Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-05-19
The subscription prize OF the
PUBLIC LEDGER Is IS per annum
for Daily, and 81 per annum for
weekly. POSTAGE FREE.
rHE MEOKIEEBuRe CENTENNIAL.

. .N ...H .L.a."
In accordance with the proclamation
of Governor Porter, issued some weeks
ago Mayor League very properly reeog.
mixes tomorrow, the 10th of May, as a
public holiday, and has issued 40 order
closing all the city offices. This IS truly
patriotic and praisewortby, and the more
so in n whose memory is treasured
with the traditions and historic glories Of
his birthplace far across the sea 1t
might be supposed that an adopted cit:-
zen would find little time amid the daily
struggles of life to study our Revolution
airy history and become interested in the
deeds OF those who founded this govern
ment. But their fame is a common heri.
tage in which every true citizen, a direct
descendant or not, has an equal share,
1t is natural that the immediate deeend-
ants Of the men Of rs and '76 should
feel a kind Of family pride, as itwere, in
commemOrsting the stirring events Of
that period, bnt the blessings Of liberty
we're transmitted to ell alike, to their
children. and to their cousins across the
water who might chooseto follow. This
celebration belongs not alone to those
Who we're born in North Carolina or Ten
nessee, but to all who share the benefits
Of free government and find q home in
this happy land If sny man can be
fOurd so iboughhess and uniformed as
TO ssy that the severance of the Amer
can colonies from British rule vas 8 mis-
take, he ought to spend 5 few sessonsin
Ireland and see how the iron hand is
laid on 8 people who are rebelEous and
cfrighi oEght % be free. W~ePitythe tame
spirits who would reesnt the declaration
made onthe 20ih Of MAJ, 1875, and the
4h Of July. lTT6. They but serve to ex-
plain how despotisus are maintained
through voluntary tools, and Why human
rights are trsnplsd under foot The as
serion Of American independence was
mot the impulse d he hour, but the sx-
preston Of 3 deliberate purpose on the
part Of men who had been educated up
TO habits Of selErelisnee and had
iuhibed the spirit Of liberty in
TIER daily struggles TO reclaim
the wilderness from Wild beasts, and the
6eresr red man, who united keen Gun
ming and ~coolnsss to bis savage nature.
They carried the rife as a companion TO
the Ak and ploE, and recognized only
God Is q superior power. What tolls,
uhEt dangers. priFsiions aud narrow es-
cspeS made up their lives We
cannot now realize. But We may
honor their yalor, their deeds and
their worth 10 the history Of the
world they stand apart from the rest Of
psukind, but equal in all the higher at
tributes to any race or people. In hon
oring them we but honor ourselves and
recognize great living principles and
virtues that must rule the world. All
the friends Of constitutional liberty are
directly interested in this Observance.
II is a fit tiEe to invoke a spirit Of pa
triotism and revive fraternal memories.
An eloquent TennesseesD, Hon. John
n. Bright, will be one Of the orators at
Charlotte tomorrow, and will worth
lily represent the daughter State Of
grand old North Carolina. And what
eve the city Of Memphis may do, it
is a gratifying fact that Nashville
Knoxville, Gallatin, S~helbyville, Nc.
Minnville, Bolivar, Brownsville and
various other cities and towns will cele-
brate this centennial with becoming eer-
emory and spirit, and the Volunteer
State will still be able to claim kin With
the men Of Mecklenburg and Kings
Mountain. In response TO the procla-
nations Of Governor Porter and Mayor
League the7e'or the PUBLIC LEDGER
halls the 10th Of May, 1875, and will
accordingly suspend issue to observe the
hohuay' Irran r