Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-05-26
The Centennial Ledger

The proprietor Of the Daily and Weekly
Memphis PunrIO LEDeER announces with
pleasure and confidence that this paper en-
tsgp upon the Centennial year Of our National
existence withRbriShtsr prospects as a lv
DsmSOratic and Conservative Family New
paper than at any former period.
We are supplied with the best modern ia
c%iitiss for publishing a newspaper and reach
a larger number Of readers than ever before.
ThepeOple are aroused to the Importance of
the events now transpirins. as well as those
that happened a hundred years ago. Tho
unusual spectacle is presented to the country
Of the upper and lower Houses in Congress
being controlled respectively by opposite po-
htical parties. For the first time since 1860
the Democrats and Conservatives control one
branch Of Congress. and the ablest modern
statesmen are playing . bold and desperate
game for the political control of the Govern
msnt. Within the year two candidates will
DO 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 Cove
nor. cousrossmen, members of the General
Assembly and important local ~efRoers. The
ablest talent Of the nation will be arrayed on
both sides. Every intelligent citizen, white
and colOrsd. will desire to be informed from
day to day and week to week of what is going
on. The Centennial of our Independence will
be inaugurated with imposing ceremonies at
Philsdelphia. on the Fourth of July. in the
presence Of Thousands of people from every
State in the Union and representative of the
principal nations on earth, 1t will be a year
full Of stirring events. an upheayal and COM
mingling Of the masses not to be witnessed
again for a life time.
TheLEDeER will keep abreast of the times.
and its readers will see the daily history of
the world "held up to the mirror" The
latest news from all quarters will DO presented
In 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 laboring and tax paying masses. Their
Judgment and their instructive conclusions
when asOertained will be accepted in prefer
snoe to the dictum of politicians or the wis
dom Of statesmen. We hold to the old
fashioned theOry-that the people are the
sOvsreigns, and all o~fice-holders public SER
wants. to be rewarded only for a faithful per-
fOrmsnce of duty within prescribed limits
and condemned for breach of trust or abuso
Of delegated powers In future, as in the
past. the LEDGER will be a bold, independent
Democratic journal. standing by its party
when right, but ever ready to condemn up-
worthy men 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 successful private
, business To this end we shall continue to
labor. urging eCOnOmy and reform at every
possible point without positive injury to the
public service,
Issues of grave Importance will be decided
this year. Men and parties will be made and
unmade. and precedents set up that will hay,
a great bearing upon the future political /,
tory Of the country. As a nation of ur;,.5
States we have made great PROF ro., hr,
whether we have preserved int .ot the pri0.
cipl's Of our ancient Constita tiOn, is a oue,
tiOn yet to be decided ut the ballot-box.
Whether we really govern ourselves or ar,
governed by party, will be better known
when the voice Of the people is heard mex.
November. 1t will avail us little that we had
a Washington, a Jefferson and a Jackson 1
the Government passes once mere into the
hands Of a purely partisan and sectional
administrations. Al-t 44
In our columns will always be found n
> choice variety of original and selected mat.
ter adapted to the general reader and the
family circle. and it is needless to say that
nothing will appear to offend the taste of the
most cultivated and refined. The several
departments Of the paper will be conducted
by experienced journalists who follow the
profession because they are in love with it.