Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-02-05
The Wing and Tribune
For 1876.

! the people OF tennessee, starts out With
/ high hopes and high resolves. In review
| ing the past we feel that We have reason
/ for self-congratulation, and that a Ger
/ tain degree of pride on account of the OBJ
| stacles that we have overcome will be
permitted US. III the middle of the year
/ that has lately closed, for the second
| time in two years, our Office was entirely
/ consumed by fire. 1t was at a period of
universal depression in our monetary af-
fairs, and some of our best friends advis-
/ ed us to let the name and memory of the
+ old banner perish in the dust and ash
es where it last went down. Had person
I n considerations alone controlled US, we
might have yielded TO what seemed a
/ hard and implacable fate. But we felt
/ that the mission of the WING AND TRIB-
/ UNE 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 resumed its publication
/ Our friends came 10 the rescue promptly,
/ and row, 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.
| This, as our readers know, is our natal,
or Centennial year, and it must necessa-
riIy 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 70 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
/ history. We have, since the 4th of July,
/ l776, overcome foreign enemies on sea
and shore. We grappled with England
/ twice, and twice she left us to ourselves.
/ 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 saddest of
| all recorded civil wars, but after all our
/ safety is not yet assured, and there are
many who fear that as IS7G marks the
birth of our liberties, it may also mark
/ their death. War is an accursed thing at
best, but the multitude is always embOdy-
! ing principles, incarnating them in par
| ticular 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 1S4O-'44 will seem unim-
| portant. The fight will 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
| darkly 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 of the COM
ing struggle, and it is safe to assert that
| 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 that are
| likely to attract shallow and bigoted men.
| The vast array of office 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, will give battle to
| those of the 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
pect.
In addition TO the Importance of the
great struggle alluded to, we will elect in
| Tennessee a Governor and legislature
Upon the latter will deVolve the election
of two United States Senators, and some
definite settlement Of the financial policy
of the State. Upon all such questions at
the proper time, the WING 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 endear 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 to 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-deluvian 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 win act with
the democratic party until we find 4 bet
ter one, which we do not expect TO do
very soon, but at the same time we re-
spect the opinions of all who differ from
US, and in dealing with them shall never
subordinate the instincts of a gentleman
to the necessities of the mere politician.
The WIG AND TRIBUNE will, rs here
tofor c, be as far as possible an abstract
and chronicle of the times, and will give
to its readers 4 correct idea every week
of all that is transpiring in our midst
1t will, under all circumstances, be true
to Tennessee, for while we confess that
our heart is warmed by the kindly influ-
ences of the Centennial year, we do not
claim to love any portion of our country
as we do our own State. To say that
there is no North or South, or East OF
West, TO us seems strange. 1t is like say
ing that there are no homes and sweet
household faces that are not deaIer 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 can possibly be false to any
other portion of the Union.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION:
Single copy one year, in advance. 81 OO
l Clubs of ten, - each Is
Clubs Of twenty, one year, each l 90
Address,
D. VI. WISDOM d co,