Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-02-26
The Centennial Ledger

@He PtOHhteeN " tno DehS eau Woo4y
Memphis PUBLIC LHOeER announces with
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
than at any former period.
We are supplied with the best modern ia
%silitiss for publishing a Newspaper and reach
. 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. Ehe
unusual spectacle is presented to the country
Of the upper and lower Houses in Congress
being controlled respectively by opposite pO-
hical 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 fer the political control of tho Govern
ment. Within tho 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 Cover.
nor. CongreSsmen, 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 colored. viii desire 10 be informed from
day to day and week to week of what is going
on. The Centennial of our independence viii
be insuSurated with imposing ceremonies at
PhiladslPhia. 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. 1t will be a year
full Of stirring events. an upheayal and COM
m~inglins of the masses not to bs witnessed
again for a life time.
The LEDGER will keep abreast Of the tims,.
and its readers will see the daily history Of
tho world held up to the mirror" The
latest news from all quarters will 30 presented
In a condensed form and such comp,sn.
thereon as an intelligent view OF the subiec.
may suggest. The LEDGER is Of the pooplo
and for tho people, and in full sympathy with
the labOring and tax paying masses. Their
Judgment and their instructive conclusions
when ascertained will be accepted in preser-
enOe to the dictum Of politicians or the wis.
dom Of statesmen. We hold to the o.
fashioned t~heory-that the people ara 4.
soYereiEns, and all ofhce-hOlders puH il gar
wants. TO be rewarded only for a fat bfAl ro,
fOrmanoo of duty within prescrV, Jed limits
and condemned for breach Of trust or aims,
Of delegated powers. In future. a, IN ths
past. the LEDGER will DO a bold. i-ndepepdsu,
Democratic journal, stsnding by is party
when right. but ever ready to condemn nm
worthy men or measures. An earnest en-.
deavOr will DO made during the present year
to correct abuses in public places, to bring
about as strict and careful management of
tho peoples money as in a successful private
business. To this end we shall cont niue 10
labor. urging economy and reform a, 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 presidents set up that will haw
a great bearing upon the future POLITICAL
tory Of the country. As a nation Of ? United
states wo have made great prog eoss. but
whether we have preserved ints 4, ,bo min.
ciples Of our ancient oOustiiy zion. is a oues-
ton got to b decided Vt tho ballot, box.
whether We rssAs tOvf ,rn ourselves or are
governed u party. viii be better known
"esn he voice Of the people is heard next
F, November. 1t Wi avail us little that We had
a Washington, a Jefferson and a jackson if
the Government passes once mere into the
Ssess If a purely partisan and sectional
adAlnsaDdon.
In our columns will always be found a
choice variety of original and selected mat
tor adapted to the seneral reader and the
family circle. and it Is needless to say that
nothing will appear to offend the taste of tho
most cultivated and refined. The several
departments Of the paper will be conducted
BY experienced Journalists who follow the
profession because hoy are in love with il.
and who appreciate public tastes and public
senSibiAties. The LEDeSR is Democratic. but
e%~ingntly conservative. aud is ever ready to
give all sides and shades of opinion a fair
hearing. The editorials will DO live and
bpointOd. but carefully considSrate.