Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-06-15
The Centennial Ledger

Memphis PUaLIc LHDOHR announces with
pleasure md confidence that this paper en-
tors upda 10 Centennial year Of our National
sIiutsnSs yithKbriGhtes prospects as . nv
Democratic and Conservative Family New
paper than at any former period.
We arc supplied with the best modern IA
c%ilitiss TOR publishing : Newspaper and reach
q larger unbsr of readers than ever before.
The people are aroused to the Importance Of
the events now trAnspirins. as well as those
that happened = hundred years ago. The
unusual spectacle is presented to the country
Of the upper and lower Houses in Congress
being controlled respectively By opposite pO-
ltical parties. For the first time since 1850
the Democrats and Conservatives control one
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 the
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. cOnsrossmen. members Of the General
Assembly and important local officers. The
ablsst talent Of the nation will be arraysd on
both sides. Every intelligent citizen, white
and OOlOred. 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 inauEuratsd with imposing ceremonies at
Philadelphia, on the Fourth of July. in the
presence Of Thousands of people from every
Stats in the Union and representatives of the
principal nations on earth. 1t will bo a year
full Of stirring events. an uphsaval and COM
minslinE 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 ''hsld up to the mirror" The
latest news from all quarters will be presented
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. TheiI
judgment and their instructive c~onclusio IA
= when aScertained will be accepted in prefer
ence to the dictum Of politicians or tie wis
dom Of statesmen. We hold to the old
fashioned theOry-that the people are the
sovsreigns, and all Ofice-holders public SER
wants. to be rewarded only for d faithful per-
formAnOe 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 a bold, independent
Democratic Journal, standing by its party
when right. but ever ready to condemn un-
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
5 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 United
statoH We have made great progress. bui
whether We have preserved intact the prin.
ciplss Of our ancient Constitution. ia n ones
ton yet to be decided at the ballot-box.
Whether we really govern ourselves or ar,
governed By party, will be better known
when the voice of the people is heard psx
% November. It will avail us little that we haG
a Washington. a Jefferson and a jackson
the Government passes once mere into tn,
hands Of a purely partisan and sectiona
administration.
In our columns will always be found a
choice variety of original and selected mat
ter adapted to the general reader and tb,
family circle. and it is needless to say that
nothing will appear to offend the taste Of tn,
most cultivated and refined. The severn
departments of the paper will be COnducte
By experienced journalists who follow III
profession because they are in love with it
-. and who appreciate public tastes and publi
scnsibilitisa. The LEDOnR is Democratic. ba
smincntly conservative. and is ever ready i
give all sides and shades Of opinion a fai
IN hearing. The editorials will bs live an,
pointed, but carefully OOnsiderate.
Much space viii be dsvoted "a loso, -