Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-08-10
The Centennial Ledger

Memphis PUBLIC LEBeKR announces with
pleasure and confidence that this paper en-.
tors upon the Centennial year Of our National
existence with brighter prospects as a lv
Democratic and Conservative Family New
paper than ct any former period.
We arc supplied with the bost modern ia
c%ilitiss for publishing a newspaper and reach
a larger number Of readers than ever before.
The people 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 to the country
Of the upper and lower Houses in Congress,
being controlled respectively by opposite DO
litical parties. For the first time since 1880
the Democrats and Conservatives control on.
branch of Congress. and the ablest modern
statesmen are playing q bold and desperate
game for the political control of the Govern.
msnt. Within the year two candidates will,
be nominated for the Presidency, and In,
people, in their sovereign capacity, will elect
a President and Vice President. and in mans
Of the States. as in Tennessee. elect a Cove
nor. COngressmen, members of the General
Assembly and important local officers. The
sblest talent Of the nation will be arrayed on
both sides. Every intelligent citizen. wbite
and colored. will desire to be informed from
day to day and week to week of what iseoinV
on. The Centennial of our Independence will
be inausura.e ed with imposing ceremonies AZ
Philadelphia. on the Fourth of July, in thu
presence Of thousands of people from ovO-v
State in the Union and representatives of tbs
principal nations on earth. 1t will be a year
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 tims,
and its readers will see the daily history OF
the world held up to the mirror" To,
latest news from all quarters will be prey.rt.a
IN a condensed form and such rommert
thereon as an intelligent view Of tho suhio,,
may suggest. The LEDGER is Of Tho r0orIo
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.
once to the dictum of politicians or the wis.
dom Of statesmen. We hold to tho old
fashioned theory-that the people are the
sOVsreisns' and all Ofico-holders public SER
wants to be rewarded only for a faith
fOfmsnce of duty within prescribe +.
and condemned for breach of trus
Of delegated covers. In future, as
past the LEDGER will be a bold. indie
n
democratic journal, standing b,y ito marty
when right but ever ready TO condemn nm.
worthy mon or measures 3. An earusst on
doaVor will be made during the present year
VOrr'c' aouse' 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 ever,
possible point without positive injury To- tbs
public service.
Issues of grave Importance will be S.oo;aoa
this year. Men and parties will be m ada and
unmade. and precOdents set up that will have
a great bearing upon the future 20 ItieaI his.
tory of tho country. AS a natio, of United
States We have made great p rorress. hut
whether we have preserved in tact the prin.
cipl's OF our ancient ConstitE .tion. is a ouss-
ton yet to be decided at the ballot-box
Whether We really govern ourselves or arc
governed by party, will be better known
Wien the voice of the people is heard NEXT
November. 1t will avail as little that we had
a Washington, a Jefferson and a jackson
the Government passes once mere into the
hands Of a purely partisan and sectional
administration.
In our columns will always be found a
choice variety Of original and selected mat
tor adapted to the general reader and the
family circle. and it is needless to say that
nothing will appear to offend the taste of the
most cultivated and refined. The several
departments Of the paper will be conducted
by experienced journalists who follow the
profession because thoy are in love with it,
and who appreciate public tastes and public
sensibilities. The LEDGER is Democratic. bot
eminontly conservative, and is ever ready IA.
give all sides and shades of opinion a fair
hearing The editorials will DO live and
pointed but carefully considerate.