Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-15
The Centennial Ledger

Memphis PUBLIC LEDGE announces with
pleasure and confidence that this paper en-
tsrs upon the Centennial year Of our National
existence with brighter prospects as a live
Democratic and Conservative Family News
paper than at any former period.
We are supplied with the best modern fa
c%ilitisS for publishing a newspaper and react
a larger number of readers than ever before.
Thepeople 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 n 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 the ablest modern
statesmen are playing a bold and desperate
game for the political control of the Govern
msnt. 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 n Cove
nor. Congressman, members of the General
Assembly and important local officers. The
ablest talent Of the nation will be arrayed on
both sides. Every intelligent citizen, white
and cOlered, will desire to be Informed from
day to day and week to week Of what isgoiue
on. The Centennial of our Independence will
DO inauguratod 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. It will be a year
full Of stirring events. an upheaval and COM
m~ingling Of the masses not to be Witnessed
again for a life time.
The LEDGER will keep abreast of the time,
and its readers will see the daily history Of
the world held up to the mirror" The
latest news from all quarters will DO rresentea
in a condensed form and such comment
thereon as an intelligent view of the subject
may suggest. Tho 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 combustion,
when ascertained will be accepted in pref ~
once to the dictum Of politicians or the nj.
dom of statesmen. We hold to IL a old
fashioned theory-that the people ara ,bo
sOvereigns. and all Ofice-holders pubIic ssr.
wants, to be rewarded only for a faithful por-
formance Of duty within pres cribed limits
and condemned for breach of trust or aims.
Of delegated powers. In future. as in the
past. the LEDGER will DO a bold, ipdependent
Democratic journal. standing by its partv
when right, but ever ready to condemn un-
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 a successful privata
business. To this end we shall continue 70
labor. urging economy and reform at eyer
possible point without positive inj ary to the
public service.
Issues Of grave importance will be- decided
this year. Men and parties will be mad. and
unmade. and precedents set up that will have
a great bearing upon the future pol;tioaI his
tory of the country. AS a natien of United
States we have made great progress. but
whether we have preserved intact the prip-
ciplss Of our ancient Constitution, is a oues-
ton yet to DO decided at the ballot-box.
Whether we really govern ourselves or are
governed by party. will DO better known
whom the voice of the people is heard next
November. 1t will avail us little that we had
a Washington, a Jefferson and a Jackson If
the Government passes once mere into the
hands of q purely partisan and sectional
administration.
In our columns will always be found a
choice variety Of original and selected mat
ter adapted to the general reader and tho.
family circle, and it is needless to say that
nothing will appear to offend tho taste of the
most cultivated and refined. The several
departments Of the paper will be conduct0
by experienced journalists who follow 7 h.,
profession because they are in love witt
and who appreciate public tastes and 7 milf,
ssnsibilities. The LEDGER is Democrat -. In,
0minently conservative. and is ever reosv 70
give all sides and shades of Opini, IN a fai,
hearing The editorials will be live and
pointed. but carefully oonsidar.h.