Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-08-23
The Centennial Ledger

Memphis PUBLIC LEDsER announces with
pleasure and confidence that this paper en-
ters 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
cilities for publishing a newspaper and reach
a larger number of readers than ever before.
The people are aroused to the Importance OF
the evonts now transpiring. as we'll as those
that happened a hundred years ago. Tho
unusual spectacle is presented to the country
of the upper and lower Houses in Congress
being controlled respectively by opposite po-
htical parties. For the first time since 1860
the Democrats and Conservatives control ons
branch of Congress. and the ablest modern
statesmen are playing a bold and desperate
for the political control of the Govern.
msnt. Within the year W candidates will.
BIO nominated for tho Presidency, and tn,
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. Congressmen. members of the General
Assembly and important local officers. The
ablest talent of the nation will be arrayed on
both sides. Every intelligent citizen, white
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 inaugura.ed with imposing ceremonies at
Philadelphia. on the Fourth of July, in tho
presence of thousands of people from every
State in the Union and representatives of thu
principal nations on earth. 1t will be a year
full of stirring events. an upheavh and COM
mingling of the masses not to be Witnessed
again for a life time.
The LEDGER will keep abreast of the Tina.
and its readers will sec the daily history Of
the world "held up to the mirror" The
latest news from all quarters will be- rreseptea
in a condensed form and such comment
thereon as an intelligent view of the subject
may suggest. The LEDGER is Of tho poopl.
and for the people, and in full sympathy with
the labOring and tax paying masses. Their
Judgment and their instructive &conclusion.
when ascertained will be accepted in prefer
enco to the dictum of politicians rthe wis
dom of statesmen. We hold To the old
fashioned t~heory-that the people are tho
sOvereigns, and all Ofice-holders public ser
wants. to be rewarded only for a faith
formance of duty within prescribe Z
and condemned for breach of trus
Of delegated poWors. In future, as
past. the LEDGER will be a bold, indppendor
Democratic journal, standing by ito nortv
when right. but ever ready to condemn NO.
worthy men or measures. An earnest an.
deavOr will be made during the present wear
to correct abuses in public places. to brins
about as strict and careful MANAGEMENT ~
the peoples money as in a successful privato
business. To this end we shall continps 10
labor urging economy and reform at every
possible point without positive injury to the,
public service.
Issues of grave importance will be D so,d,s
this year. Men and parties will be mad. and
unmade. and precedents set up mat will b.vo
a great bearing upon the future p%oliticol HE.
tory of the country. As a nation OF Initial
states we have made great progress. but
whether we have Preserved infect the prin-
ciplGs of our ancient Constitution. is n ouos-
tion yet to be decided at the balIot-box-
Whether we really govern ourselves or aro
governed by party. will be better known
whom tho voice of the people is heard pext
November. It will avail us little that We had
a Washington, a Jefferson and a jackson
the Government passes once mere into the
Of a purely partisan and sectional
administration.
In our columns will always be found
choice variety Of original and selected mat
ter adapted to the general reader and ,bs
CIRCLE and it is needless to say that
nothing will appear to offend the taste of tho
most cultivated and refined. The several
departments of the paper will bo conducted
by experienced journalists who follow tho,
because they are in love with !,
and who appreciate public tastes and nnh,i,,
'0n'iOilitiO'. The LEDGER is Democratic. but
ominently conservative. and is ever ready n,
give all sides and shades of opinion a bir
The editorials will be I've ao6
but carefully cOnsiderats.