Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-01
THE LTDoERls ANNTvFRsARY

The first number Of the Memphis
Daily PUBLIC LEDGER was issued
September |, 1865, just sixteen years
ago to-day. During the greater part
ofthe time since it has been under its
present proprietorship and direction.
Many momentous events have boen
recorded and great changes have taken
place. The paper was founded soon
after great civil war, when excite
ment and passion still ran high, and
the Southern States lay prostrate as
so many conquered lcsiIces e
refer to this only to draw pleasant
contrast rather than to trace the course
OF events during these chaugeful six
teen years. 1t is sufficient to say and
to know that constitutional govern
meut has been restored, that the
rights Of person and property arc
secured by law alike in every State,
and that all differences have been ad-
iusted in favor Of common country
and a common flag Loyalty and good
citizenship belong to no particular
locality. The Southern States are
equals in the Union and the race
OF life is open and free to
every man according to his
aspirations aud capacity. The
classes that are supposed to direct
public affairs by virtue OF intelligence
or wealth, recognize that the laborer
is worthy of his hire and that even
the OK that treadeth out the grain
should not be muzzled. The growth
and uniform diffusion Of national
sentiment, the decadance Of prejudice
and sec.ionalism, and the community
Of thought and interest that amount
to a governing moral force, are
things which we all see, admit and
feel 1t has been the singular fortune
Of this journal to record these gradu
al. but positive changes, as we'll as to
stand by the progressive side OF public
questions, to put off old things and
put on the new, in a political sense.
We who fought through the war with
Zollicolier, Carroll, Sidney Johnston
and Marmaduke, Price, Beaurcgard,
Bragg and 10 Johnston, Hood, Chalm-
ers, Oheatham, Claiborne, Bate and For
rest and all the heroic leaders Of that
struggle have lived within few years
seemingly to see a completely restored
country, and to enjoy all that is
worth living for or seeking.
The country at large is indebted,
in a great degree, to the press for this
sudden dawn Of good feeling and per-
feet understanding. And if this
paper, in its plain, earnest way Of
stating facts and discussing questions
Of public concern, has stimulated its
readers to grasp broader i,leas, to get
out Of the ruts Of sell. conceit aud pro-
viucialism, and to take start on a
higher plane, it hascertainly not labor
ed invain. Having opinions,w we express
them openly, courteously, fsarlessly.
We arc for a free ballot and fair
count not only at the ballot box, but
in polling public opinion and encour-
aging all that tends to promote the
welfare Of the MASSES. The LEDGER as
q principle takes sidesupon current is
sues. Without pleasing everybody it
has enjoyed generous support, has
filed quite a place in journalism, and
without the intention to be egotistic,
can say that it has outliyed fully
a dozen Of its city cotempOraries. 1t
is more prosperous lhan ever before,
and occupies very wide field. As
theopportunities for usefulness widen
aud increase, it shall be our aim to
serve the public faithfully and to
illustrate the uses and utility Of intel
ligent conscientious journalism. We
have friends to reward, certainly to
remember kindly, but no enemies 10
punish The future is full of promise
to all who grasp practically at the
marvelously progressive tendencies Of
this forward age, and the LEDGER
hopes ever to be found in the front.