Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-05-17
The Centennial Ledger

NEAaIlO
Tho proprietor o. the Daily and Weekly
Memphis PUBLIC LEDoHR announces with
p%lsAsur. and confidence that this paper en-
tors upon the Centennial year Of our National
eIiHssnss withGb1shlsr prospects as a Iiv
psmpcrstIo and Conservative Family New
paper than Al any former pOrioaq
We arc supplied with the bost modern ia
cilitisS for publishing q newspaper and reach
a larger number o. readers than Over bOforo.
ThspsOpIS arc aroused 70 tho Importance of
the events nON lranSplrins. as wolf as those
that happened a hundred years ago. The
unusual spectacle Y PFesept'd b Tho country
Of the upper and lower Houses in Congress
being controlled respectively by opposite pO-
litical parties. For tho first limo since 1890
the Democrats and Conservatives control one
branch Of Congress, and the abIost modern
statesmen arc playing a bold and desperate
game for tho political control Of tho Govern
mont. Within tho year two candidates will
DO nominated for the Presidency, and tho
| IL |
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. oOnsressnen. members Of the General
Assembly and important local officers. The
ablest talent of tho nation will be arrayed on
both sides, Every intelligent citizen. white
and COlOrod. 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 i~naugurated with imposing ceremonies at
Philadelphia, on the Fourth of July. in the
presence Of thousands of peoplS from overy
State in tho Union and representatives ofthe
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 tho times.
and its readers will SEQ the daily history Of
the world "held up to the mirror" The
latest news from all quarters will be- presepted
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 laborins and tax paying masses. Their
Judgment and their instructive conclusions
when ascertained will be accepted in prefer
ence 10 the dictum Of politicians or tho via
dom of statesmen. We hold to the old
fashioned theory-that the people are the
sovoreignS. and all ofice-holders public scr.
wants. to be rewarded only for a faithful DER.
fOrmance Of duty within prescribed limits.
and condemned for breach Of trust or abusn
Of delegated powers. In future, as in the
past. the LEDGCR win be a bold, independert
Democratic Journal. standing by its t,artv
when right, but ever ready to condemn nm.
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 private
business. To this end we shall continue to
labor urging economy and reform at every
possible point without positive injury to tho
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 have
4 great besrins upon the future political his
tory OF the country. AS a nation of United
States we have made great progress, but
whether we have preserved intact the prin-
CiDlss of our ancient Constitution. Is a uu,
ton yet to BE- decided at the ballot
Whether we really govern ourselves
governed by party. will be bsttor tno,v,
whom the voice of the people is 'osord nav,
November. 1t will avail US Hta that -. h.a
a Washington a jefferson d a JscksOnif
the Government passes On' % nero iD.o H..
hands of a purely part san and soo,;ora,
administration,
In our columns win always be fo5pd \
'n0'o' variety Of original and selected mat
'sr adapted to the general reader and the
family circle, and it is needless to say that
nothing whl appear to offend the taste of the.
most euitivstod and refined. The several.
departments q the paper win be conducted,
by experienced journalists who follow the,
profession because they are in love with it.
and who appreciate public tastes and public.
'sn'i1ilitiss, The LEDoER is Democratic. but
'ninently conservative, and is over ready to
give all sides and sbades of on