Year: 1876

In assuming control OF this paper un'
der the new management we feel the
fearful responsibility resting upon a
public journal, and address ourselves to
the work in hand with the determina-
tion to discharge our duties to the best
of our ability, and honestly endeavor by
pursuing a straight forward and upright
COURSE TO merit public confidence and
esteem. We shall study and labor to ad-
vance the interests of the city Of Wheel
ing and the State of West Virginia. In
our State are ali the elements
of wealth only awaiting devel-
opment to bring her to the
front rank among the sisterhood of States'
and the promotion Of the interests Of this
city, West Virginia's metropolis, should
be the object of every citizen who has
the welfare of our young common wealth
at heart.


In politics We shall advocate the true
genuine Democratic doctrine, those
grand old Democratic principles under
lying our system of government, upon
which our National fabric is based, and
which if fremoved the structure would fall
into anarchy and despotism. While ar
raging ourselves from honest convictions
on the side ofa pure Democracy, and shall
labor topreserve our party organization
intact, we will not be blinded by partl-
zan zeal, to overlook errors and abuses
which may creep into our party, but will
at all times be ready with an unsparing
hand to denounce wrong IN whatever
shape it may present itself. Weshall aim
to chew to the line, let the chips fall where
they may" We shall not yield support
to factions organized in our own ranks
for the promotion of individual interests
to the detriment Of party organization.
beng fully convinced that "measures not
men, is the true policy, and the success
of the Democratic party lies in strict
adherence to those fundamental princl-
plies handed down to us from the fathers
of the Republic.


Tke lust of power on the part OF our
public rulers and the luxury, sloth and
indifference of the people have been the
cause Of our wandering so fur from the
old land marks Rnt there is now an
unmistakable independent spirit among
the people, prompted by an innate sense
of right which causes them TO rebel
against party when party lines are drawn
and the party whip cracked tor the pur-
pose OF enforcing wrong measures. This
feeling is not confined to those of any
one political party, but is prevalent
among all and in this healthy
public sentiment are centred the
hopes of our future. Wo believe that
the American citizen in his full and
proper development, and moving in the
grand sphere which the Constitution
marks out for him, is equal to the high
mission whereunto he is called-the per-
petuation OF liberty regulated by law.


We express the hope that our inter-
course with the members of the press will
be marked by mutual spirit of friend
ship and good will. To those of our po-
litical faith we look for help rs CO.
workers in good cause, and deprecate
those family quarre.s which are becoming
20 common among newspaper men. To
those of the opposition we would
say that while we expect to fight
the Republican party with all the
might that we are capable of, We shall
endeavor to conduct our discussions with
that dignity and courtesy that should al
wsvs characterize debate, and not permit
them To degenerate into low squabble
and political billinsgste, knowing full
well that reason rather than passion pre-
walls a argument.


We hope that the Centennial year
which l. now dawning 80 gloriously, will
inaugura,e an e-a OF good feeling, genu
inc patriotism, prosperity, sound govern
ment and Democratic president