Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-02-25
The Centennial Ledger

The proprietor Of the Daily and Weekly
AepPhis PuBLlc LpseHH announces with
p~lsssprs and confidence that this paper sn-
tss upOn the Centennial year Of our National
existence with brighter prospects IS 3 live
Democratic and Conservative Family News
paper nAn At any former period.
We are supplied with the best modern ia
eiliAss for publishing a newspaper and reach
: larger npwbsr Of readers Than ever before.
The people are aroused to the Importance Of
the events now transpiring, as well as those
that happened a hundred years ago. The
unusual spectacle Is presented to the country
of the upper and lower Houses in Congress
being controlled respectively by opposite po-
ltical parties. For the fret tune since 1860
the Democrats and Conservatives control one
branch of Congress. and the abIest modern
statesmen are playing a bold and desperate
game for the political control Of the Govern
msnt- Within thoyear two candidates will
BE- nominated for the Presidency, and the
people. In their sovereign capacity, will elect
q President and Vice President. and in many
OF the States. as in Tennessee, elect a Cover
nor. CongreSsmen. members Of the General
Assembly and important local s~ficOrs. The
ableSt talent Of the nation will be arrayed on
both sides. Every intelligent citizen, white
and cOlOred, will desire to be informed from
day 70 day and week to week of what is going
on. The Centennial Of our Independence will
DO inausuratsd with imposing ceremonies at
Philadelphia, on the Fourth of July. in the
presence Of thousands Of people from every
State in the Union and representatives of The
principal nations on earth. Il will be a year
full Of stirring events, an upheaval and com
minEling of the masses not to be- Witnessed
again for a lifO time.
The LEDGER will keep abreast Of the tlms.
and its readers will see the daily history Of
the world held up to the mirror" The
latest news from all quarters win b lrossnted
" a condensed form and such comment
thereon as an intelligent view OF the subject
may suggest. The LEDGER is of the people
and for the people, and in full sympathy with
the laborins and tax paying masses. Their
Judgment and their instructive conclusione
when asOertainel will be accepted in prsfer.
snce to the dictum OF politicians or the wis-
dom Of statesmen. We hold 70 the old
fashioned theOry-that the people are the
SOvereigns. and all ofice-holderJ public ser
wants, to be rewarded only for faithful per
formanco Of duty within prescribed limits.
and condemned for breach of trust or abus,
Of delegated powers. In future, as in the
past. the LRDGBA will be a bold, independent
Democratic journal, standing BY its party
when right, but ever ready to condemn un-
worthy mon or measures. An earnest en-
deavOr will be made during the present year
to correct abuses in public places, To bring
about as strict and careful management of
the peoples money as in a successfa, p,iyate
business 10 this end we shall cor. dnus to
labor. urging economy and reform at eyory
possible point without positive injury 70 tho
public service.
Issues Of grave Importance will be decided.
this year. Men and parties win be made ans
unmade. and precedents set up that will have
q great bearing upon the future political his
tory Of the country. AS a nation of Unsed
States we have made great progress. but
whether We have preserved intact the prin-
ciplOs Of our ancient Constitution. ia a ques-
tiOn yet TO DO decided at the baLot-box
Whether We really govern ourselves or are
governed By party. will be better known
when the voice Of the people is heard next
November. Il will avail us little that we had
a Washington, a Jefferson and a jackson il
the Government passes once mere into the
hands Of q purely partisan and sectional
Administration.
In our columns will always DO found "A
choice variety Of original and selected mat
ter adapted to the general reader end the
family circle. and it is needless @ say that
nothing will appear to offend he taste Of the
most cultivated and refined. The several
departments Of the papS will be conducted
by experienced journalists who follow tho
profession because they are in love with Il
and who appreciate public tastes and pubic
sensibiities. The LEDGER is Democratic. bu.
ominontly conservative, apd Is ever ready to.
give all sides and shades of opinion a fats
hearing Tho editorials will DO live 10