The National tribune., 1883-03-29
could be selected than the anniversary Of Lees
sur cs.a.4ler-M oaday, April 9thf
hat AnsS,.r9

author of 1t Is himself doing all he can to
bring about its realization, and if every
reader of THE TRIBUNE were as jealous in
its interest as he, we should be able to fore
tell the day when TIE TRIBUNE would
have 1eeo 900 names on its rolls with some
thing like certainty. The fact is, however,
that the proportion of earnest, active work
ers, compared with the total number of
TRIBUNE readers, is comparatively small
Many of our friends, remarking that cur
circulation is steadily increasing at the rate
of thousand or more week, seem to think
there is no special occasion why they should
exert themselves to swell that number.
They recognize and appreciate the great
value Of THE TRIBUNE and heartily approve
of the work which it is doing, but so long as
other comrades seem to be engaged in rails
ing clubs of new subscribers they seem to
think there is no necessity that they should
do anything themselves in that direction. In
this, however, they are sadly mistaken. Other
things being equal, the measure of a news
papers influence is the number of its read
ers, and the influence which THE TRIBUNE
Yields to-day would be far greater tn an it
Is if its circulation, instead of being num-
bered by the thousands, were counted by the
hundreds of thousands. IF it is of conse-
quence to eur ex-soldiers that it should have
any circulation at all it is of consequence
that it should have the widest circulation
possible. If its mission has any interest for
them it is of Importance that it should be
accomplished as soon as possible. If it is
essential that they should have spokes-
man to champion their rights before Con-
gress and the public, to expose the misrep-
reservations of demagogues like Senator
Beck and the malice of journals like the
New York Sun, it is essential that the voice
of that spokesman Should be heard
in every quarter of the land. It's success,
fit concerns our ex-soldiers at all, concerns
one as closely as another THE TRIBUNE is
fighting the battles, not simply of the PEN
sioner or the applicant for pension, but of
the soldier in all his relations, public and
private. 1t does not only advocate justice
for our veterans at the hands of Congress, but
invokes love and respect and tender care for
them at the hands of the people. 1t seeks to
rekindle in the public heart the fires of pa
triotism which so holly burned there twenty
years ago. 1t has not been oblivious to the
fact that but for the decay of patriotic senti-
ment in the country the neglect which our
ex-soldiers have experienced at the hands of
the Government would never have been their
portion, and believing enat it is not yet too
late to arrest that decay, it has not addressed
itsappeals to Congress alone, but to the sense
of iustice of the Nation.
What it has already accomplished our
readers know fer themselves. 1t has made
possible such concentration Of strength
in support of the rights of the soldier as
never before was dreamed of. 1t has COM
PEELED legislators who once scoffed at the
idea that the soldier still possessed any in
fuenee in public affairs to listen at last to
his demands. It has compelled the news
papers which thought that by the mere cir
culation of ISLANDERS and malicious rumors,
they could turn public opinion against our
veterans, to modify their charges if not re-
tract them altogether. The hue and cry
which they so lately raised against our PEN
sioners is being siienced by the storm of
popular indignation which The TRIBUNE
has raised against it. There is not one of
+! our readers, we are sure, who does not
feel that THE TRIBUNE is doing great and
| far-reaching work and that its final and
absolute success is a question only of the
earnestness and enthusiasm with which it is
supported But has it ever occurred to them
to ask themselves: What have | done to
secure to THE TRIBUNE the aid which it
deserves and which it is to my interest that
it should have?"
We have repeatedly pointed out that il
every subscriber to THE TRIBUNE would pro-
cure one new subscriber, thatstep alone would
assure to THE TRIBUNE the 100000 circu-
lation which it ought to have and what we
have to ask now is that every reader of THE
TRIBUNE who is willing to pledge himself
to procure before the LIST of May at least
one new subscriber, VIII notify us to that
effect by postal card. On receipt of his
pledge we will forward to his address as
many sample copies for distribution as he
may desire and will enter his name on oul
books as one of THE TRTBUNE's volunteers
The period that will elapse between now
and the date fixed for the closing of our list
is ample for the work. In that time, by
diligent and earnest effort, the circulation
of THE TRIBUNE can readily be doubled
and if its friends are willing to cooperate
with us heartily in the undertaking, there
can be no doubt of the result We shall
shortly announce a series of prizes to be