Litchfield enquirer., 1874-01-08
THE TRIBUNE FOR 1874.

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 A year ago the editor of The Tribune promised to make this journal during 1873 a much more valuable and complete news paper than it had ever been before. Its facilities for the collection and transmits sion of intelligence from all parts of the world had been largely increased; it's staff of editors, correspondents, and reporters
 had been strengthened by the engage
 ment of some of the ablest men in the
 profession; and the editor was resolved to spare neither pains nor money in the eff fort to make The Tribune the very first
 newspaper in the world.
 It points to the achievements of the
 past twelve months with pardonable pride.
 While The Tribune has retained all the
 excellent features that made it such a
 favorite in former days, it has exhibited
 an enterprise and acuteness in its news
 department which have been the wonder
 of all it's old friends. Remembering that
 the chief function of daily journal is to
 give it's readers the fullest, the best ar- ranged, the most attractive, and the most readable history of the occurrences of the
 time, it has devoted it's best energies to this business, and its success has been universally recognized and applauded.
 The year has been fruitful of startling events, and every incident has found in The Tribune it's promptest, mostaccurate, and most perfectly equipped historian. A Tribune correspondent was the only civilian who witnessed the surrender of the Virginius, and his picturesque de- scription of that transaction, transmitted by telegraph, is the only account the pub |, o41 1o.o so1> depended for many weeks the question of peace and war. The Tribune published the only full and exhaustive account by Atlantic telegraph of the terrible Vile du Havre disaster, giving all the incidents of that catastrophe ten days before other journals received them by the slow course in its thrilling story by cable of the ad- ticipated every other paper in the country and even the Government itself, by its graphic narratives of Clusters battle on the Yellowstone. The elaborate and deeply interesting letters of it's special cor respondent in the West gave the only complete account of the Farmers Move ment ever published in an Eastern paper. The reports of The Tribune presented the important proceedings of the Evangeli- cal Alliance in this city with fullness and accuracy everywhere the subject of enthusiastic praise. During the panic it's daily history of Wall Street made it abso- lutely indispensable to business men; and it's special correspondents afterward de- scribed the condition of affairs in the manufacturing districts with an ability which no other paper seriously rivaled.
 These are mere instances of the uniform success in the most important branch of journalism which has steadily attended The Tribune throughout the year, and may therefore be fairly taken as an ear nest of what The Tribune is likely to do hereafter. Its purpose in 1874 Is to sur pass it's previous record, constantly in- creasing the efficiency of It's organization, adding to it's resources, and keeping up its ancient celebrity as an organ of culti- vated and thoughtful men, and high au- thority in literature, science, and the arts. It will continue to devote especial atten- ton to the proceedings of learned bodies, to education, to scientific discoveries and explorations, to new inventions, to agri- culture, to the promotion of American in- dustry, and to books, pictures, music, and the drama. Its financial articles have won peculiarly high reputation, and will still be prominent feature in its col umns. It's reports of the markets have long been distinguished for fullness and accuracy, and it's quotations have been &C., cepted as standards in the cattle, produce, and provision trades for many years. Its reports of local affairs are acknowledged to be the most accurate, intelligent and complete; its domestic correspondence is always fresh and valuable; and abroad it is served by the ablest writers and keen est observers engaged upon any American periodical.
 While it never can be neutral in poli- tics, The Tribune is entirely independent of all parties and all partisans. It be- lieves that the mere organ of clique can not be thoroughly good newspaper, and cannot be trusted for impartial and just comment upon current events. It main tains with the old fervor and will always defend the Republican principles of equal ity and justice with which, under the con- trol of it's illustrlous founder, Horace Greeley, it was for over thirty years iden- tifed. But it values parties solely as means for procuring honest government on sound principles. For the partisans who deplore exposures of corruption or imbecility in high places as likely to hurt the party and hinder their success in hold ing on to the offices-who insist that journal of their faith must follow their lead, execute their plans, and defend their acts, it has no feeling save contempt. Standing by its old landmarks, it defends the constitutional guarantees to the hber- ty of the citizen and the sacredness of the nations faith with its creditors, insists on the duty of Protection to American indus try, champions all proper measures for developing the material resources of the country, urges wise means for restricting the evils of Intemperance, seeks sedulous- ly to foster the commanding interests of Manufactures and Agriculture. But it holds itself aloof from all entanging al- dances, waits on no Caucus or Conven- tion for its opinion, aims to judge every political act of whatever party, separately as 1t arises, on it's own merits, and main tains the liberty of candid and impartial criticism. During the present session of Congress it's telegraphic reports from Washington where it maintains the strong est force of experienced correspondents ever assembled there in the interests of a single journal, will be found incompar- ably more valuable and more interesting than those of any of its contemporaries. And finally, in the editorial discussion of public affairs, The Tribune endeavors to combine the utmost frankness of express ion and independence of thought with strict impartiaity of judgment and that dignity and refinement of language which befit family newspaper It wastes no space in wrangling with other papers, pays no attention to personal abuse, and reserves it columns for it's readers inter- ests, not it's editors grievances.
 That there is popular appreciation of that sort of independent, vigorous, enter prising, and high-toned journalism of which The Tribune is now the chief rep resentative in this or any other country, is sufficiently proved by the results of the past twelve months. The close of 1873 finds this paper more prosperous than it has been at any previous period of it's his tory, and the new year opens for it with the most brilliant prospects. In short time it's mechanical facilities will surpass those of any other journal in the world; and on the .comnletion of it's new and