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WeeMji
VOLUME XCV
(JM)KGIA AGRICULTURISTS.
»PRII«a(UIII» Off THK KTATK AURI*
tt'triKAL SOCIETY.
AMresaee of Welcome—Response Ilf Hon.
U. 1.. Peck —The Presldeni'e Annuel
Address.
The annual meeting of the State Agricul
tural Society commenced yesterday, at ten
o'clock, at Market Hail. There were a large
number of delegates in attendance. The
President, Hon. Tnomas Hardeman, presid
ed. The Secretary, Mr. E. C. Grier, was
present.
Tl.e Convention waa called to order by the
President, Col. Tbos. Hardeman. The pro
ceedings were opened with prayer by Rev.
W. W. Landrum. Maj. W. T. Gary wel
comed the delegatee to Augusta on behalf
of the authorities and tuc people.
W. H. Fleming, Eaq., welcomed the Con
vention on the part of the Richmond Coun
ty Agricultural Club.
The President eaid the responses to the
addresses of welcome would be delivered by
an honest tiller of the soil, the Hon. W. L.
Peek, of Rockdale. [Applause, j
Mr. Peek spoke as follows :
Uentlemei) of the City of Awjvata anil the liich
■>nr>nd County A‘iric>ittnral Society :
I rise in bebalt of the farmers of Georgia
to thank you for the kind welcome that yon
have given us to your city and county. We
knew before we came among you that your
city and county were composed of great sod
liberal people, and, therefore, we did not
la.am, y'M are noted, gentle- I
men. for fostering any and all enterprises
that have for their object the good of the
State and agriculture, and successful agri
culture underlies the success of every
thing else. We are here for our mutual
benefit. We are no selfish set. We
ate not among yon as independents, but
we rre the regular organized, grand council
of Georgia. Neither are we, as it was once
said, toting our own skillet; but we are here
carrying the big pot of the State, not to '
simmer it Sown to cit'on alone, but to make
it bod withbscon and beef of our own pro- ■
Ruction. We have come among yon to sea
Sf wo can fall on a plan by which the feet of
th# farmers of Georgia may be moved out 1
of the mire of debt and placed upon a :
rock of independence and plenty. We have *
not come here to boast of our 800,000 ■
bales, when we are without corn and mnles. i
Neither do we wish to picture a future, I
when we will produce a million of biles, ■
when we iziil have to beg our bread to do !
it. But we are here to point you to a day ;
when Georgia will produce enough supplies
for her entire population, and cotton only
as a money crop. Here hinges our destiny, i
and while'yon have been so kind to us as to
invito us to your city and county and to !
break bread with you, we are sorry to say
that we have no lamb or kid to bring you,
noth'ng but a few bales of cotton, and they
•with tb’e bottom knocked out to pay the in- I
tere>:t on what we owe. But gentlemen, we
are here to find a Moses who will lead ns
out of this land of debt, out of this land of
mud, and no straw, out of this land of mort- .
gages, out of this land of liens, out
of this land of bonds, out of this i
land of deeds, into a land where j
we can read our titles clear. Yes,
gentlemen, may we profit by the pest and
i»‘iy the farmers of Georgia take the road to
independence. Then this grand old Btate
of onra will furnish the shiboletb of the
South.
And now, gentlemen, allow me again to ’
return to you the thanks of Georgia for '
your kindness, ami may the city of Augusta
and the county of Richmond have one un
broken line of prosperity nntil yourpopnla- I
tion inefeaaas to a million and your wealth
to millions upon top of million*.
The roll of delegate* was called and per- I
feeted. The following answered to their j
names: i
Baker—W. W. Williams. J. W, Thayer, i
8. J. Livingston.
Baldwin—W. C. Furman, T. W. Turk, C. 11
O. Ramsey. I ;
Bartow -A. F. Wooley, N. C. Sayre, Gen. • i
P. M. B. Yonng. : I
Beech Island—H. L. Mason, W. W. Mil- i
ler. B. T. Page. <
Bibb County—J. K. Johnson, Lucius I i
Lundy. J. W. Davis. ; <
Brooks —Jas. Thorn, MF. Hog in, J. B p
'Groover. ; 1
Bryan J. M. Reives, P. W. Williams. ■ i
, Catoosa -E. P. Harris, B. F. Harris, R. A. i
Wtory.
Campbell T. F. Mixon, J. T. Beckman, j 1
Carroll—H. R. Ragan, N. T. Skinner, 8. j 1
J. Brown. i <
Cherokee—W. H. Perkeneon, M. 8 ' <
Paden. >
Clay—D. F. Gunn, P. E. Grice, J. H. i i
Sutton. ' >
Cobb —J. T. Martin. Gen. Win. Phillips. I I
Decatur—Wm. B. McDaniel, C. L Mar- I <
tin. E. O. Munnerlyn. <
DeKalb—T. T. Kev, J. R. Cobb. <
.Effingham —J. D. Groover. <
E.'bert -H. R. Deadwyler. 1
Floyd —J. D. Gilliard, W. G. Gammen, <
J. D. Montgomery. I
Franklin -H. V. Nelms, L. K. Barnes, i >
J. F. Willis. 1
Clayton-R. W. 0. Green. ; I
Folton —M. L. Mangum, R. W. Jones, I ;
Dr. 8. nape. i J
Glynn —A. T. Putnam, LJ. Colson. ■ <
Gwinnett-R. D. Winn, Dr. M. Richard- I i
son. e
Henry— C. T. Zichry, R. H. Hightower.
M. E. Berry. ’
Houston E. Fagan, Dr. Edgeworth. I
Jackson P. M. Elder. i
.Zoffanon—J. N. Oliphant. R. H. Chop- <
peta ir, A. M. Allen. «
Liberty—B. B. Rustin, Dr. Uenrv. <
Lowndes—J. A. Dasher, J. H. Zant, M. i
M. Brinnon. I i
Macon —E. B. Baldwin, T. 8. Martin, Wm. . !
Williford. I
Madison—Y. A. Daniel, L W. Collier, J. I t
H. Eberhart. I
Mooroe—P. J. Cheeves, L. A. Ponder, I t
J. H. Sutton. f
Montgomery—J. C. Clements. i t
Morgan— W. H. Baldwin, U. D. Perry, i
J. H. Greggs. „ <
Mwscogee— G. E. Thomas, G. E. Chand- i
ler. j i
Newtou—P. G. Turner, J. B. Graham, J. *
W. King, J. E. McConnell.
Pike—W. J. Fincher.
Pulaski-J. P. Brown. 1
Putnam—J. C. Coles, J. M. Williams, A. i ‘
A. Dunham.
Richmond Jno. Uhl. J. L. Fleming. W. I '
I. Delph, V. J. Murah.
Rockdale—A. C. Harden, W. S. Neal. W. ! '
L. Peek. A. J. Smith, A. B. Daniel, J. W. ’ 1
•Granada. , 1
Schley —R. O. Meadows, J. M. Seirbor-j '
ongh. I 1
Spaulding -W. W. Woodruff.
Sumter—W. A. Wilson, Dr. T. H. Stew- ■
art, J. W. W neatley.
Talbot W. R. Neal, H. A. Lumsden. I'
Jos. F. Little.
Tei/air—A-J-Graham, W. H. Clements,
T. J. ebuilh.
Terrell M. P. Hoyle, E Belflour, J. H.
Guerry. W, C Paschal, G. W. Cheeves.
Troupe-C. W. Mabry, T. H. Whittaker, ;
H. E. Carey.
Upson—Thomas J. Nelson, R. F. McFar
lin.
Wanes—J. L Johnson, i) W. Rogers.
Washington -Thomas Worifcern, 8. B.
Jones, A. L. Roughton.
Atlanta Pomological Society—R. I. Red
ding, S. T. Jenkins.
estate Horticultural Societ y - Dr. W. B. '
Jones, T. L Kinsey.
Thonigs County Stock Breeders' Aasocia- I
tion K Skinner, W. W. Alexander, H. i
W. Hopkins.
j i-ife Members.
H J. Peters, H. £. Benson. L. A. J.rdan. j
H F. Park. Macon W. H. Felton, W. H.
Re<Wk?. J. D. Frederick, C. R. Keene, Mar
shaHvtße; 8. W. Bloodworth, S. H Wilson, j
Griffin; JDf- P- H. Mell, Athens;O.C. Horn.
Hawkinsville; D. B Harrell, Preston: E. T.
Morton, GriMroldville; George H. Waring, j
Cement: O. C. Cleveland, Dawson; Benj :
Millikin. Holmewsjlle: H. L. Long.
Col. Th# Har.ieMJ. President, Macon;
Col. T. <1- Holt. Macon ;»E. C.
Grier, Secretary. Griswol.ix.Ue; Daniel Me- .
o*ll, Yice-Preeideut. Bainbna*?, Second
.district; J. H. Black. Vice-Presides, Ameri- ,
Third District; J. H. Fannin. Vise
pendent, LaGrange, Fourth District; L F.
Livitx ««ton, Vice-President, Covington, Sixth
Distric J- H. Camp, Vice-President, Rome,
Seventh District; M. C. Fulton, lice-Uresi
dent, Tht mson - Eighth District; Dr. P. i
stoteeburv A. F. Rahn, Spring
field. Fimt’ Du‘«o<: Thomas W Fleming,
Newton. Second District; John Mcßae. No.
lOW. Macon and Brunswick Railroad, M.
J. Hatcher, Maishah. llle - Third District;
M. R. Russell, Carrollton, H. H. Cary, La-
Grange, J. M. Moblev. HaC****®. Fl -? nr ' h
District; R. J. Powell', Barnes
Boyd, Griffin. Fifth District; Jets Hollis,
Msexiu. T. F. Newell, Milledgeville.
District; Fierce Home. Dalton. John P- f
Waddell. Cedartown, Seventh District: r. ’
J. Berckmane. Augusta, W. M. Browne, <
Athens, Ninth District.
The President read a communication
from the Souttem World, published at At
lanta. offering premiums to boys under 16
years of age for the best yield of certain
crops-
The Convention adjourned until 3, p. m.
,001. Thomas Hardeman, President of the
Soeis'ty, delivered his annual address, as j
follows:
of the Gmttntion :
A abort, but comprehensive lesson is
.found in that simple injunction of Pope
-■Know then thy self." It addresses itself
forcibly to man in every vocation in life
' aid to n° °° e - with more earnestness of
exhortation and power of suggestive ex-
Mnm&uon, than to the agriculturists of
Georgia. A revolution of conflicting
efleaß-nta and warring sections has been
Boeceeded by a revolution of industries, of
labor syetema, of society organization and
individual responsibilities, which has, in a
great degree, left thenl in a new civiliza
tion or if in the old, with such altered
surroundings, that they have not fully
realize,! whether they belong to the old or
the new, to the dead past or the living
nresant. Wandering through the mazes
of this uncertain state; finding here and
there a landmark ot the past, among the
' linger boards of the present, that are point
ing in a direction opposite to tnat in
which they are wont to tread, they sit
down in confusion, afraid to pursue ttie
almost abandoned paths their fathers trod
and yet hesitating whether to diverge into
those new ones, whose courses have been
blazed by bold pioneers and along which j
science has suspended her beacon lamps to
guide their tooteteps. Behind them are
tne ruined fortunes of the past; around
them arc the surroundings of the present,
threatening and dark; before them, dimly
outline.! m the future, are the wrecks
of venture and speculation left by those i
who. regardless of warnings and teachings,
attempted to master the new by the effete j
processes of the old. In this dilemma many 1
are found to-day, unwilling to recede, yet .
reluctant because of old associations, oil
habits and former teachings to enter those
new avenues that the present and future is ]
opening and will open before them. A j
proper solution of the difficulty that snr- i
rounds them is the fact they know not them- i
and in their ignorance of selves they j
are unwilling to attempt a solution of the I
industrial problem of the present. This
ignorance of self, makes the planter his oicn
enemy, and this I shall attempt to show to
day. If self-preservation is an evidence of I
i self-love, its converse (self-destruction) :
should be conclusive of enmitv to self. The j
one guards with watchful fidelity every in
terest - protects person and property from
harm or injury; the other invites misfor
tune, dallies with danger, trifles with provi
dence, neglects opportunities, and in the
wantonness of cruelty places in its bosom
»n asp. that will poison its life blood. As
•the surgeon applies the scalpel to the un
sound limb to restore the patient to health,
so if in my plain practice I wound to-day.
j believe me, I do so only to heal; and if I
use not the knife of the skillful operator it
will be because, in my ignoTance, I may I
• think the blister of the apothecary will re- I
store to healthy vitality the diseased organs j
es the patient.
I assert first: That man is an enemy to I
himself who persistently follows a course I 1
• that destroys his independence, mars his j
peace of mind and adds nothing or but lit- I 1
tie to his income or his happiness. Are i
any of our farmers pursuing this policy -i ! 1
Important querry ' More important the ■ !
answer. I think that no well informed j I
man will deny that the system now prac- I *
ticed by many of them is subject to the i 1
criticism I Lave made, and may be justly ’ *
styled a suicidal one—destroying at once ' 1
their independence and prosperity. Inde- : *
pendence is defined a state in which a per- ; 1
son does not rely upon others for subsis- *
fence—a complete exemption from the con- '
trol or power of others. How many farm- *
ere of Georgia can lav claim to this inde- *
pendent position? How many of them, ’
under a damaging system of credit farming, '
make the merchant’Kstore house their com- f
missariat and the banker’s accommodation H
their only means of maintenance? Verily, a
how many in our State, upon an examination c
of barns and larders, would be found subject r
to criticism - I will not say indictment-un- 8
der that section of the Code, which speaks
of those •’ having no visible moans of sup- *
port” Have onr people ever considered
if, under the uncertain operat'ons of exist- t
ing laws, or the inability or unwillingness | '
of capitalists, credit should suddenly I y
ba withheld and accommodations bs ’
be denied, what would be the condi- I r
tion of thousands of farmers in Georgia? I ’
With bnt little corn in the cribs and no ba- I 1
con in the smoke houses, hard, hard iudeed i I
would be the contest for subsistence and ; 1
the struggle for bread. And year after | e
year cotton is almost exclusively cultivated, ■ 0
while scanty corn supplies are drafted into j t
the barns and rations of meat are issued in 8
proportion to the mortgage capacitiesiof the 11
purchasers. Is that man a friend to him- I
self, who, having land and depends E
upon others to furnish him and them with I
subsistence? Say not under the new civil- 0
ization it is cheaper to purchase than to 0
raise these supplies. This is only nu un- 8
satisfactory excuse for the ruinous policy 8
yon are pursuing, for I assert that the cost 8
of transportation of a bushel of corn or oats ?
from the granaries of the West to the barn
yard of the farmer, added to the interest c
charged for your credit, would pay for rais- c
ing the sime, thereby saving to the pur- a
chaser the prime cost of the supplies; but
say you, this would be otherwise but for c
th# exactions of the merchant. This, to b
some extent, would be true, bnt who is re- h
sponsible tor this condition of dependence ’
upon merchants, and when do you expect ft
the exactions you complain of will cease? c
I answer for you Your system lives upon 1
eredit, and exactions will follow credit, in c
every industry and profession, as long as a
mnn can speculate npon the necessities of
man. Joseph and his brethren—real char
acters in the centuries gone—only 81
typified many in this onr day w
and generation. Theas exactions are not °
confined to merchants alone. They are tl
characteristic of onr fallen nature in every ®
calling in life; and the farmer of to day < s
finds himself in the condition of the Jews J
during the reign of Nehemiah, who, after ?
having “mortgaged their lands, vineyards >'
and houses, that tbeyiuight buy corn,’ and w
having "borrowed money tor the Ring’s n
tribute, and that *pon their lands and vine
yanU'' i under a crop lieu, I imagine), com- F
nlaine l heavily of their inability to re- 81
deem them because of the usurious de- ©
man.ls pf the rulers spd nobles. Ex- P
actions were of ancient origin, end have h
existed, and will exist whenever and 9
wherever human necessities invite and will L
bear them. Are they imposed upon you 1 I
and do they paralyze your industry and 1
consume your earnings ? Then yon are i tl
enemies to yourselves if, having tliu reuie- y
dy iu your own hands, you refuse to apply ! a
it. Censure not longer the hand that gives, ; n
if you invite and willingly receive theblqjv. I 81
Stop the opportunity to crush, and exac-! w
tions will erase. Feed yourselves, and your e
supplies will not smack of usury, nor your i<
larder be tilled with meat that savers of ex- a
tortion. Let Faui plant, and God will a
give the increase. Think not 1 would de- a
stroy credit - far from it -for credit, based i r
upon the ability and willingness to pay, is • b
the life blood of commerce; but. credit ex- | 8
acted from the necessities of humanity I a
and the sweat of the poor is danger- J 1
ou« in theory and destructive in prac-'t
ties. But suppose credit has not en- ' b
tirely failed, but by some forcing pro- 1 8
cess you couid command some, but i a
owing Co acme cause crops failed if) those ' v
sections, from which your supplies were j c
expected, what would be the condition of i t
those dependents, who looked to a distant ' t
Egypt for corn? 1 will not answer will I c
only say, there are no Josephs in ‘Egypt 1 11
now, suit the sacks you send, if scantily fill- j a
ed with money, will be returned as scantily c
filled with corn, isaving you with means j fi
exhausted aud necessities poorly supplied. . v
But if this dependence is damaging io your | t
interest, how much more so is jt to your in- f
dependence of mtion an l your manhood ? 8
Are you freemen, when you »rs manacled t
with obligations to others, forged by yegr i
own necessities? Are you freeholders— 9
owning the land from which you should i
gain subsistence and independence —or are i '
you simply tenants by sufferance, liable to • t
be ejected on failure to meet your mortgige ; *
obligations) Ara ywu the regulator of >
your own actions, the controller us the fruits 1 c
of your own. toil, when all you haye is pledg <
ed for bread and all you make is disposed 6
of at prices ruling at tne time of the mnturi- ’
ty of your promisee to pay ? God deliver «
me. my countrymen, from that salt-imposed S
dapendence that will make me a “hewer of , [
wood aud 3 drawer of water" to him whose ' i
i “yes" to my aupplieations in my necessities j i
is often coupled wni. humiliating exactions, <
ami whose emphatic "no 1 ' clones my barns i
and circumscribes my op*Hious. I speak I
! to-day to tim .Ttxiit farmers ot Georgia | 1
to the corn mij buying agriculturists. , I
' Ara you n >t enemies to yourselves to pur- i 1
sue longer thia ruinous policy ? Deceive ■ i
. not yourselves and your umihes in obtain- ’
ing for them these bkrsings—if blessings j ’
you call them—for though Esau s hand is ; <
i counterfeited in securing them, Jacob’s ; :
I voise is recognized in the deceptive transae- I
I tion. They‘ar.' apt blessings, my country- 1
men. Providenv? didiMl y°o this fair
' land of nuns, that you should ££i to Egypt j •
■ for corn; it wm givoa you io feed and eus-} 1
1 tain you, and you parsert [he object ot the I
j gift when you fail to do this. By the sweat •
>of your brow—ye shall eat bread, is tlie litw
of Heavem—written by God's owti hands on
the jsnd he gave you as nnmistikiably as
were the taw* on the stonay tablet. Pervert
it, if you will, employ ather agencies than
: you are commanded to use, tu llje end they
will gome to misfortune. The pavers ob-
■ taitmd wRI be waters of Meribah, in ae- i
; curing, which, «mttlmry to Heaven’s decree. ‘
I you are debarring yewrseijoe from entering |
the Canaan of your hopes. That land you >
may think lies sisewhere, and you may i
send a man from every tribe “to spv out” j
the promised Canaan and 'seethe land*
what it is, and they may journey from Zion
unto Rehab, from Hebron unto Eschol
t brook, and though they bring b.ack figs and ,
’ pomegranites «ud grapes of EschoJ, they :
< will bring also «vil report of the
• land, IM the cities at<? walled in j
and the sous of Anak are there j
and giants of apposition are in the way.” t
These retard our inarch here in this land of I
ours, but not more so thin in others asem
ingly more inviting. Il is the people as much ,
as it is the country that makes prosperity ;
and suoesgs. The thrifty man will be thrif-
Ity anywhere. The idle, the extravagant,
the non-progrsssire will be drones aud,
thriftless every whole. The dispositipn to I
emigrate from Georgia homes is prompted ,
by a want of activity and. -rLcouragod by !
farming without method, extravagance, ,
based upon credit too easily obtained, aed .
a criminal refusal to hasp up'with the pro- ‘
gressive spirit of the age. I'iic land of pros- i
perity is only entered through tin gates of j
difficulty, and the fxniu of success are only .
gathered by hands who labored to raise ’
them. And he who emers that land, with
its fruits and its milk and honey,must do so
i through those well guarded gates, so» jf he
attempts any other entrance he will be
I smitten by Amalakite creditors and Csnna-'
nite extortioners. A well adjusted system
r of farming, regulated by enlightened cul-
I tare and carried on by all the improvements
? of modern invention, will insure success an 4
1 prevent emigration; it wjll flll the store
? houses with provisions, the barn with ce
- reals, the coffers with money and homes
i with comfort and contentment. Emigration
t will then cease and mortgage liens will be
• clause.! among the criminal follies of the past.
I Homes without household comforts have
> no attractions for the young; homes with
i out supplies and support for man and
i j beast have no permanent hold on the affec- (
> tions of either young or old. Are you sur-
■ pnsed that the ambitious boy or the tbnft-
I less man desires to abandon such homes and
seek others in the imaginary Eldoradoes of
the West '' It is otherwise with self-sus-
> taining homes, where plenty crowns the
board* and intelligence illumines the hearth
stones. "Who ever heard,” said an essay-
i ist before my county scciety, “of a farmer
• ' moving to Texas who had a crib full of
. corn ? Who ever heard of a man going into
! bankruptcy, or being sold out under a crop
: lien, with a crib full of corn?” Who ever
heard of a farmer being ground between
i the upper and nether mill stone of want
and usury, with a crib full of corn ? Who
j ever saw a mortgage mule—that special ob
i ject of care of the philanthropic Bergh -
I being fi. fried from a crib full of corn?
Self-supporting countries only furnish ■
I cribs full of corn. I* liked to have said
! a crib full of ear cotn. That is su- j
perfluons; for who ever heard of a;
I crib full of sacked corn? Agricultural sta- |
tistics do not record it; for, like the teach-i
ings of the Prophet to Ephriam, it is only ;
“here a little and there a little” in the con
tracted barns of the cotfntry, and that little
too often unfit for the consumer’s use. My
friends, have you ever analyzed a bushel
of credit raised corn ? If not, send it
to the head of the economy depart
ment of your home government for in
spection, and his report npon it will ba
about as follows: It has very little soluble
matter that furnishes meat and bone; its
fertilizing—fattening properties extremely
• limited-reverted matter or elements that
are essential as plant food economi
cally smpplied. A total absence of the
ammonia of hospitality, because, owing
to the use of the lime of great
j cost, it has been set free; and being
I volatile is has escaped. While the total
available is about 90 cents the commercial
i value, owing to credit prices of the ingre
; dieuts, is $1 30. It is not strange from the
; analysis that it is rarely given to fowls;
horses and mules do not find it a good appe
i tizing esculent, while the neglected hog
realizes too late it contains the seeds of
| cholera and death. From a system fur
nishing such corn, in the language of
the Litany, “good Lord deliver us.”
These are Canaan s. and these only,
for bought supplies have not the sa
vor of “milk and honey," and credit
farming makes no wilderness blossom as i
the rose. Joy builds no altar in a home of ’
want; happiness gladdens no heart where
independence is banished—manhood is <
dwarfed and contentment estranged. The
sun risen Lehind a cloud, is faintly visible
at noonday through a hazy rift, then sets at
evening in tempest and storm. Night, J
night —a long night of sorrow and gloom
succeeds the day of darkness and cloud.
The farmer shows himself his own enemy,
by a refusal based upon prejudice, to avail
himself of the inventions and appliances '
that science is daily furnishing to lighten 1
his labors and advance his industry. Say
what we will of our present labor, I contend *
if properly’ managed and properly re
munerated, it is the best for the farmer he 1
will ever get. Still it is, must be apparent,
it is gradually passing away or becoming '
too independent to work, and it is a ques
tion the future will solve, whether the
education of the negro, under his false idea ,
of freedom, will not prove a curse rather
than a blessing, for he is educating his off- ’
spring to look upon manual labor as menial
and life as an existence only of picnics and 1
pleasures. These false teachings time aud '
necessity, aided by a generous pliilanthro
phy of the whites, may remedy, but iu view i
of their false ideas, it becomes the farmers '
of Georgia to avail themselves of every as- 1
sistancs—every labor saving factor —that 1
science furnishes for the cultivation of the J
soil. As labor becomes scarce or ineffi- ‘
cient, it must be substituted by labor-sav
ing machines, which will plow and sow and f
cultivate and reap, thereby lessening the 5
cost of production and in the same ratio
adding to the profits and income of the
farm. You have no longer a virgin soil that
can be opened yearly to cultivation. You
have no money to buy new lands, and you 1
have no longer labor you can control at 8
will; hence the necessity of concentrating
labor and means upon a narrower area for a
corresponding increase of yield per acre. ,
This can be affected by labor-saving ma- [
chines, with which our farmers generally f
are but little acquainted. Ho who visited fi
the Cotton Exposition must have been pain
fully impressed with the idea that we were
so ignorant of these inventions and aids J
which were so economically employed by
other agriculturists, who kept pace with c
the march of scientific and economic agri- c
culture. This is an age of progress. Science r
is taxing her powers to lighten man’s bur- j
dens and to perforin his labor. The work e
of hands—slow, toilsome and weary—is be- „
ing superseded by modern inventions and ?.
working machineß, aud ignorant prejudice
must no longer rejest them, if yon would fl
keep pace with your progressive industry.
Europe, under the teachings «f agricultural
science, has taken a step in advance of our c
country, and to-day steam, instead of horse t
power, is plowing her lands and reaping j
her harvests. Steam culture is now in suc
cessful oneration in England, Scotland, s
prance, Austria, Russia, Italy, Germany,
India, West Indies, Damarara and Peru, j
The steam plow may be ridiculed—so was a
the steam engine, which now transports v
your commerce, laughed at by the wagon n
and cart unbeliever; so were the spin- v
ning jenny and mule ridiculed by the
sceptical spinner of other days. Yet now s
we are moved by machinery and dress
ed and clothed by steam, and the day
is coming when steam and mechanical j
agencies to cheapen production will be
as important agencies in agriculture
as they are in commerce. Agricultu- •
ral science is progressing, and ho who
laughs at its march and rejects its as
sistance, is tampering with his interest c
and cheaply parting with his birthright. <
The mechanic who sticks to the hand saw,
the jack-pl me and the chisel—discarding (
the assistance of machinery and the use of
steam, is a journeyman in hie profession and
a patch-work jobber, while he who has kept
np with the wonderful progress in the me- <
chanic arts becomes the skillful artisan— l
the riuii inventor, (he developer of indus
tries and benefactor of his race. So he who (
clings to the hand loom and cotton cards j
of onr mother’s, cannot contend iu textile
and mechanical industry against the ma
chinery of the factory, which, under the 8
guidance of skillful operatives, does the i
work of many hands. As in these indus
tries, so in agriculture, science will per- (
form the work of hands, while natural (
agencies, under educated control, will cul- ‘ t
tivate your fields and gather your crops, j
Away then with your prejudices against ;
scientific, improvements, which are formed i
in ignorance and nursed, because they were |
unknown to your fathers. Science tells you 1
that rotation of props increases the produc- I
tiveness of your lands, and that “nothing is ,
more exhausting to the soil than repeated (
, croppings by the same product,” yet most ,
’of Our formers, from necessity under their ,
system, follow cotton with cotton and corn i
with a little corn, thereby exhausting their 1
soil aud crippling their industry. A: •
good example is set you by the (
i most successful agricultural countries
!iu Europe, of a rotation system (forced
!in some by statutory regulations) bien
i nial, triennial, and. in others, quadren
nial and each sue. essive year adds >
Ito the fertility of their soil. Besides im
i proving your soil this rotation system would
‘ give you"more cereals and better results, for
: I still adhere to an opinion given you years
! ago, that with cereals as the main crop and
i cotton the surplus, your profit account
i would be larger than under your present
' system- Would that I could impress upon
' you that it is more profitable to raise more
gg;in and less cotton than to raise all cotton
trebuy grain. Smail grain is cheaper and
more profitable, because' they require fewer i
I laborers, and therefore a smaller number on I
| the pay and supply roll, and is equally as .
jjood feed as corn; and be assured hog i
ch<?ier» js not an epidemic where these are I
grown in abunuancc, and stuck do not look
like a barn before the weather boarding is j
pul ou. Th ß agricultural statistics ot Eu- j
rope tell us ike immense population and I
stock of their moat progressive conn-)
triee subsist entirely on wheat, cats, .
rye, peas and root plants, and if they i
j are profitable there with their small j
■ acreage vaßt population, they can i
be equally so here, it least it is worthy of j
trial, for believe me, djversiusd farming,
aided by all the appliances science .can give, j
’is tin; surest road to success. But lastly i
< —farmers are enemies to their profession in !
j this —they underestimate and decry it.
‘ This is evidenced in the fact that few of i
then; study it and fewer still arc educat- ;
t ing their sons to master it. Rest assured .
there will be no grand success in any call- •
I ing or orolession lust does nut command •
I the love of those engaged in itiem. Suc
’ cess is the reward of and effort lß 9 I V 1
I ergizad by alove of the occupation in which
iwe labor. The maible would have remaiu
! ed untouched in the quarry and the world
would have never been entrusted with the
Jupiter of ehydias, the Greek Slave of Pow
! ers or the Apollo Eelyidere of the V atiean
i had sculpture posses’ea co ehsrms and
, I ccgimanded no pleasant hours vi for
those whose self-imposed labor has jusenb
: ■ ed their nim» upon tablets more lasting
than tbe marble upon which they worked.
i * The canvas would never have been animat
. ■ ad wjth the creative fancies of the painter, •
. i and lovers of art would never have enjoyed
i ; the grand concephcnof the Last Judgment
, of Michael Angelo or the expressive beauty
»: and grandnre of Raphael's transfiguration
j I had net their bosoms, filled with the soul of
j j nature, longed and studied to catch its
? J breathing spirit, that they might transfer
p ? to canras its deep passion and ideal exis
. teuce. The starry heavens would be re
, garded io-day as they were by the shep
herds of Galilee, had not Galilee and Jn-
9 piter. inspired by their love of science, re
j varied their mysteries and transcribed their
e language. The lightnings, acknowledging
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 22, 1882.
- no laws, useless and unserviceable, wou’d
> still wreathe our mountains with fiery gar
lands or leap from cloud to cloud amid
» l crashing thunder, es they did aronnd crag
gy Sinai, had not Franklin and Morse and
s j other scientists opened the doorways of the
-; skies and subjugated them to man’s will
I and necesßities. Science, inspired by her
-J triumphs, is breaking the sealsand opening
■ new books of earth and sea and sky. from
- whose pages are streaming the light of new
I discoveries for the elevation of man and
f • the glory of God. Astronomy is basking
■: in the light of new constellations. Philos
s ophy is augmenting her influence with
i the powers of new discoveries; mechanics
-, is utilizing to her glory and eleva
• ! tion the properties oi earth and the
f elements of Heaven. And shall agriculture,
■ that art and science which existed before
> I the flood and about which Moses wrote aud
which is the basis of every art and the life
i sustaining element of every science, be
snpplimented with no “fuller revelation”
i of the honors that crown its industry, of
the power that underlies the profession
and the distinction that may be attained in
its study and pursuit ? Are the yonng
! men of the country to be educated to the
j bi lief that laurels can only be won at the
; “bar and bench,” styled by Allison “the
j charnel house of genius,” when along the
i paths of other professions crowd honorable
i distinctions and vp° n .the many columns
in the temple of fame are written in
ineffaceable characters, the names of scien
tistii, mechanics, artiste, agriculturists and
professors, whose fame will be sounded
down the corridors of the ages ?' Away
with the idea that there is no. merit in
honorable labor and no distinction in
agricultural pursuits. Agricultural science
invites investigation and offers emoluments
and honors to the geologist, the chemist,
the botanist, ; he mineralogist, the physi
ologist, the philosopher who reveal its
mysteries and unfold its blessings. Seek
not to degrade yonr profession by cir
cumscribing its powers and influence,
for as a profession it embraces a vast field
of study and enters the domain of every
science. ’ Love, then, your calling; give to
it your energies add your hopes, and
honors and rewards await you. Love it,
because it is dignified, honorable, manly,
Heaven ordained. Study to build it up,
for it is the foundation stone upon which
is built all prosperity, all advancement, all
honor. These plain truths have been
spoken to you time and again; but verily
they have not lost their power or appeal by
age or repetition, for like the Sermon on
the Monpt, its blessings are as pronounced,
its exhortations are as urgent as they were
over eighteen centuries ago, when they
were spoken to the multitude from Galilee
and from Jerusalem and from beyond Jor
dan. Heed them and Heaven will smile
upon your labors and crown them with
riches and with honors.
Atternoon Mesalun.
The afternoon session commenced with i
an address by Mr. J. H. Fannin, of Li-1 1
Grange, “Observations on improved imple- I
meats and useful machinery at the recent
Cotton Exposition at Atlanta." i
Mr. Powell, of Pika, said he rose to ask
how the destruction of wheat and oats in I
Middle Georgia could be prevented. i
Mr. Gammon, of Floyd, addressed ths I
Convention in favor of oats as against corn, i
He related some verj’ interesting’ expert- ’
ments in oat culture. I
The President read the following com- ’
munication:
7o the Hon Ihos. Hardeman, President of the I
Georgia State Agricultural Society :
Mr Dear Sir—The Georgia Chemical I
Works, an institution of this county en- i
gaged in the manufacture of fertilizers for
home consumption, desires to invite the
members of the Agricultural Society to
visit and inspect its works and to examine
the details of its operations. Having sup- I
plied many of the members of your Society l
with its various brands of fertilizers for a
number of years, it hopes that they, as well j
as others interested in the farming interest
of this State, will make a personal examina i
tion of the establishment. If the Conven- i
tion will indicate at what time the members
can accept this invitation, transportation i
will be furnished to and from the works.
Very respectfully, i
[Signed] M, A. Siovall,
Treasurer Georgia Chemical Works. 1
The Convention then adjourned until 8, |
p. m., the night session being set down for <
an experience meeting. i
Experience Meeting.
At night there , was an experience meet
ing, of which Vice-President Fulton was
the Chairman. There was a free inter
change of opinion on the importance of
small grain crops.
Col. Winn, of Gwinnett, advised the
planters to plant more corn and raise their
own meat.
Air. Livingston, of Newton, said that in
corn raised in Illinois there was 34 per
cent, of fat producing substance and 17 of
muscle producing power. The reverse was
true of corn raised in Georgia. This prov
ed that God did not intend Geor
gia mules to ■be fed on Western
corn. The way to do was to plant
one-half in wheat and oats and. the
other half in cotton. A gentleman in South
Carolina, who owed a debt on his land, de
termined to stop planting cotton and plant
oats. He did so and in two years paid oft’
the whole debt and supported his family in
the meantime. s
Several other members spoke on the same
subject.
This morning there will ba an address
from Rev. Dr. A. J. Battle, of Macon, on the
subject “Beautifying Our Homes,” a subject
which particularly interests the ladies, who
are invited to be present. Seats will be pro
vided for their accommodation.
SECOND DAY OF THE SESSION OF THE
CONVENTION.
Marietta Selected Aa the Place for the Next
Meeting—Bee Culture—Experiments In
Farming Beautifying Our Homes—
Fence Or No Fence.
The Agricultural Convention was called to
order yesterday at 9:20, a. m., by Vioe-Preei
dent Livingston, of Newton.
After prayer by Rev. G. T. Goetchius, the
Convention proceeded to the regular order of
business.
Mr. Fulton moved that Col. Phillips, of Mari
etta, be added to the Alemoriul Committee. —
Adopted.
Gen. Horn, of Pulaski, moved that the place
of holding the next Annual Convention be se
lected.
Judge Fleming, of Baker, did not think it
always best to go out of tlie regular order of
business.
Gen. Phillips extended an invitation to the
Convention to meet at Marietta, the invitation
coming from the county of Cobb and from the
town of Marietta, asking the Convention to re
main not three days but one week, spending
part of the time with the farmers of Cobb and
part with the farmers ot Pickens.
Dr. J. A. Battle, of Macon, made a very
beautiful address on the subject, “Beautifying
our Homes.” Next toHeaven, the sweetest word
in our language was home, and the most beau
tiful idea of heaven was ihat which representd it
as a home. The South was entering a new
era ot domestic improvement. The institution
of slavery placed us at a great disadvantage as
to material improvement. Tne disadvantages
of it have been seen since its abolition by our
gradual progress. The homes of our people
under slavery continued to be of primitive
simplicity and rudeness. The entire time on
plantations was devoted to acquiring more
negroes and mules.
Excessive adornment is always in bad taste.
While wealtli is not necessary some experience
and art are necessary to the construction of
dwellings. People of small means can add in
expressibly to the adornment of dwellings by
the placing of plants, flowers and vines in I
rooms, windows and verandahs. It is bad !
taste to pla-e daubs of pictures on walls,
especially those crude experiments of
pupils at schools which parents place
on the walls, when they should be con
signed to the garret. A residence can ba made
charming by the proper arrangement of grounds. :
Landscape’gardening is, in some respects, a
modern art. With Nature as the type, the artist !
; should give expression to the spirit of excel- :
I lease dwelling in the soul. He came now ts the 1
‘ question oui bono. What use is it —does it pay )
to beautifv our homes? If we possess no high- i
• er attributes than brutes, we might trample !
, beanties beneath our feet, as swine do I
pearls east under their feet. Men do not i
five bv bread alone. GM has address-
I ed man through the beautiful, and when he j
! does he addresses man’s esthetic nature. In !
I all the lovely •forms and manifestations of the ;
i natural world he speaks to man’s a-sthetie pa- ,
■ sure. Mau is elevated by the possession of
I taste, h:s capacity to appreciate the beautiful. I
It was die custom to ridicule the issthetes. He
! felt only contempt lor those false esthetes with
their strange costumes and their lilies and their
‘ sunflowers, but for true aestheticism he felt a '
genuine admiration. He rejoiced that God had :
i given wan not only the faculty to love beauty
i bnt the genius to produce it. God left it to
I man to produce many forma of beauty. It
was the educational influence of beautiful
attributes at home that he would em-
1 phasize. Home embellishments were the
first lessons in art. A beautiful home
I would engender in its inmates habits of order
i and neatness. A beautiful home tended to fas- ,
■ ter virtue. Beauty and vice were antagonistic I
i in their characteristics. Where there was the ■
i one the gahcr could not exist A beautiful
home wu antagonistic to the temptations of
vice, the bar room, the gambling hsll, the house
of shame. Make your home abounding in at
tractions and it will become a vrioa&le aux
iliiarv to the pulpit. In the long run the cost
of production will be amply repaid to the fami
ly. An embellished home will be much more
valuable than one which is not. It is, besides,
ouite a correct gangs of the moral and pro-,
jreaaiTe spirit of the people. Rude and
rongu hoasa give the impression of a rnde
and rough people, howevei unjustlv. Let us
have beautiful homes to soften the prejudices of
those who believe that we are barbarians, and
induce them to come among us. Let ns do all
that ws cjn to make thia the most beautiful, as
it is the most gsuarons and bountiful land that
the sun shines upon. (lx»iig iid continued ap
plause.]
II Judge Fleming said he would like the Socie
ty to endorse his request to have that paper to
carry home with him for bis wife and danghtei
’ to read.
A vote of thanks was returned to Dr. Battle
by a unanimous rising vote. The address was
• listened to by several ladies.
An invitation from Mr. W. C. Sibley to visit
fits Sibley Mills, on their way up the canal
' Thursday, was accepted, aa was also the invi
‘ tation of the Georgia Chemical Works.
? The Convention adjourned until 3, p. m.
Afternoon Session.
Tha Convention reassembled at 3, p. m.,
Vice-President Livingston in the Chair. The
delegation from the Sec rad Congressional Dis
trict recommended W. C. Paschel to fill the va
t cancy on the Executive Committee, caused by
the death of Dr. Janes. Adopted.
The Executive Hommittee made th# following
I report: ,
j Whereas, The Executive Committee have
had under consideration a charge made that a
duly accredited delegate to a convention of this
society had sold a railroad ticket to one of onr
| conventions, and found the same to be true;
; therefore, be it—
Hesolred, That the sale of tickets, by anv
I accredited delegate, or ths improper transfer of
the same is utterly condemned by this society.
Mr. Fulton, of McDuffie, offered the following
additional resolution :
Resolved, That any delegate or life member
of the State Agricultural Seciety who shall be
guilty of selling or trading his free pass over
the railroads to and from this Convention shall
be expelled.
The resolution, as amended, was adopted
unanimously.
The President said the Executive Committee ,
had decided very properlv, that no railroad
tickets con’d be transferred by any delegate to
any one except by consent of the Convention.
The resolution offered by Mr. W. J. Delph, in
reference to ths stock law, was taken up, and
Mr. Delph spoke in support of it, giving the rea
son why the stock law should be adopted.
Mr. Harrell didn’t think the resolution
should be adopted. The Legislature had al
ready given each county the right to pails a no
fence law. Let the people of each countv settle
the question for themselves. Several counties
have already adopted the law and elections
have been ordered in others.
Mr. Deadwyler, of Elbert, said it zould be
better to try the present plan first au< seabow
•it worked. If it acted well there would be no
trouble in passing a general law.
Mr. Poole, of Warren, was opposed to the
resolution and hoped it would be voted down.
Mr. Miller, of Beech Island, said the fence
law operated well in South Carolina, and he
thought it would in Georgia. •
Mr. Mobley, of Harris, spoke in favor of a no
fence law.
It was moved by Mr. Bird, of Bartow, to post
pone the question until the August meeting.
Adopted by a vefy large vote.
An experience’meeting was held at Market
Hall last evening, at which a variety of sub
jects were discussed.
AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION.
Last Day of tlie Session—No Fair To B«
Hel<t*TliU Year—A Trip Up the Canal
• An Enjoyable Day.
The State Agricultural Society met yester
day morning, at 10 o'clock, Col. Thos. Har
deman in the Chair.
The President read a communication from j
Gen. M. A. Stovall, President of the
Georgia Chemical Works, stating that
a train would ba in waiting near tho
Canal Basin, on the return of the parly
from the Locks, to convey as many
of the delegates as wished to go' out to the
Georgia Chemical Works. The President
stated, also, that there would be two street
cars waiting in front of the Hall, immediate
ly after the adjournment of the Convention, ,
to convey the delegates to the basins, free ,
of charge.
The Executive Committee reported that
the financial condition of the Society is
good. It has about $7,000 invested in
State bonds. The fair last year paid expen
ses. It was decided to hold no fair this year.
The State generally is progressing and the
Society is in good condition. The report
was adopted.
The thanks of the Society were returned
to the railroads for courtesies extended, to
the Alayor and City Council of Augusta, to
the Richmond. County Agricultural Society,
and to the people of Augusta generally.
After a motion to adjourn was made, the
President returned his thanks to the Con
vention for courtesy to himself, and only
wished that they would go home, increase
their cereal crops and be not only self-sus
taining as an association, bnt as a people.
He then pronounced the Convention ad
journed sine die.
After the Convention adjourned the dele
gates proceeded in two street cars provided
tor their accommodation, to the Canal Basin,
where the steamer “Julia,” the large barge,
and the city boat, “Aly Queen,” were in
waiting, The three boats were soon filled
and the party went up the canal to the
Locks. After inspecting the dam, bulk
head and other mechanical works, the dele
gates were invited to a banquet spread in the
old gate house. It was one of the most
substantial and best arranged repasts ever
spread at the Locks, and was highly praised
and enjoyed by all the delegates. Cham
pagne and claret flowed in abundance.
Commendations of Augusta’s enterprise and
hospitality were heard on every side.
Gep: P. Al. B. Young rose, and, paying a
deserved compliment to Col. Thos. Harde
man, the President of the Society, proposed
a toast in his honor. This toast was drank
standing.
Col. Hardeman, in responding to the
toast, said their thanks were due to the city
of Augusta for what they saw before them.
On every side were evidences of the future
prosperity and greatness of this city. Here
was a happy combination of labor and
capital, a combination on which all the pros
perity and happiness of the country de
pended. On this we must base every hope
of the future. They should feel proud that
the intelligence and capital of Augusta
show an appreciation of the labor of the
country, demonstrated by the attention
given to the members of this Convention
“horny handed sons of toil.” Thank God
the day has come when labor is not only
looked upon as honest but is honored. He
gave as a sentiment “The labor of the coun
try. Onr only hope in prosperity and
peace and our surest defense and bulwark
in war.” |Applause.]
Loud calls were made for Gen. Y’oung.
Responding to the calls Gen. Young said no
man ought to speak more than once at such
a gathering and as he had been up once he
would only say a few words. There were
three interests that governed the world —the
cartridge box, the ballot box and the band
box We had tried the cartridge box and
failed, the ballot box and almost failed, but
thank God we yet have the band box. [Ap
plause. ]
Calls were made for Air. H. H. Jonas.
Mr. Jones said he felt that there was one
great duty incumbent upon him to com
mend the people of Augusta foi their great
enterprise in building this canal. They had
heard a great deal about it But the half had
not been told.
At 3 o’clock the party embarked for Au
gusta. Near the Sibley Mills they were met
by a special train of two cars, on the Au
gusta and Knoxville Railroad, in charge of
Gen. M. A. Stovall, and were invited to go
on board and pay a visit to the Georgia
Chemical Works. A transfer was made and
after a brief stop at the Sibley Mills,
at the invitation of President Sibley
and Superintendent Davis, the delegates
were conveyed in the train, through the
city, to the Chemical Works, where they
spent the time allowed them before the de
parture of the Georgia Railroad train, in in
specting the works, with which they were
very muah pleased.
wind and water.
Helena (Arkaneaei Partially Flooded.
(By Telegraph to tne Chronicle.)
Cincinnati, February 16. —A special from
Helena, Ark., says: “A heavy gale prevail
ed here this mornieg, the wind blowing
from the south at the rate of 35 or 40 miles
an hour. During the prevalence of the
wind, the wares on the river were three to
four feet high, and poured over the levee in
front as Commercial Row at a fearful rate.
The greatest damage occurred at the corner
of Main and York streets, and it was with
difficulty that the flow of water over the
levee at that point could be prevented. Be
tween 12 and lo’cloek the city fire bells
were vigorously rung and merchants and
others closed their places of Business and
hastened to the scene of the threatened
danger. The wind soon died away, and by
2 o’clock this afternoon the surface of the
river was calm. In the vicinity of the Iron
Mountain and Helena Railroad depot an
immense force of hands was engaged in
strengthening the levee, which is considered
to be in a very weak condition. The rail
road trick is considerably undermined' for
a distance of several hundred yards, and
grave doubts are entertained as to its safety.
The levee at the upper end of the William
son place, two miles below the city, broke
about 2 o’clock this afternoon in two
places. The breaks aggregate about 300
yards in length and the water is pouring
through at a rapid rate. It is thought the
water can be kept out of Helena by closing
the embankment of the Midland Rail
road, which is now being done under the
supervision of the city authorities. Several
small houses on the outside of the levee, be
low the elevator, floated off to-day. The
: levee about the city is weak, but hope is
entertained that the water can be kept
back in that direction. The steamer Gold
en Rule passed down at noon without laud
: ing, being prevented by high wind. The
steamers Josie, Harry, Martin, Speed,
Guiding Star and James Lee passed up at
i noon all safe. %
THE CITY RY THE SEA.
Fine Financial Showing By the Mayor
of Che City.
(By Telegraph to the Chronicle. 1
Charleston, February 14.—The Mayor’s
financial exhibit, presented to the City
Council to-night, shows a reduction of the
total municipal debt in the past ten years
from five million two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars to four million two hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars, and a re
4action of the annual interest from three
hundred and fifteen thousand dollars to one
hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars—
four-fifths of the total debt having Been
funded in four per cent thirty year non
toxable bonds. The present city adminis
tration has asked and obtained from the
State Legislature amendments to the city
charter, so restricting defat ejeating power
of the city government as practically to
prohibit any future increase of the debt,
and limiting appropriations to income of
the year. The Mayor announces that the
city is now in a position to meet and retire
. installments of its debt due within the next
I ten years as they mature.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
* •
> ’From a Staff Correspondent.)
Washington, D. C„ February 12, 1882.
, Mr. Stephens his 70th birthday
under the brightest of skies and happiest of
auspices. A great many ladies and gentle-
> men visited him in person to ofter congratu
lations. Floral tributes of the most gorge-
• ous description arrived from Boston, Fiori
: da, Mt. Vernon and many other localities.
Other presents poured in, such as books,
: old Democratic whisky, esthetical knick
knacas, and an album for autographs, the
' velvet case of which was ornamented with
'j an exquisite painting of Liberty Hall,
J whose portals have recently been closed
| temporarily against promiscuous hospitality
: for the first time in forty years. Mr. Ste
: phens has now passed twenty-five of his
birthdays in Washington, and several good
judges a.'j of opinion that he will
have many returns of the season. In the
autograph album there were many
conspicuous names, led by President
Arthur and acting Vice-President David
Davis. Two of the visitors were remarkable
iu difierent ways. One was a lovely little
girl, who insisted npon being brought, and
gently but firmly threatened that she would
not go to bed nntil the request had been grati
fied. The old statesman'^eyes rented with
love and interest upon this little child, who
gazed in silence upon her venerable friend.
The other visitor was Elias Polk, once body
servant to President Polk, a tall, symme
trical black man of 76 years, with all his
faculties splendidly preserved. His eyes
are bright, his teeth unharmed and the
white wool on his ebony cranium luxuriant.
He is proud of his past connections,
does not associate with the common
Iwrd, and bears himself as one
wnom slavery could not degrade or
freedom improve beyond the native
plane of dignity. The Commoner shook
him cordially by the hand, introduced him
to surrounding friends, and joined in drink
ing a toast with him to the “glorious past.”
During the Democratic control of the House
he had held an office under Clerk Adams.
The Republicans turned him out because,
as he told me, “there was too much true
Democracy in this bosom.” To espouse
that cause in Washington and prove loyal
to it showed uncommon courage and princi
ple. Tho high-toned and devoted black
man would not turn his back upon the
memory of his old master, and was content
to go from his place at the Capitol rather
th in become a renegade. He had been a ,
pet at the White House, in old times, i
and could become a social lion in f
colored circles here; but he would (
not abandon his political attachments, and (
so, when the Republicans took charge of ]
the east wing of the Capitol, Elias Polk j
marched out with the defeated party, a (
prouder and better man than some who |
made up the retreating column. In the as- ,
teruoon, at four o’clock, Mr. Stephens pre- '(
sided at a dinner party given to the Geor- (
gia Representatives-Col. Dick Johnson, F
Mr. Frank Holden, Mr. Seidell and your (
correspondent. Os the members of Con- ,
gress from Georgia, Mr. Speer alone was ,
absent. He had been entertained by Mr. j
Stephens a week before. The feast of gas- i
tronomy was copiously enlivened by the j
flow of wit and humor, the prominent con- j
tributors to lively anecdote and reminis- (
ence being Mr. Staphens and Mr. Ham- ]
mond. About half-past six, the male j
company dispersed, after renewed con
gratulations to the phenomenal states- j
man, whose days have now reach- ]
ed the span of the holy Psalm- (
ist, but who bids fair to transcend |
them usefully, as Pope Piux IX did “the ,
days of Peter.’’ At 7 o’clock the ladies of ,
the hotel and city began thronging the ,
rooms, and for them Mr. Stephens had pro- !
vided cakes and wine, flanked by the pyra- i
mids of flowers he had been the recipient of ,
during the day. He retired that night, I ,
think, one of the happiest, as be was the i
most affectionately honored, of mortals; and i
if betimes there crossed his mind one mel- (
anelioly thought, it was that so many of his ]
friends aud kinsmen, younger than him- ,
self, had passed away from mortal scenes, i
But this sweet sorrow must have been tem- ]
pered with the consoling reflection that ]
those whom he had loved and lost were per
haps smiling benedictions upon him from j
some blissful abode, “where the eternal i
are.’ Thousands in Georgia and all over f
the Union bless the good grey head that is <
tilled with noblest aspirations, and the gen- j
eious heart that is overflowing with love of i
truth and humanity. May he be spared for (
many years to come; for when he shall go i
hence forever, where shall we ever look )
upon his like again ! {
Congressmen complain that the raid upon
them for garden seed having about spent
the first fury of its violence, they are pass
ing through another stage of the nuisance
in a wild appeal for vaccine points. They
say that even this might be endurable if it
were not supplemented with requests for
spectacles, stomach supporters and almost
everything known to man. It is something
of a purgatorial bore, but when nominating
time comes around what herculean efforts
are made by the sufferers to prolong their
agony ! Perhaps it is common to all human
ity. We curse or bewail onr lot, but stick
to it as long as it pays or as long as we are
permitted, taking the floating spoils ns Jack
Pevj’ did the two biscuits instead of the
corn cake, because he "liked ’em as well as
any man in the world and got ’em as sil
dom.” This is one of our Representative’s
famous illustrations, and I have used it for
lack of a better.
Over in Maryland just now there is a most
extraordinary quarrel going on among lead
ing politicians. Here is a sample : When
Governor, Hon. William Pinkney Whyte
appointed Arthur Gorman President of
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. This
is a stupendous political leverage, and
Gorman finally utilized it to oust his bene
factor from the United States Senate in
favor of himself. Since his election to the
Mayoralty of Baltimore, Mr. Whyte is
rapidly circumventing Mr. Gorman, who is
still President of the Canal, but will pre
sently resign. JVithout the aid of an old
political manager, named Colton, who owns
the Gazette and an Annapolis hotel, Mr. Gor
man would not have reached the Senator
ship, in all human probability. Colton was
promised the Canal Presidency as a reward
for services rendered, but he begins to un
derstand the value of that pie-ernst in the
hands of party diplomatists. Alphonse
Daudet vividly portrayed the French
ideal of political mendacity iu Numa
Roumestran, the American example ex
ists everywhere and only needs the pen
of genius to depict. Gorman is said to be
forming a coalition with Governor Hamil
ton, tempting the latter with a seat in the
Senate after a second Gubernatorial term.—
What Mayor Whyte will do, in such an
event, the future must disclose; but at
present he appears to hold all the winning
cards in the Baltimore pack, and no man
better knows how to play them against an
adversary. Thia Chesapeake and Ohio Ca
nal cost the State about twenty-one million
dollars, and returns the State nothing. Its
bonds were once eagetty sought for at par.
I believe they are what brokers call “nom
inal” now. I asked one of the lead
ing politicians why it waa not leased, like
our Western and Atlantic Railway, or sold.
He answered, in effect, that the
pie could never elect a Legislature or
Governor who agreed to do either one or
the other, because of combinations to pre
vent it. The faction in possession find it
too valuable an auxiliary for their purpo
ses. The faction out of power hope to get
control some day and do not care to dispose
of such an important element of maintain
ing authority. I judge from what I hear,
read and see that, though the financial
credit of Maryland is very high, her politi
cal condition is, in some respects, not alto
gether in harmony with seveial branches of
the Decalogue.
I have looked into the Chile-Peruvian
controversy with some care, and can come
to only one conclusion, and that is the com
plete justification of the first named coun
try. The Chileans are vastly superior, in
nearly every respect, to the people of Peru
or Bolivia. By the aid of Chile Peru gained
her independence of Spain, a debt of grati
tude returned only with perfidious diplo
macy. Th# discovery of gold in California
was a big commercial bonanza to Chile, and
lasted until the completion of railways
! across the Panama isthmus and the North
I American part of the Continent. The dis-
I covery of saltpetre in the Bolivian desert
, presented another tremendous opportunity
;to Chilean thrift. Bolivia, net being enter
i prising enough to work these deposits
' profitably, a solemn treaty was made with
j Chile to lease the whole region, and pay a
' round sum for the privilege. Everything
; worked well until Peru, having squan-
I dejed the millions received from her
. guano property, grew malignantly jealous
; as Chile, and finally stirred up a similar
i demon in the Bolivian mind. Forming a
coalition for the purpose as conquering
Chile and devastating her possessions, the
treaty was ruptured flagrantly and Chile
provoked to hostilities. Lnckily for Chile,
she had natural protection by the wilderness
on one side and the Andes on the other.
With this security at home, she launched a
thunderbolt of war against the hostile alli
ance, and brought it down with swift and
terrible discomfiture. It was not onljr the
victory of right over wrong, Utt of the purer
tacectarmongreiized nationalities. The at
tempted interference of the United States to
wrest from Chile her well-earned triumph has
I no excuse that I have been able to dißydyer.
That an American scheme of commercial
plunder waa at the bottom of this move
j meht from WashipgtoD. I have little doubt,
i and that it also covered the expenditure of
many millions for the purpose'of creating a
prodigious navy seems equally certain. The
reversal, therefore, of Mt. Blaine’s policy
was, under such circumstances, wise and
faonest. In the absence of proof to the con
trary, I can arrive at no other determination.
The whole subject will, no doubt, be
thoroughly ventilated by Congress, and
then we shall be better able to resell a final
verdict. Meanwhile, the President and Mr.
, Blaine can continue their cross-purposes,
, which are anything bnt promotive of con
cord in the Republican household. J. R. R.
Washington, February 14. -The present
j week started off with a drizzling rain and a
disagreeable oeza in the atmosphere. It
likewise began with a drowsy speech from
Mr. Dawes, of Massachusetts, on civil ser
vice reform. This Senator is quite an old
1 public functionary and has the superfluous
grayness ascribed to the badger, which he
somewhat resembles. His voice is not de
ficient in volume, but abounds in nasal
twangs, which are anything bnt melodious
;or distinct. He read from manuscript
what he had elaborately concocted in his
study. It was a microscopic criticism of
Mr. Pendleton's bill, with which he agreed
m the main. I never saw a man who stuck
more closely to his composition with his
eyes, and wasted so many gestures with his
hands. Indeed, 'his arms were in mo
tion all the time, and one ixerciso
of them was subject to patent right,
as no other person, to my knowledge, ever
'before discovered it. I can only describe
this peculiar gymnastical effort as a clever
imitation of digging for worm bait or shov
elling snow. Perhaps the Senator meant it
to imply that he was excavating for the
truth and spading away error. The staple
of the gentleman's discourse must have
been highly conservative, seeing that Mr. '
Pendleton immediately followed in a “few
remarks,” admitting that between him and
one-half the State of Massachusetts there
was no fundamental difference of opinion
on this subject. 1 understand that the com ■
mittee having this matter in charge expect
to make it “a great issue;” but if Dawes
and Pendleton agree so heartily in the
very inception, neither. party can hope
to make any capital out of it at
each other’s expense. The fact is, civil
service reform is an excellent thing to
moralize upon, but hard to carry out in any
Utopian way. It appears to have been re
duced to practical usefulness in the <Ncw
York Custom House, under Collector
Robertson, and in the New York post office,
under Mr. James and his successor. This
is said to be in evidence before the commit
tee. But it is not supposed to have any
vital principle further South, and there will
be either some monstrous lying or startling
developments when, for example, the New
Orleans Custom House shall be turned in
side out. As Kellogg’s term is nearly over,
and his sceptre broken, unless the' Presi
dent constitute him his major domo in
Louisiana, complete evidence of that
malodorous concern’s depravity ought
to be forthcoming. When the Kel
logg-Spoftord sub-committee revealed a
most revolting condition of affairs there,
the Republicans were in no hurry to correct
the monstrosity, and they have, to this day,
shielded and defended the man who work
ed the maefiine in his own interest and that
of his party. And Mr. Dawes was the cham
pion of Senator Mahone and his pets, last
Spring, in surprising contrast to his wordy
postulates this Winter. I think the whole
matter may be summed up thus: Everybody
in power is in favor of the reform proposed, ’
and everybody is against its enforcement.
But it is something to theorize about just
now, for popular diversion; and when Mr.
Dawes discovers in Mr. Pendleton a long ,
lost brother, with a strawberry mark on his
left arm, I cannot help thinking of Box and
Cox on a large scale. No one need doubt
that there is an “era of good feeling” after
an exhibition of that kind in ap open ses
sion and before admiring galleries. This
pathetic f raternity, however, does . not pre- :
vent the great civil service reformers from
rushing to the presiding officer’s desk to
devour the contents of Executive messages *
which are big with the fate of Federal pat- 1
ronage. Perhaps the Republicans are ap
prehensive of a Democratic Presidency next
term, and favor any measure that will de- I
liver to such an executive a squeezed lemon.
As Mr. Bayard walked right into Mr. Ed- ’
monde’ Electoral Commission trap, Mr.
Pendleton may be skipping jauntily into
Mr. Dawes’ deadfall. i
This Government is largely run by what
1 must call, for want of a better term, “ go
betweens ’’—old rats who have been housed
for a quarter of a century in the different
departments. A new President or Secretary
is not a little at their mercy. I remember
very well how one of the most eminent of
Congressmen grew indignant with a promi
nent member of a former Cabinet because
his communications remained unrespond
ed to. A direct visit to the Secretary re
vealed the fact that subordinates handled
his mail and manipulated it to suit them
selves. The figure-head was the recipient
of wholesale malediction because of the
arbitrary meddling of his supposed under
lings. The same thing pervades some of
the mammoth corporations of the country,
and even very riph individuals are similar
ly dominated and abused. Some remark
able instances are within my knowledge,
and I know of nothing like it except what
Gibbon has unfolded concerning the inter
fering rule of eunnehs in the Lower Em
pire.'
Southern ladies here easily bear oft’ the
palm of beauty from all comers. The hand
somest of all is an Alabama lady, whose
husband is rapidly rising among the fore
most of public men at the capita).
A prominent physician tells me that more
men are rulhed in'health by too much eat
ing than by excessive drinking, while a
compound of the two is, in most cases, rap
idly disastrous. If this be so ; there will be
an unprecedented crop of crippled stomachs
this year, for the whole metropolis has gone
gastronomioally mad. The season of Lent,
which puts an end to one form of gluttony,
in social circles, may be a blessing in
ambuscade to many a Congressman,
whose rural appetite has been as se
riously perverted as Hannibal’s digestion
was amid the deligh s of Capua. The ascetic
and Spartan life led by your correspon
dent entitles him to regard this whirling
luxury with critical philosophy. An occa
sional entertainment is not a departure from
Georgia moderation.
The little children at the Metropolitan
Hotel have discovered that Hon. Proctor
Knott is something of an artist; and so he
is kept busy betimes in drawing horses and
other animals for them. He is as good
natured as he is learned, wittv and pro
found.
A Georgian of scientific attainments, re
siding at Darien, has discovered that lenses
for telescopes can be manufactured from the
virgin drip of rosin. The largest lens made
of glass is only 30 inches iii diameter.
This magnitude can be greatly increased by
the new method, and, consequently, there
is no telling what wonderful astronomical
results may flaw from its adoption. Tha
main difficulty is in securing a favorable
opinion at headquarters here. I have called
Hon. George R. Black’s attention to it. and
he has promised to see Prof. Baird and urge
him to make or have made competent inves
tigation. This will not be an easy job, as
nothing is so hide-bound as text-book mar
tinetism. Capt. Eads, although his jetty
system is not a novel one, was constantly
baffled by Government officiate, and wonld
have utterly failed in obtaining a success
ful hearing had he not possessed the tenaci
ty, aggressiveness and luckof Grant himself.
My Darien correspondent is unfortunately
not situated for pushing his discovery, and I
can only aid him with my pen and tongue.
He reminds me, and I repeat it for public ed
ification, that no less a person than Mr. Cal
houn stood in the way of Prof. Morse’s elec
tric telegraph, and Mr. Stephens says that
he was the only Southern Congressman who
stood by Morse through thick and thin.
Gentlemen who are conversant with science
assure me that tho Darien discovery is
worthy of a thorough test, and as it will not
cost much to make it, I hope this notice
may meet the eye and open the purse of
some man or woman who thereby stands a
reasonable chance of Being connected with
a tremendous possibility.
In this connection, I have before me a let
ter from one of the most scientifically learn
ed of men, who, in spite of, or perhaps be
cause of, his prodigious acquirements, has
lapsed into poverty and neglect. He has
arrayed against him the whole world of en
trenched bureaucracy, because of his daring
and original reforms, which, once adapted,
would displace pampered officials. This
sage was mainly instrumental *in securing
the success of Capt. Eads in opening the
mouth of the Mississippi; but his sole re
ward has been ingratitude. Other men have
grown rich by robbing his brains, just as
Randal Leslie grew famous by filching the
ideas of the dying Burleigh. He has eight
or ten volumes oi unpublished manuscript,
containing important discoveries, but no
money and no audacity—which often takes
the place of money—to give them in
permanent form to the world. I
know of no man who baa such
genius for comprehending the majesty
and wonders of the physical universe, and
yet he can not even get a professorship in-a
college; what a monstrous paradox that
such transcendent mental powers should be
gnawed by penury, while a flippant clown
like Joe Emmett, who has neither soberness
nor real folent, enn make a fortune every
month fiom the garlic-eating multitude who
pay liberally to witness the capering of a
fellow who cannot dance and. a charlatan
whose singing is a caricature. Alas I how
many of_ the world's best inhabitants did
George xiillard describe when he compared
them to “heroes who never knew *h& tri
umph and martyrs avver woi;e the
crown 1”
Among Hie curiosities of the remarkable
letter before me, is the prediction that if
the Legislature of Mississippi persist in,
closing the Bonnet Carrye creyasse, before
Bayou Mnuchac la reopened, the city of New
Orleans will, within the next five years, be
undermined, overflowed and utterly de
stroyed!
82 A YEAR —POSTAGE PAID
e The author of the above prediction pro
-1 tests against the propcsed celebration of the
1 bi-centennial of La Salle’s so-called discov
■. ery of the Mississippi river in 1682. He
, asserts, and backs it with authentic evi
dence, that the real discoverer of Mississip
. pi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona and
New Mexico was Di Vaca, who antedated La
t Salle 154 years, and appeared at the month
of the Mississippi on November 2d, 1528,
seventeen years before the expedition of De
8 Soto. What does Col. C. C. Jones, Jr.,
i think of this? If he should desire further
. information concerning the writer of the
. letter and the facts connected with him, I
will be pleased to accommodate him, if
s deed, two such rare spirits should be
5 strangers.
Members cf the Tennessee delegation are
much mortified at the knowledge that a
pending decision of the Supreme Court of
i the State should have leaked out to New
t York and other stock operators, so as to en
( able them to reap a.harvest on the securities
of the Commonwealth. Very few secrets
of any kind are now hidden from the press
I or from the inner circle of New York pluto
: crats. . President Arthur did contrive to
( save his message from the rapacity of the
news gatherers, but perhaps they found out
1 that it was not worth stealing like a Sn
■ preme Court report that involves millions
, of dollars in Wall street. Some of the
Judges must have talked in their sleep.
Getting “dead points” from a Supreme.
J udge is something above the average of such
. things, and, in the Tennessee case, it was
worth while having to those who know how
to “unload” or “sell short.”
Senator Brown's action in the Neil Brown
matter has been endorsed by manj' Demo
, cratic Senators, who are glad to be relieved
of the necessity of endangering the present
organization of the Senate. The hostile
j stuff sent b.v telegraph to the Western press
' isnot worth noticing. I perceive that the able
correspondent ot the Richmond Dispatch,
undeY date of the 13th, voices what is the
enlightened opinion here, that Senator
Brown is the epitome of political
judgment aud sagacity, and that the
Democracy, under his leadership, can
carry the next Presidential election. The
Chronicle long ago suggested Senator
Brown for the Chairmanship of the Na
tional Executive Committee, and your cor
respondent, in season and out of season,
advocated him for the position, until per
sonally assured that he could not be pre
vailed upon to take it. I should not be
surprised if much higher honors await him.
As it is, he stands foremost in the Senate—
a rank he won by individual prowess, ten
days after he first took his seat. J. R. R.
AN ABLE PAPER FHOM IION. 11. W.
HILLIARD.
Relatluna of the United Slates tu the Re
publics America.
Editors Chronicle and Constitutionalist :
I did not suppose that the remarks made
by me in a recent unpremeditated conversa
tion in regard to the relations of our Gov
ernment to Chili and Peru would go into
print, but as they have been published in
your influential and widely circulated jour
nal it, is proper that I should give my views
of that interesting and important subject
more clearly and fully.
Separated from the States of Europe by
an ocean, we have been able to establish our ■
free institutions upon this Continent with- :
out being disturbed by the intervention of 1
foreign powers, or involved in their strug- '
gles for aggrandisement. At the close of ■
the first administration of our Government I
the policy of non-intervention was solemnly
enjoined upon the country by Washington,
and the doctrines of his address have exerted
an influence upon the country as poten
tial as if they had been embodied in
the organic law of the Republic. In the
progress of the Nation there has been no (
departure from that tradition. The only
modification of the policy, it' that be such, '
is to be found in the declaration of the ' I
Monroe Doctrine. During Mr. Monroe’s i
•administration our Government recognized ,
the independence of Mexico, and the pro
vinces of South America formerly under £
the dominion of Spain. The hostile atti- t
tude of several of tho European powers to- 1
wards these recently organized Republics i
prompted that spirited declaration in be- I
half of free government received with so 8
much favor at the time of its promulgation, 1
and so warmly cherished by onr people 1
ever since. Ib his message to Congress of
December 2d, 1823, Mr. Monroe announced 1
the policy of the United States to be to «
avoid entangling ourselves in the broils of i
Europe, and to resist an y attempt on the part I
of the Powers of the Old World to interfere '
with the affairs of the New. The President
declared that any attempt on the part of the
European powers to “extend theirsystem to
any portion of this hemisphere” would be 1
regarded bj' the United States as “danger
ous to our peace and safety,” and would be
opposed. The doctrine bears the name ol
Monroe, but its real author was John Quin
cy Adams, at that time Secretary of 1
State, and who, succeeding Mr. Mon- v
roe as President, gave to the country one c
of its best and purest and ablest Adminis- i
trations. So far from having lost its force, t
the doctrine is more powerful to-day than j
at any time since its promulgation. If I
such a declaration could be maintained at i
that early day when, beyond the fringe (
along the Atlantic coast, our population was 1
sparse, surely in the plentitude of our pow- e
er to-day we may reassert it with deeper em- i
phasis and claim the right to maintain free r
government on this side of the Atlantic, not g
only within our own borders, but through- f
out the whole extent of the American Con- s
tin ent. r
The vigorous assertion of this doctrine by
Mr. Seward when Secretary of State occa
sioned the disastrous fall of Maximilian in
Mexico. At the instance of Napoleon the
Third that young Austrian Prince attempted
to establish an imperial throne in Mexico
during our civil war, but he was vigorously
opposed by President Juarez and the Mexi
can mastff's. At the termination of our civil
war the Government of the United States
assumed a determined attitude against the
intervention of France in its effort to sustain
Maximilian, and Napoleon withdrew his
troops. The authority of the Emperor was
soon overthrown, and Maximilian lost his life
in a heroic but hopeless struggle to maintain
his throne. The Government of the United
States may well assert its right not only to
protect free government on this side of the
Atlantic against European invasion, but it
may exert its influence in promoting the
prosperity, and. maintaining the stability
of existing Governments on the American
Continent. Nor could any European Pow
er complain of our course. The vast extent
pf our territory, the importance of our com
■mercial interests, the power of the Nation
and the successful organization of the
greatest free government on the globe, en
title us to consideration throughout the
world aud to controlling influence on this
Continent. We witness from time to time
the meeting of the great Powers of Europe
to deliberate upon matters affecting their in
terests, and to agree upon measures for the
maintenance of tranquility throughout the
Continent. To-day a question affecting the
affairs of Egypt is under consideration, and
it is understood that England and France
will unite in upholding their interests in
that country against the policy ot other
Great Powers. We take no part in their
deliberations, we do not undertake to in
fluence their policy, nor do we complain of
not being invited to participate in their
councils. We are separated by the bread th of
the ocean; they undertake to settle Euro
pean affairs. So, too. we insist upon our
right to make our influence felt in the ad
justment of the matters, which affect the
interests of cte-Atlaatic governments -free
from foreign dictation or intervention.
Now, as to the application of these prin
ciples to the pending troubles between
some of the Republics of South Ameri
ca, ’there should be no difficulty.
While it is impossible ta regard with
indifference any event seriously affect
ing the prosperity of these States, or which
threatens their stability, it must be a very
grave exigency that calls for intervention on
our part beyond the tender as our good
offices. Tbe wasting war that has been go
ing on for mare than two years between
Chili and Peru, including Bolivia, has at
length given to the first of these States
such advantages as ta leave the other be
ligerents but little power of resistance.
Peru is prostrated, its armies are vanquish
ed, its resources are exhausted, a large part
of its territory is occupied by hostile troops,
and its President has been removed from its
capital and is held in captivity by her vic
torious rivals. Flushed with success Chili,
it is understood, insists upon the hard
est terms of peace, demanding the payment
of an enormous sum of money to reimburse
the expenses of var, and at the same time
exacting the cession of a most valuable part
of the territory of Peru. If these terms
are complied with, 'Peru, stripped cf her
resources, and having her productive terri
tory torn from her, will be reduced to the
condition es a state too feeble to protect
herself, and too inconsiderable to enjoy that
consideration among Nations to which she
has heretofore beep entitled. It is to be
hoped that Chili, animated by a generous
spirit and enlightened by the teachings of
history, will not insist upon these rigorous
terms; but that she will patent herself
with a mopey indemnity. Chili is entitled
to great consideri'.ian. Her free institutions;
her enlightened people; her commercial
enterprise have . already won for her a
splendid reputation, and she will steadily
advapqe in the patk, oi civilization and
power. To thin <*tate we should address
ourselves with every mark of respect in
tendering our good offices at this impor
tant conjuncture. Ida not see that the
United, States cap observe with indifference
the attitude ni Chili towards Peru iu the
adjustment of their unhappy quarrels, but
there can be no armed intervention on onr
part. Profound! as our xegxet would be to
see Pent dismembered, we oould not un
derteke to Reserve the autonomy of the
State fay force. Doubtless our friendly
counsels will be heard with respect, and
fahe integrity of a sipter Republic south
of the equator will be preserved by
the influence of the United States.—
Nothing could induce ns to offer an armed
intervention but the interference of some
European Power—either prompting Chili,
or taking advantage of the enfeebled con
dition of Peru.
To-day every South American State re
gards the United States in the most friendly
spirit. The spirit of our free political sys
tem is everywhere felt. In Brazil, that'
great empire, whose territorial extent is
scarcely less than our own, the strongest
friendship for our country is cherished, and
our splendid system of free government is
regarded with admiration by all classes.
The Imperial Government is essentially
free; the Emperor is a constitutional ruler,
and the whole political system is organized
for the protection of the rights "of the
people. This whole American Continent is
consecrated to freedom. I can readily com
prehend the spirit of liberakstatesmanship
that prompted the plan' of assembling a
Congress of all the States upon the Ameri
can Continent, to agree upon measures for
the preservation of peace. Such a Congress
might accomplish great good if it under
took to do nothing more than enter into a
tree conference as to the relations of the
several States to each other, and to disenss
the best mode for the adjustment of differ
ences that may hereafter arise. But I
should not think it proper to enter into any
formal engagement with other States as to
our future course. Indeed, I do not see that
it could be done,. It is better to leave all ques
tions affecting the conflicting rights of in
dependent States to be settled by the appli
cation of the great principles of interna
tional law. Standing, as we do, pre-emi
nently above the other States of this Conti
nent in power and influence, it is better to
hold that grand position, free to exert our
strength, or use our authority in the ad
justment of conflicting questions with other
nationalities, without entering into entang
ling alliances, or compromising our great,
free, independent. National force.
But I do believe that the time has come
when the Government of the United States
should pass from a policy of inert observa
tion of the world, and make its power felt
in the settlement of all the great questions
that effect the destiny of our race. We are
too great to be passive. We cannot be con
tent merely to grow. We have passed the
period when inactivity was our policy.
Cromwell made the commonwealth greater,
more influential, more respected than Eng
land had ever been under her kings, by de
manding that the rights of Englishmen
should be regarded on the land and on the
sea, all over the world. Under the rule of
Ctesar, a man in the remotest part of the
empire could be heard in Rome.
If we are to intervene for the protection of
our rights, our property or our people
beyond our own boundaries, we must
be prepared to enforce our demands not
only by displaying our flag, but by having
guns upon the ships which bear it to main
tain its authority. We want a navy. It is
impossible to over-rate the importance of
adopting the most energetic and liberal
measures to construct a powerful fleet. We
want the best ships that can be built—no
unwieldy wooden ones—but iron and steel
ships of great speed. It is idle to talk of
intervention anywhere or for any cause un
less we are able to enforce our demands.
It was a splendid spectacle to see an
American ship-of-war in the port of Smyrna
protect Kotsza, a naturalized citizen of the
United States, as a captain, wearing our uni
form, stood on the deck, watch in hand, giv
ing the authorities of the town the choice
of surrendering the man or receiving the
fire of his guns. We have the spirit still;
we have the men; we have the same glorious
free flag; but we must have the ships and
the guns. Henry W. Hilliard.
HORRIBLE DEATH.
A Young Man Who Down On the
Railroad la Decapitated By a Pasßins
Train.
Yesterday intelligence of a horrible ac
cident on the Georgia Railroad reached
Augusta. Mr. David V. Neal, who left Au
gusta Wednesday evening at 5:55, on the
night express, got oil' at Forrest and started
up the track. When he got to the sixteen
and a half mile post he laid down on the
track and fell asleep. Up through freight
No. 13, which leaves Augusta at 6:30, p.
m,, ran over him, cutting his head off.
Mr.' Neal lived at the seventeen milepost,
and it is said he was under the influence of
liquor when he left Augusta. He will be
buried at Warrenton this evening.
Neal, who was a printer,was in the Chron
icle editorial rooms Wednesday afternoon,
and showed a picture of his father, who
died recently, to one of the staff. This
picture was found on him when the body
was discovered.
HON. A. 11. STEPHENS.
What n Washington Journal of l.att
Saturday Says of Him.
(Washington Post.)
To-day being the seventieth birthday of
Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, he
will receive the congratulations of his friends
of all parties. And few men deserve them
more. His career has been more extended
than any other man’s now prominent in
public life. He was elected to the Georgia
Legislature in 1835, and served seven years «
in both Houses, and was first chosen to
Congress in 1843, serving until 1869, when
he declined a re-election. His subsequent
career as Vice-President of the Confederacy
is well known, as is also his course during
reconstruction, and his late services in Con
gress since 1873. He has illustrated, in his
public life, the old-time characteristics of
simplicity, plain speech, and devotion to
principle in a degree seldom shown in the
changed conditions of our latter-day polities.
He is a type of the conservative, yet pro
gressive, man, who does the real work of
legislation. The wish will be universal
that he may yet be spared for many years to
temper with his wisdom and instruct with
his counsels the men of the future as he
has those of the past.
CROP PROSPECTS IN THE WEST.
Increased Acreage in Several States and
a Bright Outlook In AH.
Chicago, February 10.—The limes has
received crop reports by telegraph this
evening from many localities in the West
ern and Southwestern States. They uni
formly speak of the remarkably mild Win
ter and the advanced stage of farm work.
Reports are received of exceptional cases
where seeding has been undertaken, favor
ed by the phenomenally mild weather and
absence of snow throughout Minnesota and
Dakota, but in most cases nothing of that
kind has yet been undertaken. Large sec
tions of new land were turned over last
year, particularly in Northern Minnesota
and Dakota, and the millers of Minneapolis
are basing their calculations upon an in
creased acreage of fully 25 per cent, from
which to draw the supply for the new mills,
the present acreage being none too large
for the existing mills. In Nebraska the
area of Spring wheat this year will probably
not be larger than last year. Owing to the
fact that the farmers did so well with corn
last year, more corn will be planted than
usual. There is very little wheat or corn in
Nebraska, nearly all having been sold. In
Kansas, wheat is in splendid condition, and
it will take an Spring to
injure it. The acreage is larger than last
year. Similar reports come from lowa, Mis
souri, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana.
There are very few marketable hogs in the
country.
CEREAI. CROPS.
Estimates of the Department of Agricul
ture.
(By Telegraph to the Chronicle.)
Washington, February 15.—The cereal
estimates of the Department of Agriculture
for the crop of 1881 are completed, showing
a more genoral reduction in yield than for
many years. During the five preceding
years no one of the grain crops met with
serious disaster. In 1875 the wheat pro
duct was reduced while the corn crop was
above an average. In 1874 the reverse was
true, wheat making an average crop and
corn nearly as bad a failure as in 1881.
In 1869 corn was a comparative
failure, , while wheat produced more
than an average yield. In no season
since the inauguration of crop reporting
has there been so general disaster involving
corn, wheat, barley, buckwheat and rye ;
oats alone being exempt from loss, The
aggregate corn estimate is 1,194,916,000
bushels grown upon 64,262,025 acres, or
18 1-10 bushels per acre. This is a reduc
tion of 31 per cent, from the crop of 1880.
The wheat crop aggregates 380,280,090
bushels—a reduction of 22 per c«nt. grown
upon 37,709,020 acres, a yield of IO 1-10
bushels per acre—the lowest rate of yield
yet reported for the entire crop—rye, 20,-
704,950 bushels—a reduction of 27 per
cent.; an area of 1.789,100-acres yield
ingj 24 7-10 bushels pe.r acre; barley,
41,161,330 bushels, a reduction of 9 per
cent, grown on 1,967,510 acres, or a rate
of 20 9-10 bushels per acre. The product
of oats is 416,481,000 bushels, against
417,885,380 in 1880. The acreage is 16,-
831,000, and the yield 24 7-10 bushels
per acre. Buckwheat, 9,48 G, 200 bushels,
grown on 828,815 acres, yielding 11 4-10
bushels per acre. The aggregate preduct of
all the cereals is 2,063,029,570 bushels,
against 2,718,193,501, a decrease of 24per
cent. The aggregate value of cereals grown
in 1881 is greater than thetdtal valuation of
1880. Com and oats, mainly consumed
at home and used inteichangably, are the
most effected by the failure of maize. The
average value of corn has advanced from
396-10 cents In 1880 to 63 6-10 cents in
1881, and oats from 36 to 46 4-10 cents.
Wheat has advanced from an average of 95
cents to $1 19 per bushel. The values are,
in round millions, as follows: Corn, $759,-
000,000; wheat, $453,OOO;0OO; oats, $193,.
000,000; rye, $19,000,000; barley, $33,-
000,000; buekwheat, $8,000,000. Total,
$1,465,000,000 against $1,361,000,000 in
1880.