Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-02-12
Our Anniversary.

sumed the editorial management CT the
STANDARD, just as the eventful can.
vass Of 1880 was beginning to open.
In our salutatory, while acknowledging
our diffidence as to the duties and re.
sponsibilities that awaited us, we gave
no uncertain sound as to our determi.
nation to perform them. The labors of
the year are now before our readers,
and it is theirs to say how they have
been performed and in what manner
our determination has been maintained.
Perfection is not the lot of mortals,
nor do we claim to have. even approx
mated it. We began without previous
training and experience, and we have
labored without the benefit of consulta-
ton with the editorial fraternity. What
we have done, we have done, and it
was the best we could do under the
circumstances.
On every question presented before
us we have endeavored to take the
right side of it, and our convictions to.
day are that we have made few mis-.
takes i'll this particular. Our every is.
sue will show that we have taken high
grounds in favor of morality and vir-
tue, against immortality and vice in all
their forms in favor of education, lit
erature, and general intelligence and
against their opposites. No cause that
tends to degrade our common humanity
has found any comfort or encourage
ment in these pages.
On subjects of politics we have been
quallypronounced for what we believ-
ed to be right, and against what we be-
lieved to be wrong.
We believe it to be a species of NOR
al dishonesty for man, or body Of
men, to shun, evade or refuse an hon.
orable and equitable settlement Of what
he or they may owe; and we believe
it to be wholesale and downright dis
honesty, morally and politically, for
State to do the same thing, simply be-
cause she can not be compelled to do
otherwise.
With these convictions we have ad.
vocated an honest, fair and equitable
settlement of the State debt, nothing
more, nor less. Whatever is honest
and equitable for the State to pay we
have said she should pay and nothing
more. If she is unable to pay this let
her come up honorably and say so, and
show it to be so, and then ask honora-
bly, to be acquitted.
We have battled with whatever
ability we possess for the success of the
Democratic party, because we believed
it the only hope for the preservation Of
orr form of government in ito simple
ity and integrity. Although, by d.
visions and treachery, that party is not
to-day in power, yet it is majority of
the people of this Union, and will hold
in check all revolutionary and oppres-
sive measures that may be inaugurated
until it shall, as it must, eventually
come into full control of tie govern
ment, State and National.
In casting up the years account,
while we may have made mistakes, our
position has been clear, and our prin.
ciples sound. On them we have stood
fearlessly and succeeded beyond our
most sanguine expectations; on them
we expect to stand and hope for con-
tinued success.
During the fifty-twO weeks we have
issued ffty-one papers, fifty full sheets
with occasional supplements, and only
one time half sheet, and that was not
the fault of this office but of the public
carriers in not bringing our paper to
time. And in accordance with an i'm.
memorial newspaper custom we issued
no paper during Christmas week.
This is briefly our first years record
and on it we appeal to just and gen.
erous public for favor and patronage in
the future.