we're offered to them antag~
ouiane tho Fifteenth Amendment, thus
practically disseminating their opposition
I" t.
Tor this resnlt, so nearly achieved, the
Eep1blican party Of tho Union is entitled
to the gratitude ot the civilized " ,rld.
Among the agencies which have contrib
utes1 TO produce il We may safely claim that
TIE CHICAGO TLmrSE has been second 10
Zone in vigilance, energy, md fidelity. It
was the first journal in the United States to
lr,int out and characterize in the proper
terms the fatal policy Of Andrew johnson,
which sought to confer Il monopoly Of pol1t-
icaI power upon those who had sought to de-
strov tie Union. It insisted that such
policy could lie productive only Of the
rrarest mischief to the public welfare, and
cf those multiplied evils which injusuea nj
waysbrirgs in its train. 1t urged upon Con-
Er-.s shs duty Of undoiog that mischievous
tesk aud reversing that fatal policy, by
cu9ferr:pg c,.aaI rights upon al citizens Of
the reconstructed States, and se>urlns,
tht ee rights in the fundamental law Of the
land. 1t maintained nlsu that, rs fast US the
communities lately in rebellion should ac-
.,uirnee III this policy, their OWE forfeited
rigL:s shou.'. he restored to them, and
themselves be 1ea1u1it.etl 10 representation
III Congress believing as We did, and do,
that however great may hive been tie siIs
of any member Of the Union, republican
government must eventually rest upon the
frps consent of the majority oE tne whole
peuple.
With the triumph Of this policy all ques-
f:ous relating to reconstruction Wall
have been permanently settled mud
concluded, and the country will be
prepared To take fresh start in her career
Of prosperity aud splendor among the na-
,iuns Of the eazth. II is needless " soy
that Tn. CHICAGO TRIBUNE will ever 1e IN
the side Of impartial suffrage and equal
rights, without distinction Of race, color, OF
creed, and that it will hold those principles
to be of paramount importance, rs the very
foundation of republican government. But
after tkose principles shall have become 81
chi grated upon the fundamental law tha
they canbot be disturbed, it is inevitable
that new Issues will arise. And siuc1
neither pubic journals nor political parsie
can subist upon reco!lections merely, i
becomes necessary to examine the gronns
upon which we now stand.
It seems to he morally certain that, viii
tho extraction Of slavery and its al1lunets
questions relating to the public debt, ta1a
ton, and the currency will lie tue ruin,
and governing issues upot. which the coun
trv will be divided. II is proper, therefore
10 indicate the views which THE Tn1nuS
will nai1.tain and defend on those Yues
lions. We hold:
J. That an i11edee1nAblc and fluc.uatin
CURRENCY is the most expensive, injurious
and oppressive form of circulating medin'
Tor all classes of people, excepting only Il
speculato1s and stocl- gamblers.
9. That the credit Of the nation is il
n1oat valuable possession, aua lint tt
rffnr.s Of the government should be col
s,antly directed to the improvement Of j
credit, to tho end that ita bonded debt mi
i,e refunded at lower rate Of interest.
s. That the government should meet
obligations in the order Of their 1naturit
and hence Tint il slousd first pay its {
,.end ro.es, or greenbacls, either by
tls,a.tivc or fnnding-care being taken
rredr:ce IS little disturbance in priv
business as possible.
4. That. with tho restoration Of the p'
lie credit, tie business Of haneing shp
he made free, subject to the safegna
Which are now OF may hereafter be r
scsih.+l by law.
=. That sl, taxes ialpose1 71pon The 2
pie th:1ld he sdjustel solely will
view t.. the raising ii reve::11e for
rnvernn,eut. and that there should bt
na.-1i., and speedy reduction in the t.S
i:.g rats uf taxa.ion. 10th under the lni
nal revcLue and the tariff systems.
As newspaper. The I'lErSE claims
emirence among Western journals. 1t
rends more money fcr news than any OF
publication west of New iurk. 1t Ia
iains corps Of correspondents and spe
reporters equal in n,xnhcr mud intellige
10 those Of any New York paper, End,
liberal ,:se Of the telegraph. il is enable
bnng sas.re Western readers all the
u! the ,lsv-politica1, commercial, and
cellnnc.us-two days earlier
auy Eastern io..rral. Its mark: 1eI
sr. urusue!ly full aud NIT
The great commercial staples ot
West. which are If especial interest
Importance to its readers, mud whict
Easte1n papers, arc Necessarily inite
omitted altogether, are infinitely CO
tal, aud The Western farmer OF II
rsins this information from Chicago
tl.ya earlier than he can set it from
lussc.u papeE, even If he inds il ther'