Year: 1876

-
paper than at any former period.
Weare supplied with the best modern ia


cilities for publishing newspaper and reach
a larger number of readers than ever before.
The people are aroused TO the Importance Of


the events Aow tranIpiring. 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 1860


the Democrats and Conservatives control ono


branch of Congress, and the ablest modern


statesmen are playing bold and desperate


game for the political control of the Govern.


nent. Within the year two candidates will


be nominated for the Presidency, and tho


people, in their sovereign capacity, will elect
| a President and Vice President. and in many


Of the States, as in Tennessee, elect a Cover


nor. Congressman. members. of the General
! Assembly and important local officers. The


ablest talent of the natien will be arrayed on


both sides. Every intelligent citizen, white


and cOlared. 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 inausuratsd with imposing ceremonies at


Philadelpbia. on the Fourth of July, in tho


presence of thousands Of people from every


State in the Union and representatives of tho


principal nations Oh earth, twill be year
full Of stirring events. an uphsaval and COM
ninslins Of the masses not to be witnessed
again Cor a life time.


The LEDsER will keep abreast of the times.
and It's readers will see the daily history Of
the world held 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 lEboring and tax paying masses. Their
Judgment and their instructive conclusions
when ascertainsd will be accepted in prefer
ence to the dictum Of politicians or the wis
dom of statesmen. We hold 10 the old
fashioned theOry-thAt the people are the
sovereigns. and sll ofico-holders public ser
wants, to be rewarded only for faithful per-
Torrance 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 bold, independent
Democratic journal. standing by its party
when right. but ever ready to condemn an
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
business. To this end we shall continue to
labor. urging economy and reform at every
possible point without positiyo injury to tho
public service.


Issues Of grave importance will be decided
this year. Men and parties will bO made and
unmade, and precedsnts set up that will have
great bearing upon the future political his.
tory of the country. As natien of United
States we have made great progress, but
whether we have preserved intact tSe prin-
ciples of our ancient Constitution. is ques-
tiOn yet to be decided at the ballot-box.
Whether wO really govern ourselves or are
governed by party. will be better known
when the voice of the people is heard next
November. twill avail US little tina! we had
a Washington, jefferson and Jackson il
the Government passes once mere into the
hands Of purely partisan and sectional
administration.


In our columns will always be found
choice variety of original and selected mat
tor adapted to the general reader and tho
family 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 be conducted
By experienced journalists who follow the
profession because they are in love with it.
and who appreciate public tastes and public
ssnsibilities. The LRDeKR is Democratic. but
eminently conservative. and is ever ready to
give all sideS and shades of opinion fair
hearing. The editorials will be live and
pointed, but carefully considerato.


Much space will be devoted to local news
and topics. Full and accurate river and
market reports will be given each day. Apd
it will be our constant aim to give the latest