Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-05-23
The Centennial Ledger

II
The prOpristor Of the Daily and Weekly
Memphis PUBLIC LEBeER announces with
pleasure and confidence that this paper en-
tors upOn the Centennial year Of our National
sI~isssnos Hithnbrishtsr prospects as a liv
Democratic and Conservative Family New
paper than ct n former period,
We are supplied with the best modern 70
cilitiss for publishing a newspaper and reaCh
d larger number Of readers than ever before.
The people are aroused to the Importance Of
he events now transporting. 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 pO-
liticai parties. For the FIRST time since 1850
tho Democrats and Conservatives control one
branch Of Congress, and the abIcst 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, win elect
q President and Vice President. and in many
Of tbsstatss, as in Tennessee, elect a Cove
nor. oOnSTessmen, members Of the General
Assembly and important local efioers. The
ablest talent of the nation will be arrayed on
both sides. Every intelligent citizen. white
and cOlOred, will desire to DO informed from
day to day and week to week of what is going
on. The Centennial Of our Independence will
be inausuratod 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 year
full Of stirring events, an upheaval and COM
m~inslins Of the masses not to be witnessed
again for a life time.
The LEDsER will keep abreast of the timer,
and It's readers will see the daily history of
the world "heId up to the mirror" The
lateStnews from all quarters will be IRE sopted
in a condensed form and such comment
thereon as an intelligent view Of the subject
may suggest. The LEDGER is of the peopIo
and for the people. and in full sympathy with
the laboring and tax. paying masses. Their
Judgment and their instructive conclusions
when ascertained will DO accepted in prefer
enee 10 the dictum of politicians or the wis
dom Of statesmen. We hold TO the old
fashioned t~heory-that the people are the
sovereisns, and all o~fice-holdcrs public SCR
vants. to DO rewarded only for a faithful por-
fOrmance of duty within prescribed limit
and condemned for breach of trust or n, -,
Of delegated powers. In future, a. ~ ,bo
past the LEDGER will be bold, i'ndopeudeut
Democratic journal, standing bv IT, marty
when right. but ever ready to condemn un.
worthy men or measuyr An oorros. an,
d'ay0T will be made ',urins tho present veal
2 eOFr'c' abuses IN public places. to brins
about as strict and careful management o,
the peoples loney as in a successful private
business To this end we shall continue to
labor, . rEing economy and reform at every
possible point without positive injury to the
prblic service.
Issues of grave importance will be- decided
this year. Mon and parties will be mado and
unmsde, and precedents set up that will have
a great bearing upon the future political his.
tory of the country. AS a nation of United
States We have made great progress, but
whether we have preserved intact the prin.
ciplsa Of our ancient Constitution, is a Quos.
ton yet to be decided at the ballot-box.
Whether We really govern ourselves or are
governed BY party, will be better known
whom the voice Of the people is heard next
November. It will avail us little that We had
a Washington, a jefferson and a jackson Il
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.
ter adapted to the general reader and tho
family circle. and it is needless to say that
nothing win 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
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