Year: 1876

The year 1876 promises to be crowd
ed with more important and interest
ing occurrences than any since the close
of the war. We shall celebrate the one
hundredth anniversary of our national
birth with the most remarkable dis
play of Our arts and industries, and the
greatest concourse of visitors ever seen
on the continent. We shall elect new
President under circumstances which
threaten to make the political CAM
paign peculiarly exciting. The House
of Representatives for the first time
since the close of Mr.. Buchanan s term
is under the control of the Democratic
party, and it proposes to lay bare the
secrets Of the Administration now
drawing to II close. Its course during
the next six months will define the
policy by which the Democratic party
hopes to rule the country; while the
action of the Republicans is likely to
determine whether the organization
which saved the Uuion and freed the
slave is to fall to pieces or enter upon
a new career of usefulness. In practi-
cal work of government there are great
abuses to be swept away, and many
promises to be put to the test. In the
settlement of the national finances the
year may mark the crisis of our affairs.
In religion it promises to mark great
revival, and there are many signs that
the relations of the Church to the State,
and particularly to the State schools,
will provoke sharp discussion, and en-
ter largely into politics. In trade, COM
merce and productive industry there
are hopes that it will witness the long
deferred revival.


In such stirring and crowded per-
iod, THE TRIBUNE confidently appeals
to its past record and its present per.
fOrmance, as constituting its claim for
the continued regard of all old readers,
and the accession of many new ones.
No intelligent citizen can afford during
such year As 1876 to dispense With an
independent newspaper, upon which
he can rely for an impartial record Of
events, undistorted by partisan neces-
stiles or personal hates or ambitions.


The TRIBUNE will ulaintsin with
the old fervOr the old Republican prin-
cipals of which it WAS the champion all
through the American conflict, and il
will rejoice whenever those principals
are victorious under the old banners.
Butt it can never be the servant of csu-
cuses or conventions it must approve
what it finds good in the acts and pro-
fessions of either party, and apologize
for the wrOngdOings OF neither. In
giving the news it endeavors to set
forth the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth in politics its
great object is TO elect honest men,
whom the country knows and Can trust;
to secure hard-money, Administrative
reform, such econOmysin public affairs
at the hard times compel from private
citizens, and, as consequence, lower
taxes. Thus it found itself last Fall,
rallying the forces for the splendid
hard-money~ 1riumphs won by the
Republicans and their allies in Ohio
and Pennsylvania, and rs earnestly
striving to hold up the hands of an Ad-
ministration in New York, which was
busy fighting the Canal Ring, stopping
leaks in the treasury, and lowering
taxes. In each case it found the peo-
pie sustaining its positions, and il hop
es to be so clearly right in its political
course through all the storms of 1876 as
to win equal success, and command yet
greater approval.


One result of this policy of struggling
for the triumph of honest men and
sound principles, without being too
much controlled by mere party names,
has been that both parties find them
worst practices of the old caucus system,
to put forward their best men, and to
practice some of the reforms they
preach. 1t may fairly be claimed that
conscientious and independent voters
have thus within two or three years
gradually forced both parties up to
higher plane, and We may
hope that the Centennial year will wit
ness still greater improvement.


THE TRIBUNE will continue to labor
for this end with the methods which
have already commended it to popular
favor. 1t will endeavor to combine the
utmost candor with judicial fairness
will keep its columns free from person.
al wragling will waste no time in re-
plying to the incessant attacks its sue
cess provokes from envious rivals, and
rs heretofore will reserve all its space
for is readers interests.


From those who believe such jOurn-
al desirable visitor In their families,
THE TRIBUNE sOlicits continuance OF
the favor it has 80 conspicuously enjoy.
ed in the past. During the years 1874
and 1875 the position assigned 1t long
ago by foreign critics.. as "the leading
American newspaper" has come TO be-
generally recognized, and its circula-
tion has been greater than ut any pre-
vious period in its history. 1t has won
this position by the closest watchful-
ness and the most lavish expenditure
to procure the freshest intelligence, the
most complete reports, the most inter-
esting letters and essays, end the ablest


WORK in every department. Its staff
includes the most accomplished men in
the profession, and among its outside
contributions it numbers many of the
most eminent men in the country.