New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-09
more like them. old md new, throughout inc
d" SHALL NOT RENEW"


We print the following letter because 1t Is a
sample of the absurd communications WIN
which all newspapers are sometimes bothered
and it may be useful to exhibit its absurdlty !:
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: notice by the papers throughout the country
that THE NEw-YoRK TRIBUNE will support the Hon.
lame. O. Rlaue for the Presidency in the coming cam
paen have taken THE TRIBUNE for several years. and
have generally conceded in most OF the views therein eh
pressed But my time will soon expire snail not re-
new under the circumstances. served five years IN the
late war; or nearly that time and do not wish TO end my
aid to public journal that supports any man who can
wave bloody shirt" a. Blaine did few days since In
Congress. not alone. You Will lose most OF your
subscribers here Yours truly, CHARLES b. LEssiSG.
Vandalia, H., Feb. 4, 1876
Evidently it never occurred to the writer OF
the above to inquire, before launching his APP
palllng threat, how 81 the papers throughout the
country should know what The TRIBUNE
intended to do in the approaching campaign !;
nor did it occur to him that he could ascer-
tain the policy of this paper much better from
its own columns than from the guesses and
gossip of it's chattering contemporaries. For
the information of all those who may he try
ing to answer for us question we nave not
vet thought 1t time to answer for ourselves,
We are not engaged in the business of max
ing candidates. Our part is to illustrate the
political situation, to make 1t clear what issues
are mt stake, to show the drift of popular SEN
timent and the tendencies OF parties, ana 10
give imrartaly all the news about the candl-
dates for the nomination on both sides, lnclud-
ing their personal characters, their opinions,
and their prospects. We have treated Mr.
Blaine in this regard exactly we have
treated Mr.. Morton, Mr.. Bristow. Mr.. Conk-
ling. Gen. Grant Mr.. Hendricks, Gov. Iilden,
and the rest, showing the elements OF strength
and the elements of weakness in each. When
Mr. Blaine made his speeches on Amnesty we
were among the first to denOunce his wanton
Openng of old sores, and we have never
ceased to ccnsure that performance OF his
with the utmost severity; but at the
same time we feel bound to state, as matter
of fact, that there are large numbers OF narrow
minded people North and South who will like
Mr.. Blaine all the better for what he has done.
In word, the business of an honest, independent
newspaper Just now is to define the chances of
the various candidates, not to make or TO mar
them. Intelligent readers have no difficulty In
compreheDdng and approaching this course
i mere are Il great many o'n'i P''p'' WI"
never did and never will understand the bust
ness of telling the truth in politics, and we
expect them to sly to-day that we are sup
porting Blaine, tomorrow that we are support
ing Tilden, next week that We have gone over
to Grant. according as the ncrs which we
report is favorable to the prospects OF one or
of another.
Whom we shall support in the campaign we
do not yet know. 1t will he that man who
best represents the principles of just govern
ment administrative reform, and honesty in
the national finances, of which THE TRIBUNE
has uniformly been the advocate. Perhaps 1t
will be no one of those who are now scram-
bling for the nomination. We purpose wait
ing to see what sort of platforms the two par
ties make and whom they select to stand on
them. Meanwhile VIC remain entirely indie
pendent When we make our choice we do
not intend that there shall he any doubt in
the public mind what the choice IL.