Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-07-12
The Centennial Ledgef


The proprietor of the Daily and Weekly
Memphis PUBLIC LEDGER announces with
pleasure and confidence that this paper en-
tiers upon the Centennial year of our National
existence with brighter prospects as a liv
Democratic and Conservative Family New
paper than at any former period.
We are supplied with the best modern ia
ciIitiss for publishing a newspaper and reach
a larger number of readers than over before.
The people are aroused to the Importance of
the events now transporting. as well as those
that happened a hundred years ago. Tho
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
tuO OOmOCIhto HuA CONSERVATIVES OOuhTOl Ou0
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 a Cove
nor. Congressman, members of the General
Assembly and important local officers. The
abIest talent of the nation will be arrayed on
both sides. Every intelligent citizen, whits
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 the
principal nations on earth. 1t will be a yea1R
full Of stirring events, an upheaval and COM
mingling 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" Tho
latest news from all quarters will DO presented
in a condensed form and such comment
thereon as an intelligent view of the subject
. may suggest. The LEDGER is of the people
ard for the people, and in full sympathy with
the laboring and tax paying masses. Their
judgment and their instructive conclusions
, whom ascertained will DO accepted in prefer
ence to the dictum Of politicians or the wis
dom of statesmen. We hold to the old
:, fashioned theory-that the people are the
sovOreigns. and all ofice-holders public SER
wants. to be rewarded only for a faithful per-
formance of duty within prescribed limits,
= and condemned for breach Of trust or abuse
of delegated powers. In future. as in the
past. the LEDGER will be q bold. independent
Democratic journal, standing by its party
when right, but ever ready to condemn UNI
worthy men or measures. An earnest en-
deavor will be made during tho 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 the
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
a great bearing upon the future political his.
,, tory of the country. As a nation of Unitet
States we have made great progress, but
whether we have preserved intact the prin.
ciples of our ancient Constitution, is a cues
ton yet to be decided at the ballot-box.
Whether We really govern ourselves or ar,
governed by party, will be better know
when the voice of the people is heard mex
% November. 1t will avail us little that We haC
a Washington, a Jefferson and a jackson
the Government passes once mere into tn,
hands of a purely partisan and s~ectiona
administration.
In our columns will always be found
- choice variety Of original and selected mat
ter adapted to the general reader and tn
family circle, and it is needless to say tina,
nothing will appear to offend tho taste of tn
most cultivated and refined. The severn
departments of the paper will be conduete,
h., --A