Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-02-26
The Wing and Tribune
For 1876.

For 1876.
We announce With pleasure to our read
crs that at the beginning OF the es.ss,.s -
year. the WIG AND TRIBUSE, Tined w
fire. tested by time, encouraged by the
support Of lifelong friends, and strong
in confidence, for the reason that its prin-
/ cfpIes and policy have been sustained by
the people of Tennessee, starts out with
high hopes and high resolves. In review
. iu.. the past we feel that we have reason
for self-congratulation, and that = GER
tain degree of pride on account Of the OBJ
stacIes that we have overcome will be
permitted US. In the middle of the year
that has lately closed, for the second
time i'm two years, our Office was entirely
Z consumed by fire. It was at 4 period of
universal depression in our monetary at
fairs. and some Of our best friends advis-
I ed us to let the name and memory of the
old banner perish in the dust and ash
I as where iU last went down. Had person
/ al considerations alone controlled us, we
/ might have yielded to what seemed Il
hard and implaeable fate. But we felt
J that the mission Of the WING AND TRIB-
/ I-2JE was far from being cOmplete-that
its place in thousands Of homes in West
/ Tennessee, and in other States TO which
! our kindred have emigrated in past years,
/ could not be supplied-and therefore, in
/ July last we res umed its publication
/ Our friends came TO the rescue promptly,
{ ana now after a careful examination OF
our books we find that the trial sheet for
. the last year is in our favor, and that
/ there is no reason why we should not 90
on our way rejoicing.
I This, as our readers know, is our natal,
4 or Centennial year, and it must necessa-
| rilv be one of unusual interest to every
/ lover of his country here, and TO every
/ friend of republican institutions, no mat
! ter where he may dwell. For the 23rd
! time in our history we will elect Presi-
/ dent Of the United States during this year.
/ While every rational mind hopes that
/ 1876 may be fraught with blessings 10 the
American people, and signalized by the
/ complete restoration of that fraternal
! feeling which cemented the union of our
| ancestors, it is also evident that we are TO
/ face dangers heretofore unknown in onr
4 history. We have, since the 4th of July,
I l77G, overcome foreign enemies on sea
and shore. We grappled with England
| twice, and twice she left us to ourselves.
J Since then we have carried our flag over
/ victorious fields to the Pacific OCEAN
/ More than this we have survived the
/ shock and strain of one of the saddesJ of
4 all recorded civil wars, but after all our
/ safety is not vet assured, and there are
many who fear that rs 1876 marks the
birth of our liberties, it may also mark
4 their death. War is an accursed thing at
/ best, but the multitude is always embOdy-
/ ing principles, incarnating them in par
/ ticuIar men, and hence it is that nations
/ are always in their greatest peril after
( their greatest victories. The people of
the North, after having vanquished the
lion of the Confederacy, are in danger of
/ covering before the wolves that have
/ gathered about the capitol. The cam
paign will beyond all question be the
/ most exciting that we have ever known
| before, and in comparison with it the
/ great contests of 1904 will seem unim-
/ portant. The fight viii be between the
people and their plunderers, between cit
liens and impudent soldiers, who forget
that they are only the paid police of the
country, and who in their arrogance
d;rkly hint that the continuance of Amer
/ lean freedom depends upon the result of
the count of the ballots after the election
in November.
Already we catch glimpses ofthe COM
( ing struggle, and it is safe 70 assert that
I the fires of sectional and religious hate
/ will not lack fuel. We again hear of Sc
cret political associations, of grips, pass
words and the cabalistic fooleries thatare
/ likely to attract shallow and bigoted men.
The vast array Of oflice-holders are ready
to do the behest Of any one that they may
! deem available, and these, with the
church and the army, led on by the brig
adiers and bishops, viii give battle TO
| those ofthe American people who have
faith in the traditions OF the past, and
who really believe that the Declaration
| of Independence, and the Constitution
that followed, are things worthy of res
| pcct.
In addition 10 the Importance of the
great struggle alluded to, we will elect in
/ Tennessee a Governor and a legislature.
Upon thelatter will devolve the election
! of two United States Senators, and some
/ definite settlement of the financial policy
of the State. Upon.al such questions at
I the proper time, the WIG AND TRIBUNE
| will give utterance TO its honest convic-
/ tions. In politics it will be democratic
/ There are but two parties In this coun-
| try. One is canonized by traditions
/ that endeaT it to myraids of men who
/ will not let it die. Its name cannot be
/ changed, nor can its principles be forgot
ten. We care nothing particularly for
| the former, but the latter we would hold,
/ no matter under what banner we might
march. From year 10 year men who
| claim TO be oracles, but who are better
/ fitted to keep museums, and show visi-
tors the bones of mastOdons and other
/ ante-deluyian curiosities, tell us that this
! party is about to die, but we have lost
/ faith in these predictions, and so have
| the people everywhere. We will act with
| the democratic party until we find bet
ter one, which we do not expect to do
/ very soon, but NJ the same time we re-
| sPcct the opinions of all who differ from
us, and I'm dealing with them shall never
| subordinate the instincts of a gentleman
/ to the necessities of the mere politician.
! The WING AND TRIBUNE will, as here
tofore, be as far as possible an abstract
! and chronicle of the times, and will give
1 to its readers correct idea every week
/ of all that is transporting in our midst
/ 1t viii, under all circumstances, be true
/ to Tennessee, for while we confess that
| our heart is warmed by the kindly innu-
| ences Of the Centennial year, We do not
| claim 10 love any portion of our country
/ rs we do our own State. To say that
there Is no North or South, or East or
West, to us seems strange. tits like say
| ing that there are no homes and sweet
/ household faces that are not dearer than
/ all other homes and faces in the world
/ Come what may, we will be true TO our
/ own State, and in being so, we do not
/ feel as If we cam DOSSib1y- he false 10 any