Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-05-12
The Centennial Ledger

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The proprietor Of the Daily and Weekly
Memphis PusLIo LEDsER announces with
pleasure and confidence that this paper en-
tors upon the Centennial year Of our National
existence With brighter prospects as a live
Democratic and Conservative Family New
paper than at any former period.
We are supplied with the best modern ia
cilities for publishing a newspaper and reach
a larger number of readers than ever before.
The people are aroused to the Importance Of
the events now transporting, 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-
litical parties. For the first time since 1850
the Democrats and Conservatives control one
branch of Congress, and tho ablest modern
statesmen are playing 3 bold and desperate
game for the political control of the Govern
ment. Within the year two candidates will
be nominated for the Presidency, and the
people. in their sovereign capacity, will elect
a President and Vice President. and in many
Of the States, as in Tennessee, elect a Cove
nor, congressman. members of the General
Assembly and important local officers. The
sbisst talent Of the nation will be arrayed on
both sides. Every intelligent citizen, white
and colored. 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
Philadelphia, on the Fourth of July. in the
presence of thousands of people from every
State in the Union and representatives of tho
principal nations on earth. 1t will be a year
full of stirring events. an upheaval and COM
mingling of the masses not to BIO witnessed
again for a life time.
The LEDGER will keep abreast of tho times.
and its readers will see the daily history Of
the world "held up to the mirror" Tho
latest news from all quarters will be 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 ascertained will be accepted in prefer
ence to the diotum of politicians or the Wis.
dom Of statesmen. We hold to tho old
NN0Vhg suat Ine people are the
sovsreigns. and all ofice-holders public sar.
wants, to be rewarded only for a faithful MR.
Torrance of duty within prescribed limits.
and condemned for breach of trust or obns0
Of delegated powers. In future, as in tba
past. the LKDeER will be a bold, independsnt
Democratic journal, standing by its party
when right. but ever ready to condemn nm
worthy men or measures. An earnest an.
deavOr will be made during the present year
to correct abuses in public places, to hiring
about as strict and careful management Of
the peoples money as in a 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 DO decided
this year. Men and parties wilIb made and
unnade. and presidents set up that will have
a great bearing upon the future political his
tory Of the country. As a nation of Initial
States we have made great progress. but
whether we have preserved intact the min
ciplss of our ancient Constitution, is a uues-
ton yet to be decided at the bsllot.bor.
we really govern ourselves or arc
by party, will be better known
when the voice of the people is heard next
November. II viii avail us little that We had
a Washington, a Jefferson and a Jaokson u
the Government passes once mere into tho
hands of a purely partisan and sectional
administration.
In our columns will always be found
choice variety of original and selected mat
ter adapted to the general reader and III.
family circle and it's needless to say that
nothing will appear to offend the taste of the
most cultivated and refined. The several
departments of the paper will DO conducted
by experienced journalists who follow the
because thoy are in love with it.
who appreciate public tastes and public
'0pSibilitiOH. The LEDGE is Democratic. INIT
'ninontly conservative. and is ever ready to
give all sides and shades of opinion a fair.