Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-02-28
The Centennial Ledge

upon the Centennial year Of our National
existence with brighter prospects as q live
Democratic and Conservative Family News
i rHT F1usrIF
paper than at any former period.
We are supplied xith the best modern fa
.eltYW. 4!. ta30se @ 10 t3iHbI
for publishing a newspaper and reach
a larger number Of readers than ever before.
rhspeeple are aroused to the importanss Of
events nov transporting. as we'll as those
that happened a hundred years ago. The
unusual spectacle is presented to the country
of the upper and lower Housea in Congress
being controlled respectively by opposite pO-
litical parties. For the first time since 1850
the Democrats and Conservatives control one
Of Congress, and the ablest modern
statesmen are playing . bold ana desperate
game for the political control of the GoverA-
al
ment. Within the year two candidates viii
be 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 Cover
nor. Congressman. members Of the Genera
Assembly and important local officers. The
ablsst talent of the nation will be arrayod on
both sides. Every intelligent citizen, white
and eolored, win desire to be informed from
day TO day and week to week Of what is going
on. The Centennial Of our Independence will
be inauSursted with imposing ceremonies at
Philadelphia. on The Fourth q July, in tho
presence Of thousands Of people from every
State In the Union and representative of the
principal nations on earth. Il viii be a year
full Of stirring events, an uDheaval and com.
minglinS Of the masses not to be Witnessed
again for a life time.
The LEDGER 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 viii DO pressased
in q condensed form and such oommon.
thereon as an intelligent view of the subject
may suggest. The LEDGER ia 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 dictum Of politicians or vie wis.
dom of statesmen. We hold 10 the old.
fashioned t~hsOry-that the people ara thee
sovereiSns, and all o~ficN-hOlders public SER
wants. to be rewarded only for q faithful pep
fOrmancs of duty within prescribed limits.
and condemned for breach Of trust or abuse
Of delegated pOwers. In future. as in the
past. the LRDGRR will be a bold, independent
Democratic journal, standing by its party
when right. but ever ready to condemn un-
worthy men or measures. An earnest on
deayor will be made during the present year
to correct abuses in public places, to bring
about as strict and careful msnas mont or
the peoples money as in a successtu. private
business. To this end we shall continue L,
labor urging economy and reform at every
possible point without positive injury to the
public service.
lssuos Of grave importance will be decided
this year. Men and parties win be. made and
unmade. and presidents set up that will have
a great bearing upon the future political hts-
tory Of the country. AS a nation of Unitsd
states We have made great progress, but
whether we have preserved iutao. the min
ciplss Of our ancient Constitution, il oues-
ton yet to be decided al the bsilotboS.
Whether we really govern ourselves or ars
governed BY party, will be better known
When the voice of the pc pie 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 a purely partisan and sectional
administration.
In our columns will always DO founG a
choice variety of original aud selected mat
ter adapted to the general reader sad the
family circle. and its needless 70 SOY that
nothing will appear to offend the taste Of the
most cultivated ana refined. The sover.,
departments Of the paper viii be condo, ID
By experienced journalists who folly . III,
profession because theg arc in iov, IN /,
and who appreciate pubic ta.tos and publ.
''n'iblitiS', The lEDeEA is DsS AocrAtio. bu
0@'n'n'lE conservative and Y ever ready L
give all sides and shades = + opinion a fai
hearing The editorials will be 1--we an,
pointed SHt OnronlIy con .idorats.
spA space will DO Dc voted to local new
and topics. Full and accurate river an,