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GEORGIA’S FARMERS, j
ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE
STATE AGRICULTURISTS.
—
Arrival of the Delegates—Their Wel
come to Savannah—Essays and Ad
dresses hy Prominent Georgians—The
Discussion of Agricultural Topics.
The State Agricultural Society opened
its annual convention in Masonic Hall
Tuesday morning with about 200 dele
gates in attendance, representing nearly
Oj ery county and agricultural association
in Georgia. In the absence ol the Presi
dent, Col. Thomas Hardeman, Vice Presi
dent Col.' L. F. Livingston, of Newton,
presided, with Col. E. C. Grier, Secretary,
and nearly all of the officers and Execu
tive Committee present.
The opening of the convention was de
layed until 10 o'clock in order to allow
the large number of delegates who ar
rived on the morning trains ample time to
reach the hall. As soon a* the majority
had arrived, th*Citizens’ Reception Com
mittee, with the Mayor, took seats on the
stage w ith the officers of the society, and
Acting President Livingston called the
delegates to order and announced the
convention opened.
An appropriate Psalm was read, and
prayer was offered by Rev. Charles H.
Strong, rector of St. John’s Church, after
which Mayor Lester, in behalf of the
citizens, extended to the delegates the
freedom of the city.
Hr. Prruidemt and Gentlemen: I am bidden
by the people of this city to extend to you a
hearty welcome to their midst. It is a duty
which I most cheerfully perform. The heart
of every son of Georgia goes out to the people
who represent the vast agricultural interests
of the State, an interest upon which depends
the welfare of the whole people. There are
no people so free; no people so useful; no peo
ple so individually independent, and no peo
ple so situated and circumstanced as to ad
vance and promote the interest and prosperity
of the *tate and perpetuate mir fret* institu
tions.
Georgia is an agricultural State; her people
are an agricultural people. Upon the sands
of her sea coast, upon her midlands and in the
valleys among her granite hills the people till
the soil and gather from her fertile yield the
means of life, productions for a vast com
merce and the comforts of home.
Georgia is aland of homes, of hospitable
homes, where the people love to rear their
children. The i*ople are a high-minded, gen
erous people, and rear their children to live in
the good old ways < f their fathers. To till the
soil, to love their neighbors, to act justly, love
their homes and be hospitable to the stranger
within their gates.
Von have met. Mr. President and gentle
men. to discuss the greatquestions which con
cern the material interests of the State. I feel
honored that you have selected our city as a
place for your deliberation. We claim to be
a part of the Mate of Georgia, although that
claim may be denied by the disposition of
some. We do not believe that the un rises at
Tybee and sets in the canal; we rejoice
that it shines on every foot of soil in the State
of Georgia. We rejoice and aspire to the
glory of whatever concerns the honor and
prosperity of the people of the entire state.
Your session we hope, Mr. President, will
he harmonious and profitable, and that it will
redound to the interest and utmost of the
prosperity of the entire state.
I extend to you the keys of the city. May
your stav among us lie as pleasant and agree
able as it is our desire it should he. Take our
keys as long, sir, as you may please to remain
and keep them.
The eloquent greeting was received
with enthusiastic applause, and._ in be
half of the convention, Hamilton Yancey,
Esq., of Rome, responded in acceptance
■of the welcome as follows:
Mr. Mayor: When, a few days ago, I was
£urprieed by the request of our honored Sec
retary to reply to the “Address of Welcome,"
at the Savannah Convention, on Iteliaif of the
Georgia State Agricultural Society, I was
embarrassed how to answer so coiupuwentary
a request. Immersed in the busy work of
practical life, i well knew how impossible it
would be for me to suitably prepare a re
sponse on behalf of so able a body of repre
sentative men as constitute the membership
of this society.
But. sir. to declin? would have evidenced
a want of appreciation of the grand work in
which this society is engaged, and how could
I do otherwise than promise that my feeble
voice, should respond in liehalf of an organi
zation which all Georgians should earnestly
strive by every means iu their power to sus
tain and perpetuate.
It is, therefore, with pleasure, sir, that on
behalf of the Georgia State Agricultural So
ciety, in Convention assembled, 1 thank you
for your words of welcome, for the cordial
hospitality of jour homes, and the freedom
of your city, so generously extended to the
membership of this convention. The kindly
words you have so fitly siioken will not alone
be cherished in the hearts of those present,
but they will awake a responsive echo of kindly
feeling in the hearts of ail who love Geor-
gia anil Georgia's soil.
Sir, it can but be a source of infiuite gratifi
cation to tbe agriculturists of Georgia that
this great commercial and seapprt city of our
State has flung wide open her gates, and ex
tended to their humble representatives the
hand of friendly greeting so cordially.
Sir, though we have come together from
every section of otsr State, and some of us, sir,
even from uuder the shadows of the lliue
Ridge, where we listeu to the music of the
murmuring voices of our mountain rivulets,
as in their impetuous flow to the sea they
mingle their waters through the channels of
the beautiful Oostanaula and the eataracted
Etowah, to enrich with their fertile deposits
and cargoes of freight a sister State, and.
though we have traversed hundreds of miles
that we might council together in the pursuit
of that knowledge w hich must redound to the
Tfcood of our beloved State, we do not feel that
we have come among you as strangers, but,
on D e contrary, that we arc of a brotherhood,
nurtured by tlie same mother, united in our
common interest in the noble effort to lift
our grand old mother. Georgia, upon a
higher plane of prosperity in the better de
velopment of her econoniy and material re
sources, of the treasures of wealth in her soil,
in her mines, and in the many and varied in
dustries within her I (orders.
And feeling thus, sir, we are glad that our
deliberations re to bo where they will
receive so cordial a support.
Sir, the history of your city has filled, and
must ever fill, a large part of the history of
our State. Since the planting of the banners
of the pliilantlirooic Oglethorpe upon the
banks of yonder noble stream—more than a
century and a half ago—has your city im
pressed the influence of its thought upon the
great practical and political questions of the
age, and largely aided in giving direction to
moulding the affairs of State. And to-day,
sir, the people of Georgia rejoice in the pros
perity and progress of your much loved and
queenly city.
The culture of your people, the beauty and
refinement of your daughters and the genu
ine hospitalitv'of your citizens arc proverbial
throughout tbe limit and boundaries of this
commonwealth.
We rejoice fo know, sir. that the many and
varied interests of your city have the infusion
of new blood and vigorous life, especially that
of your shipping interests.is so rapidly growing
in importance, and that a healthy vigor per
vades all departments of your economic and
commercial industries. Wc trust, ,-ir, that
the "field days” of your shipping interest raav
•multiply in geometrical progression to all
the diversified pursuits in which your jieople
are engaged. And we fqpl assured, sir, that
you fully appreciate and realize that the agri
culture "of the State is the verv foundation
and support of those varied industries, and
uim its success depends their permanent
prosperity and the continued progress of your
commercial importance.
As the great centre of the “trucking indus
try,” your city must be greatly benefited by
its growth and influence. I aril not prophet
enough to predict its possibilities, lie who a
few vears ago had dared suggest that the car
goes" of your great ocean steamships would
have been largely of “truck,” anil that the
great railroad lines of the country could not
furnish cars enough nor engines of sufficient
power to convey the “truck” of Southern Geor
gia to the markets of the East aud the West,
would have been ridiculed as a dreamer and
laughed at as a theorist.
The present is pre-eminently an age of pro
gress, and the great heart of the Empire State
of the South is to-day throbbing with the pro
gressiveness of her earnest working citizens.
Never were her people so much in earnest for
the development of the resources calculated to
advance their economic and social condition
and of availing themselves of the wonderful
discoveries of science and their uraetical ap
plication for the advancement of their mate
rial prosperity and happiness. And in no de
partment of scientific research have there
been more wonderful discoveries or
greater progress made than in the “science
of art and agriculture.” Ignorance aud
prejudice have, since the world began, de
cried tbe theories of science, and refused to
accept them until the sunlight of truth has,
by the crucible of experiment, forced the
great mind of man to accept demonstrated re
sults, and thus utilize the great forces of na
ture for the good of the people and the ad
vancement of future generations. And thus,
sir, even in this • age of enlightenment and
progress, has this society, in the face of skep
tical and adverse criticism, looking alone to
the advancement of the great agricultural
and material interests of the State, earnestly
desirous of freeing that interest from the cob’-
webs of error that have entangled it, of dissi
pating the clouds of despondency that were
lowering over it, steadily progressed in its
great work of stimulating inquiry and dis- ;
geminating the condensed and" matured ;
thought and practice of the most scientific and ■
practical workers in agricultural science, aud :
the field work of the farm.
The great good that has been thus aecom- I
plished is best known, that the results that i
' have been attained by the.increased products i
of our farms—by the increased tonnage ]
cleared at the custom house of your port—by ,
the increased freights of the great railroads !
of our State—by tbe added wealth to our an- j
mi,vl tax returns, and by the material comfort ,
and happiness of our people.
And yet, sir. these noble laborers in their
“Master's vineyard” must still continue in
their good work without fee or reward other j
than an approving conscience of “duty well .
performed,” until by “line upon line,” “pre
eept upon precept,” and the demonstration of
example upon example, they are enabled to
shed the glorious sunlight of agricultural
truths into the minds of tbe masses of the
people. And when that grand work shall
nave been accomplished then indeed will our
beloved State have reached her glorious des
tiny; her wasted lands will have been re
deemed and made fertile once more, and her
old red hills will blossom as the rose, and
peacc, happiness and prosperity will reign !
once more throughout the limits of her
borders.
By this time mauy of the delegates !
who were late in arriving had reached the ‘
hall, and tho floor was tilled with
Georgia’s sturdy sons of toil. The dele
gates comprise many of the leading men
of the States and nearly every professfcin
is represented in the convention by men
who rank high in their respective callings.
THB PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.
In the absence of President Hardeman
his animal address, forwarded from Wash
ington was read by Col. George W.
Adams, of Monroe, as follows;
Washington City, Feb. 4.1884.
G-ritUmen of the Con r,ntion: Business in the
National Council, in which you are more or less
interested, compels me to deny myself the
great pleasure I always experience while in
attendance at your conventions. Nothing but
a deep sense of my duty to the people of
Georgia, who have honored me with the posi
tion i now occupy, could prevent mv being
with you in your "meeting in our “City by the
sea." It is indeed appropriate that those en
gaged in industries, the products of whose la
bors enter so largely into the exports of the
i country, should meet with those who are also
I closely identified with our export trade as
merchants and shippers; for their interests
| are so closely interwoven there should lie
a community of feeliug and purpose, each
struggling for their common welfare and
prosperity. The question of cheap transpor
tation of farm products to our commercial
i centres and trade marts is well worthy of the
study of all who feel an abiding interest in
■ agricultural success, for when wo consider
that success is graded by a scale of profits of
. latior. and not by auarititj- of products, and
that transportion at last is but a tax upon
: toil, the question of its rost forcibly presents
itself, both to shippers and carriers. 1 sav
present* Itself. I perhaps should have said,
should command the attention of all parties
at interest. Were there no producers there
would be no necessity for carriers, and were
there no carriers, labor would toil in vain for
any reward beyond the necessities of life; in
dustries would "be paralyzed, and commerce
would die. Hence the absolute necessitv of
sympathetic co-operation, the one supplying
all the productions possible for the demands
of commerce; the other furnishing trans
portation for those products at such cost that
all the profits of labor will not be consumed
in the transit, leaving the producer
nothing as a remuneration for his labor and
investment. As there is no antagonism (nec
essarily, between labor and capital, so none
should exist between production and trans
portation, for while there is a mutual de
pendence, the one upon the other, trans
portation is *o entirely dejeendent upon
j rod net ion for its existence and preserva
tion that its “yoke should be easv ami its
burden light.” If, however, forgetful of
its true relationship—either from unconcern
or avarice—it should grow exacting in its
demands or destructive iu its methods,
there is no protection left to labor but an
appeal for redress to that power (the law)
which draws its autlioritj- from the sovereign
power—the people themselves. While, under
such exigencies, the strong arm of the law
should be laid upon exacting corporations.-at
the same time I assert, with equal omphtfsis.
the law should lie alike the impartial guardian
and protector of corporate rights and privi
leges, so long as the exercise of those rights
is restricted by their grants of power, amt
confined to a reasonable construction of laws
from which those privileges derive their being
and force. These tcooghts have been sug
gested because this convention of agricultur
ists is being held in a great commercial empo
rium, one of the chief exporting cities of the
Union, and I sincerely trust that such an affin
ity will be formed between these great par
ties that no selfishness can destroy and no
sordid prejudice can impair. This mutuality
and unity is essential to prosperity and gen
eral advancement.
The three great elements of wealth are pro
duction, cheap transportation and manufac
turing industries. These elements we should
possess—aye, do posse-.—if we would intensi
fy, regulate and utilize them. There is nei
ther business sense, sound judgment nor ordi
nary patriotism in discarding or antagonizing
them. The wagon is useless unless there is
something made to fill it or be transported by
it *. and when filled, it is worse than useless un -
less there is some joirtr to move it. So with
our productions—all over, the necessaries of
life are unproductive and valueless unless
transported or transformed by us into manu
facture. Production is the life-blood; trans
portation and manufactures are the arteries
through which it is conveyed to and from the
heart of the body industrial. Like Siamese
twins, they are inseparably connected; for
the destruction of one will be" the death of the
others. Every consideration of interest and
existence demands from those engaged in
these different industries such harmonious ac
tion and co-operative union, that prosperity
will result from their labors and plenty glad
den tho land. Concord and unity is life: dis
cord and strife is dissolution and death.
it must he a source of gratification to every
Georgian to witness our growth iu produc
tions and manufactures. Her praise falls
pleasantly upon my ears in the nation’s metro
polis. and justifies my apjieal to her people to
push forward in theinarchof progress. Keep
pace with the advancing spirit of the age.
Laj- j-onr hands, not extravagantlj- but wise
ly, upon the means in juur treasury when
ever it is necessary for the demands of
science, the growth of industries, or live de
velopment of your now dormant resources.
In some fields of labor you have just entered
a proper apppreciation of tlielr richness, a iust
estimate of 1 heir advantages, and a suitable
protection and encouragement for those who
enter them, will amply repay you for your
care- and investments. Progress comes only
from thrifty enterprise and well-directed
effort. Withhold not these, and your w r ater
powers will not remain always unutilized.
Your varied forest will not always stand In
solemn grandeur, to be felleS onlv by the
lumberman's careless axe or the "winter's
storm. Your coal and iron will not much
longer remain profitless and untouched in
their mountain beds. God designed them for
the use and enrichment of the people, to
whom this land was given for an inheritance,
and that design will not be thwarted, for each
succeeding year Justifies the prophecy that
the South will, if true to herself, become a
great manufacturing people; that our forests,
which now demand State legislation for their
protection, will in due season furnish our
work-shops and manufacturing interests all
necessary timbers for our implements, tools
and machinery; that at the base of our moun
tains will spring up Birmingham* filled with
industrious communities, transforming our
exliaustless ores in their furnaces and forges
into elements of wealth and power. All these
are within our reach if our industries do not,
like Kilkenny cats, destroy themselves. Con
cert in action, unity of wise purpose, har
mofir in prosecution will invite investment,
control labor and command success. Dreams
of power never of themselves brought realiza
tion. Action, energizing action, is the key
note of progress. Hopes of greatness raav
thrill the patriotic heart, Imt disappointment
will even be the lot of him who strikes not
himself the blow that unbars the golden gate.
Power may charm with its attraction, wealth
may dazzle with its glittering gold, nature
may point to her resources and invite devel
opment; but vafin will he the dreams of power,
wealth or development if we fold our arms in
ease and expect others to come and gather
when we have sown no seed for the harvest.
Work has begun in yours and other labor
occupations. Let it not stop, for there is no
more inviting field for labor—for the man of
action, enterprise and culture—than agricul
ture now affords. Tbe dawn for anew era in
your profession, “intensive agriculture.” is
already shedding its brilliant light upon the
home and farm, successful experiment has
astonished with its results the enthusiastic
scientist, and given new life to vour industry
aud increased zeal to him who studies how to
farm.
Just as the day was dawning and the light
was falling upon the hilltop of future prom
ise, one who had stood upon the watch tower
ami heralded the coming of the Day King
with prophetic earnestness and practical faith
was stricken from his post, and bis life was
closed as the evidences of his prophecies ful
filled were being gathered about him. Farish
Carter Furman ojiened anew book in his pro
fession, and many are now studying the in
structive pages he unfolded. The compiler
has passed away; the book, however, is
unsealed, and its lids will not close again
until it higher civilization discloses theo
ries and plans and teachings . better
adapted to a grander development,
and a still more intelligent advancement. A
true disciple of agriculture has passed away.
Under the soil that he cultivated, among the
red hills of his childhood home, sleep his ashes
to-dav. Agriculture lost ia him an enthusi
astic follower, science a friend, this society
ami its executive committee a member of use
fulness and great promise. What he began
you can carry on to a successful completion.
The soil is yours—t he grand elemeuts of power
which invited his attainments are within
your grasp. Energetic and skilled applica
tion arc all that is necessary to insure a reali
zation of the dreams that tilled his head and
the holies that stirred his soul.
An application of all the aid science and ex-
perience furnish is eminently necessary now.
The year just passed has not"been a profitable
one to most of our farmers. Bad seasons cur
tailed the crops. The winter's freezes have
added to their losses by damaging their grain
cro >, thus adding to their misfortune; hut I
do not despair of the coming year, for the
same resolute spirit that sustained you when
you began farm life after the devastation and
ruin of war, will nerve you still to duty.
Losses may embarrass, disasters may over
take you, but nothing can couquer you, un
less you prove false to the history of the past
and to the manly spirit that has ever charac
terized you. Were it the lot of others than
vourselves I would tremble for the result, but
knowing as I do the old “Old Guard ueversur
renders,” I look forward to an active cam
paign-short, decisive, successful. Economize
your forces, husband well your supplies, look
carefully to vour food crops—beware of the
syren that whispers in your ears, easy credit,
the farmer’s reliance. Live within your means
and regulate your contracts by your ability to
pay, and all will yet be well. There is no room
for discouragement, for in no period of our
country’s history has agriculture occupied so
prominent a position in governmental affairs
as now. Legislators begin to feel its force and
appreciate its power. The millions engaged
iu tilling the soil demand recognition lrom
the nation's law givers, and he who refuses
them proper recognition and encouragement
let him be “Anathema Maranatha." Turn
not back, my countryman, from the way you
are entering. Along it is contentment; ‘at its
terminus is independence and prosperity.
This much I have considered my duty to write
unto you: “That ye lie not shaken iii mind or
bo troubled, neither bv spirit nor by word,
nor by letter as from us." “Not because you
have not power, but to make yourselves’an
ensample” tootherssoekingprofit, and knowl
edge, and usefulness, to follow after you. I
wish you, fellow members, a convention that
will be as replete in benefits as it must be in
refined enjoyment.
At the eonalusion of the address the
acting President announced the introduc
THE SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1884.
tion qF resolutions anl the movement of j
privileged questions Yn order.
<3ol. E. W. Benson, of Albany, moved
the reference of the matter of a change in
The basis of representation noticed at the
last meeting of the convention, to a spe
cial committee to be appointed by the
Chair. The •motion prevailed, and the
committee of reference was appointed,
with Mr.Benson as Chairman.
Capt. J. tv. McCall presented an hivita
tion froi* 1 the Savannah, Florida and
Western Railway extending tho conven
tion the privileges of the road and tender
ing a complimentary excursion to the
Florida State Fair, now in progress at
Jacksonville.
I>r. 11. H. Cary moved the acceptance
; of the imitation and the appointment of
a committee to communicate to the
officials of the road the thanks of the con
vention.
The arrangements for the excursion
■ were afterward reported by the commit
tee and the programme announced to the
delegates.
The committee of arrangements on the
part of the convention consists of Cant.
; J. G. McCall, Chairman; Hon. 1). B. Har
rell, P. J. Berckmans, Esq., J. O. Wad
dell. Esq.
On the part of the Savannah, Florida
and Western Railway Company—Capt.
; R. G. Fleming, Chairman; Capt. S. T.
1 Kingsbery, Geo. W. Haines, Esq., Jas. L.
: Taylor, Esq.
The Secretary read the invitation from
’ the citizens of Savannah to visit the
wharves of the Ocean Steamship Company
and to an excursion to lie given down the
: river to-day, and stated that in accepting
the invitation a change in the programme
j of the convention would be necessary.
T. N. Fulton, Esq.","of McDuffie, moved
the acceptance of the invitation and a
1 change in the programme to conform to
1 its fulfillment.
A rising vote was taken, and tpe invita
tion was unanimously accepted.
Communications were also read from
the Cotton Exchange and Board of Trade,
extending courtesies to the convention.
Dr. Cary moved that the Mayor and
City atithorities of Savannah, the Chat
ham County Fruit and Vegetable Growers’
Association, the members ot the Press,
and citizens oi Savannah generally, he
invited to attend the sessions of the con
vention.
At the conclusion of this order of business
Col. Janies M. Mobley, of Hamilton, was
introduced and read an interesting essay
on “System in Farming a Necessity,” a
theme which he had selected because his
observation had led him to the conclusion
that it was one of the most Important
topics that could be discussed by the con
vention.
MR. MOBLEY’S ADDRESS.
All inanimate as well as animate things are
governed b>- certain systems and fixed rules,
which is dailj’ demonstrated as the sun rises
iu the east and pursues his journey until he
sets behind the western hills; when the moon
and stars take up the same wondrous tale,
which is repeated from age to age and from
century to century.
Out of all this vast extent of creation but
one class has any power in shaping the rules
and regulations hy which it is to be governed,
and that is our race of human beings. The
means for man’s own happiness, prosperity,
and eery existence, are within hisown control,
through the intellect and capacity given him
for that purpose, and if he desires he may, by
a proper use of these means, lie successful and
happy, or by an improper use of them meet
with sorrow, grief and defeat. It has been
truly said, and i now repeat it with emphasis,
that ''Kerry u.-in is the architect Of hi* own
fortune."
In all ages of the world men. in view of
these facts, have applied themselves
diligently-, adapting such pious or sys
tems as" they believed would lead to
success in the various pursuits, the
learned professions, the arts and sciences,
and in all the various manufacturing and
commercial enterprises of the times, iu none
of which would there have been the least
hope ef success without well matured plan*
faithfully executed.
And yet in farming but few attach import
ance to the necessity of close.scrutin izing stinly
and investigation in forming a programme or
system to be observed in order to Insure suc
cess. Many show by their acts that tliej* be
lieve this department of industry is very easy,
not requiring the mind to be taxed in think
ing, and studying out beforehand the best
plan and mode, with the probable results of
their operations. This is.in mv judgment,
why so few succeed. While they are con
vinced that a lawver, a doctor, a" merchant,
mechanic, manufacturer, or railroad man
cannot succeed without energy of body and
mind, well applied under the most rigid rules,
they lielieve that in farming such is not at all
necessary, and does not require study and
system like these other pursuits. Hence care
lessness is manifested in the preparation,
planting, plowing and reaping the crop, and
everything else connected "with a farmer’s life.
There never was a greater mistake, which is
not only shown by all things in nature, sound
reason and good sense, but by many examples
' which might be given of successful and unsuc
' cessful farmers in Georgia, and the cause of it.
1 challenge the production of a solitary ex
ample of failure where a man of ordinary
mind has applied himself studiously to the
business, with proper energy and economy,
always seeking light and knowledge with the
best plans aud improvements, such as the
Dixons, the Clarks, Barrows, Furmans,
Browns, Montgomerys, Feltons, Joneses. Sir
cies, and a host of others. While not a single
successful man can be found who failed to
give close attention and study before adopt
ing a system or plan (unless he worked on the
plan of another), or of one who faltered be
fore executing his system or plan, under this
head of unsuccessful farming hundreds and
thousands might he named. Of course if the
system is defective it will be shown in the re
sults, therefore the greater necessity in con
sidering well any system liefore adopting it.
The best systems may require variation in de
tail under certain unforeseen circumstances,
but there are certain general principles that
ought to prevail at all times. For Instance,
every one should shape his course according
to his capacity or means, never going beyond
them. If he has no money or capital
he should labor for someone who
has until, by prudence and economy,
lie saves enough to set up for himself,
paying a6 he goes—and if he can't pay don't
go at all. A small farm and corresponding
outfit and equipments paid for is niucli better
than a large magnificent plantation run on a
credit.
The great question to be solved is, what sys
letn or plan is the bentl—ln forming them,
much should depend on the situation and lo
cality. Be that, however, as it may, the first
thing to be conside-ed as of the highest im
portance should he lieaith and comfort, fur
without it all systems and plans would fail.
And to secure good health there should be
regularity lu habits free from all excesses and
dissipations, with certain fixed hours fur la
bor. recreation, refreshment, study and sleep,
about equally divided, keeping at al! times a
proper supply of wholesome food and nourish
ment for the body, the mind and the son!;
with comfortable homes suitably fur
nished, giving special care to the cooking de
partment—for generally too little attention is
given to it—variety and change is essential to
health. All should be properly served and
cooked,especially the bread. All this need not
cost more than a careless system of supplying
our meals; indeed and in truth, it will cost
less. With a suitable diet one is apt to enjoy
good health and cheerful spirits, which
are indispensable to success. In addition to
this he should read, at least a little every day,
suitable books and newspapers, as food
for the mind, with appropriate meditation,
and devotion to God, always living so that he
will have a conscience “void of offense toward
God and mail.”
With this preparation a farmer will feel
the necessity of pushing forward in the dis
charge of the various obligations resting on
him with a certain system of fixed rules and
regulations.
An object should be kept steadily in rleic, and
in order to reach or obtain it from the begin
ning to tbe end a regular schedule, programme,
or system should be adopted and observed;
this system in all its sections, connected and
linked together, making one general whole,
deficient in none of its parts, and all depend
ing the one upon the other, and requiring
punctual and prompt performance of each.
Some may object to large and extended plans
reaching through the whole year, and some
times mauy years, and call it ” building castles
in the air. This objection is met by the
stern fact that no castle was ever properly or
successfully built without first being built in
the air, from the smallest hut to the most
splendid edifice, all arranged, planned and
tilted from pit to dome. A splendid example
of this is given in tne planning of the magnifi
cent temple of King Solomon; no structure
was ever like this for exact proiiortione and
beautiful dimensions, from the magnificent
portico in the east to the sanctum sanctorum in
tlie west, with its 1,453 columns, and 2,000 pi
lasters. all hewn from tlie finest marble, and
about 2,250 windows, with all its brilliant dec
orations of gold and silver and pearls and dia
monds. And yet the shape, dimensions, stvle
and position of each and every part of this,
the world’s grandest structure, was well un
derstood and defined before a lick was struck.
Then do not be alarmed with the cry of
“castles in the air.” But there must he work
—work—for planning will do no good without
executing it. All this Is necessary in farming
as well as other pursuits. At the beginning
of the year the wnole plan should tie well stu
died and adopted, not only for the work of
one year, but for a number of years. The ne
glect of this is often the cause of failure.
More should never lie undertaken than there
is means to complete, and this can he esti
mated very correctly at the commencement.
After having in order everything about the
house, with a place for everything and
everything in its place, then necessary
stock, horses, mules and cattle, hogs, poultry,
etc., should be procured, with proper and con
venient places for keeping them in winter as
well as summer, giving them suitable food
regularly and at stated times. Next, the best
farming" implements should be obtained anil
kept in good order, in places set apart alonefor
that purpose, always guarding against thieves.
Stock and implements thus kept would last for
years, and the owner be prevented from the
annoyance of finding them out of order and
out of place just at a particular time when
they arc needed most, and should be had
without the delay of hunting them or putting
them in order. When this is done, the next
thing to be considered is, how much laud can
be cultivated, and how it shall he divided off
for the garden, the orchard, the truck patch,
the place for the oats, tbe barley, the rye, the
wheat, the sugar cane, the corn, and,"lastly,
the cotton. Special consideration should tie
given to the quantity and the cost of the labor
required inmakiag the crop, and tbe proba-
Vulifies' >f scouting it at the proper time; and
if possible make the contracts at the begin
ning of the year, plainly and distinctly in
writing, to which there "should he a strict
afilierence on the part of the employer
as well as the employed—requiring
a certain number of hours in the summer ana
a certain number in the widterof labor to be
performed, and a forfeiture in failure to do
so. All the railroad and manufacturing com
panies adopt this course, in substance, atrd it
is less difficult for them to procure and keep
labor, although their work is harder than the
fanner, which no doubt is greatly owing to
the promptness, punctually and strictness
required and observed by these corporations
and companies. The system of labor most
suitable and profitable "to farming has been a
subject of much discussion, and is yet an
unsettled question; yet it is now well’settled
that strictness, kindness and exact justice in
contracts and in settlements is the most suc
cessful way of managing oil laborers.
When you are supplied with laud, stock,
implements and labor another important ques
tion aries. It is this: "Ifoic ami in ichotpro
portion. shall the firm be divided and planted t"
This must lie decided at once, and must de
pend mostly on the condition and quality of
the land and surrounding 'circumstances,
which every one must decide for himself. He
can do this better than any one else for him,
availing himself of every opportunity to get
information and advice from others who have
more experience and knowledge than himself.
One thing, however, mat* be settled without
debate, and that is the preparation should be
commenced early, so that when the seasons
conic to plant everything will Ik* in readiness
for it, always hearing in mind that there is a
season for ji? anting something every month in
the year in almost every section of Georgia,
and if it is done it will insure a good crop
where proper cultivation is applied. While
this variety of crops, with proper manage
ment, need not interfere with each other, Cut
•m-the contrary may be so arranged that the
change and the passing from the work of one
to the other would afford recreation and
pleasure in conformity with the wise purposes
of the Great I Am when lie created us and
gave us dominion over all things.
In planning*er pitching the crops it ought
to be .•*> divined that one-third or more should
be devoted to oats, wheat, barley and rve, in
additioß to small patches well fertilized and
planted early for grazing purposes, one-third
in corn and one-third in cotton, changing and
rotating the crops from year to year, which
would prevent injury to the land and make
it grow better. It would be still wiser where
the quantity of land is sufficieut to divide it
equally into four parts, and let one-fourth lay
out and rest every year. No argument is
necessary now to demonstrate this proposi
tion. The truth of it ean be verified by many
who have tried it. And yet there are" many
I who fail to observe it, and go on from year to
[ jear planting the same fields in cotton and
the same small patches in corn, buying guano
at great trouble and expense to feed tueirex
liausted lands, that might be saved and made
rich without guano auu without special labor
' by simply rotating the crops, the" growth of
’ one crop making it better for tho growth of
i another the next, as lias been fully illustrated
i in the essays of I'rofs. Browne and While, of
the State University, and others, as well as
• by experiments.
"In the cultivation of a crop
rule should lie strictly observed; never waste
time in workihg land that will not produce.
| If it can’t be enriched and prepared so as to
yield a good average crop, let it alone, wlietli
! er jou have enough to employ the whole time
| or "not. Don’t strike a lick anywhere with
! out a prospect of remuneration, if you can’t
get the lest, take w hat you can without de
lay, and move <n, promptly and with dis
! patch.
j As to the manner of preparing tlie land,
plowing, the time of planting and mode of
! culture, this must vary, and depends mbch
: upon the quality and condition of the soil.
Often it is very different on the same planta
tion. and requiring different modes of culture,
j A suitable season for one may be very unsuit
able for another, which, instead of being a
disadvantage, is a great benefit, for on such a
i farm the occupant is never without an oppor
tunity of doing profitable work on some part
I of it." lie should thoroughly understand the
peculiar characteristics of each plat of ground,
what it needs and liovv it should lie plowed
aud cultivated during the year, and strictly
adhered to. His system should be as perfect
! as possible, linked and joined together under
uniform complete rules as a whole, making ar
| rangements in advance for any possible emer
gency that may happen by changes in the
1 weather, the seasons, or otherwise. Care
, should be taken to avoid crowding the work
of one month into another. “ Nothing that can
j be done to-day should be postponed until an
other time.” By observing this rule a farmer
' will seldom ever be crowded or confused in
I his business, but will have ample time for
I everything to be done pleasantly and without
distraction.
In every movement there must be prompt
; ness and dispatch in executing a well-prepared
j system, the neglect of which is sure to be fol
: lowed with the same disastrous consequences
resulting from neglect and want of system in
the management of railroads, steamboats, and
great manufacturing establishments, run by
complicated machinery. When accidents
happen to interfere with the regular schedule
of a well-devised system, the injury' is soon
repaired, and all move on again with the same
ease and success as before it occurred.
So it should be with the farmer when he is
visited by hail and storm, cyclones and floods,
cold.freezes or droughts, or any other disaster.
He should be ready for the emergency, which
can lie met with comparative ease by timely
energetic action of tlie mind as well as the
body. Without forethought and preparation
the least little unfortunate occurrence dis
joints everything, and throws it into one gen
eral mass of cpnruslon and utter failure.
In gathering and saving the crop system is
necessary, as well as in making It, and should
be done as quick after maturity as possible, to
prevent waste, having it securely housed,
placing the cotton and other sur
plus crops in market immediately;
applying the proceeds, first to the paying of
debts— if there should he any—and’ there
need not be any, or at least not amounting
to much. But if there is indebtedness it is
the more important to sell aud stop shrinkage,
waste, risks and interest, and then apply the
remainder to wise investments to promote
the health, comfort aud happiness of the fam
ily and increase the annual income of the es
tate—holding fast to the money until fullv
satisfied the investment is better than the
money, and will yield a safer, surer income,
avoiding extravagance and waste, living in a
style corresponding with the Income, so as not
to consume itallin living, being indifferent
or independent as to liow the neighbors or
anybody else mav live, for their income may
justify a very differcut amount of expendi
tures and style of living, It ia far more hon
orable to live within our means than to go
beyond it. In fact, knowingly going beyond
it, without some well matured plans to meet
it, is certainly dishonorable— very dishonora
ble. Many failures have been caused by en
deavoring to.live in a style equal toothers. No
one can succeed or win, in such a race. It is
folly to try it.
\\ ith these facts staring them full in the
face, many heedlessly, yes, recklessly, con
tinue the race uutil" they are run to death,
and fainting "they fall to rise no more.” Let
their sad fate admonish us to pursue a differ
ent course.
Each should have their own system, em
bracing their own style of living suitable to
their own means and conditions.
With proper system and well matured plans
each and every farmer in this county- may be
ns happy as a Prince, for lie can produce all
the luxuries as well as necessaries of life on
his own premises— yes, his own premises —for
every one, by the fruit of his own labor, pro
perly saved and managed, can soon make
money enough to buy himself a nice, comfor
table home, or land on w hich he cau build and
improve, according to his means, from time to
time, and adorn it with beautiful gardens,
orchards, vineyards and fish ponds.
On every farm the system adopted should
specify the work for each member of the
family—something for the man, some
thing for the wife and something for the
children, of whom, thanks to a gracious
Providence, there is generally a pretty
good supply, wAli rosy, healthy checks,
strung arms and buoyant hearts. Work
should bo assigned to each for caoli day
in one perfect system, all impressed with tlie
lienctiis and beauty of order, promptness and
punctuality. Such a family goes on from year
to year prospering and to prosper—coutentcd
aud happy—and yet all struggling like lierecs
to increase their stock and common store.
The great trouble in Georgia and elsewhere
is the lack of system in farming. Men are
expecting to succeed without plans, wisdom
or study, under the erroneous impression that
they cau prosper without it, although for tlie
want of it they have failed in everything
else, and then run into this business, not as
laborers, but as proprietors of farms, without
capital, often buying the land and stock and
provisions on a credit, if not for the whole, for
a part, after paying all the cash they can get
from their more successful relatives and
friends, giving a mortgage not only on that
property, hut also on the crop to be raised, to
secure tlie balance, including JO per cent, at
torney's fees, tor coUccting it, with waiver of
homestead and right of exemption. To them
it is generally a bad crop year, the creditors
get back all the property and the crop
too at the Ctad of the year, with a
judgment hanging over them for a considera
ble balance. so they trv something else, still
pursuing the same careless, thoughtless
course, without a programme, plan, or sched
ule, and of course the result is tne same. Our
country is filled with such men who say tliey
are unlucky, and fortune or fate is against
them.
Why can’t we abandon such a course and
discourage it among our children and neigh
bors, so that they would adopt a correct sys
tem on a proper foundation, which is sure to
be followed with good results, shaping our
plans according to eupacity and means, “cut
ting the garment according to tlie cloth,”
living within the income, keeping indepen
dent of [icrtrsAoKSss, banks, merchants, and
money loaners ? Any system not embracing
these principles and securing these resnlts, is
a bad one and should be at once abandoned.
Adopt a good system, the best, and stick to
it to the cnil ef the chapter. Neglect in some
very small item may defeat the whole plan,
just as one spark of fire that from carelessness
falls into any dry stable, or liay, or powder,
will spread until it becomes a "great confla
gration.
As funds increase, as they most assuredly
will under faithful, prudent, economical man
agement, they should be applied to the pur
chaseof improved machinery and implements,
and the erection of establishments at home for
manufacturing the product of tlie soil.
Under these skillful efforts who can predict
the great wealth and, power to be developed
in our grand old State, willi its superior na
tural facilities of air, climate, water, miner
als, and variety of soils and productions that
cannot be [excelled;- and hardly equaled, by
anv country in the civilized world? Ener
getic, systematic management on the farm is
what is most needed. In importaucc it is
high above railroads, manufacturing, com
merce, merchandise, banks, schools and col
leges, as much as may be said in favor of
them, for the success of each of these depends
tlpou what is realized from the farms. The
-necessity of the times demands that there
should be no half-way business, no blundering,
no hatch-work. but such as comes from think
ing. studying, diligent men, who will not enter
tain the idea of failure, for there need be
none. With proper effort our country would
soon abound and flourish with cosy homes,
occupied by intelligent, happy people, with full
barns and storehouses . fine horses and cattle.
making a necessity for and producing and
sustaining the railroads, merchandize, manu
factures and the various incidents to a thriv
ing. prosperous, producing people. It is a
grand prize held out in full view and within
reach of all. Go forward and take it, for you
are fully able. Turn your backs to the towns
and cities, the learned professions, and the
various pursuits of traffic and speculation and
go to the farm with all the powers of your
mind, soul and body. Away forever with the
idea that we must go to the villages, towns
and cities to hunt for society and educate our
children. A farmer’s lile is the happiest in
the world. He can certainly enjoy as many
comforts and luxuries as the city 'gentleman
if he will only use the means within his reach
and not try to run tco fast at the start and
break down, or ruin himself by a desire for
office and meddling in politics and other peo
ple’s business, except in matters for the gen
eral good of all and deeds of brotherly love
and charity and aid to those who are in dis
tress.
"Without sj-stem do man may expect to suc
ceed. Although at first the prospect may
seem favorable, soon the scene will change,
and he is sure to fail.
While these propositions may all be admit
ted as true, the -question will present itself.
‘'mill systematic farming be generally adopted!"
In answer to this, it may be verj' properly re
plied, from present indications, it will be done
very slowly.
How then shall this improved sj'stem, to
which I have briefly and imperfectly allud
ed, be 6uccesssfully urged upon the fann
ers generally': The answer is at hand. Let
us ourselves demonstrate the truth of these
principles by putting them in practice, and
teaching it to our children and neighbors;
and, in a very short time, a decided change
will take place everywhere. Our people will
be out of debt, with abundance around them
—many of them becoming rich, with large
fortunes free from mortgages to merchants
and Northern banks and loan associations, to
whom many are now largelj' indebted, pava
ble in annual Installments. Oh that I could
ring it loud enough tobeheard all over Georgia:
get rid of these loan associations, warehouses
and banks, and keep independent of
them. By systematic, energetic work.
With proper economy, you ean do it
woik mu,,r Uicbclianassingemnarrassments;
don’t depend on bankrupt and relief laws, or
homesteads and exemptions, which nuv all
be very good in their places. Bely upon
brave hearts and strong arms. Again, let it
be repeated, work out and shake off these
shackels of tyranny. Go at it without delay.
Then every foot of our land will he in de
mand. and thousands will be flocking to
Georgia to enjoy our fine water, pure air,
rich mineral mines, and fertile fields, where
happiness and prosperity will reign trium
phant throughout the length and breadth of
our grand old common weath, from the Savan
nah to the Chattahoochee, and from the
mountains to the sea.
At the conclusion of Col. Mobley’s
essay, which was listened to with the
closest attention, the roll of delegates was
called and the badges of the society were
distributed. This occupied considerable
time, and iu order to reach an adjourn
ment by II o’clock to-day, the time ap
pointed by the committee for the depart
ure of the excursion steamer, it was de
cided to proceed with the business an
nounced for the afternoon session.
In so doing the President called upon
lion. N. E. Harris, of Macon, who was
announced to read an essay on “Techni
cal Education in Georgia.’ 5
Mr. Harris responded that he had uot
anticipated being called upon at that
time, and further that bis essay was more
of the character ot an address than of an
essay. When first requested to appear
before the convention he was informed
that he was expected to deliver an ad
dress. Upon receiving a programme of the
proceedings he saw that he was announced
to read an essay. He had, therefore,
transformed his address and given it as
much of that character as possible.
MR. BARKIS’ ADDRESS.
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Georgia
Suite Agricultural Society: Due afternoon in
M*y, 1882, the manager of the Telegraph and
Messenger, passing my gate, in the city of Ma
con, invited me to a walk around the square.
Ob our way the subject of the State Univer
sity w as mentioned, and after some discussion
as "to its management and prospects, my com
panion said: "A school of technology is the
great want of tlie State at this time. The
Leglsiatura ought to appropriate a million
dollars to found aud endow such an institu
tion.”
The word then was new to me, but after an
explanation I elated that I would rather lie
the author of a lew making such appropria
tion, and founding such au institution, than
to be Governor of th* State.
To the suggestion in this conversation was
dne the effort subsequently made by myself, iu
conneCL'oa with other members, iu the Legis
lature to establish aud endow a school of the
character named.
The events attending that effbft, ;ml the
failure which followed, are all too recent iC
need more than a reference in passing.
When the resolution appointing a committee
to investigate the subject was first presented
to tbe Committee on Education of the House,
quite a notable event occurred. Several mem
bers of that committee rushed to their feet si
multaneously, and asserted that their own
thoughts were voiced in the measure—that
there was nothing of which the State stood
in greater need than such a school, and heart
ily pledged their voice aud influence to aid
the purpose of the resolution. The committee
gave its unanimous indorsement to the meas-
ure.
I can never forget that investigating trip.
Nine young men of the South, all ignorant of
the first elements of the subject under consid
eration, turned their faces to the North for
light. Georgia went back to Massachusetts
to study first principles! What scorn for such
a course we would have felt in tlie old ante
bellum days! Tbe ingenuity and sharpness
of the Massachusetts Yankee were once the
subject of unlimited jest among us. We
held ourselves aloof from them,
boasting a nobility of wealth and ease,
like the Pharisee, rejoicing we were not in
their position. We set up the blood of the
Cavaliers against the lineage of the Plymouth
fatkftrs and thanked Got! for the accident
whßfi gave us the grandest civilization the
worn ever saw.
Now, with the source of our wealth all gone,
with the gospel of labor only lately preached,
and hut little learned among us, we crept back
to the scene of the nation's workshops to learn
the history aud study the progress of that na
tional characteristic which we once despised.
Whatever may lie said of the success of our
mission one thing is certain, it filled those nine
members of the Georgia Legislature with ar
dor and enthusiasm, and they returned to
Georgia impressed with the belief that the
future progress of the country depended on
the introduction and support of technical
education; that iu this was the remedy for all
our present evils.
The people of the country have discovered
that we made one grand mistake; we did not
take enough members of the Legislature with
us. We ought to have carried with us 01 other
members besides Dr. Orr. There happened
to be just that number in the Legislature op
posed to the school.
We have this consolation in our defeat—the
work which we did, the discussions which we
provoked, and the facts that we gathered,
have made a salutary impression on other
communities than ours, and it is safe to hope
that the interest thus aroused will cause tome
other Legislature," more liberal and more pat
riotic than the last, to take the measure up
where we laid it down, and carry it forward
to tlie consummation so much desired by all
who understand it.
[Here Mr. Harris gave a short history of the
fate of the bill. He claimed that it was lost
by reason of the number of absentees; that it
was reconsidered next day, and was not again
reached. He said it was only postponeil-f
The subject of technical education is occu
pying a prominent and important position in
the public thoughts to-day, A. B. Hewitt, of
New York, in a recent interview at the Coop
er Institute, said: “The people which is not
interested in the subject of technical educa
tion now is behind the age.”
Though undoubtedly the leading feature of
discussion iu all educational circles, yet the
system as now understood, is of compara
tively recent origin. True, technical schools,
in which certain scientific profes
sions were taught, have long been in
operation, but the schools carried on upon
what is known as the Russian system—sepa
rating the art from the trade, and putting
theory aud practice in parallel, and therefore
always separate lines—date no further back
in this country than, possibly, the year 1866.
On this system the great leading institutions
of the kind are working.
Our fiist ideas of industrial schools were
taken from a vastly different class of schools
to those now referred to. The former were
based, generally, on the idea of tbe apprentice
system, I think. For instance.no problems were
formulated, no gradation of the seriesof prac
tical experiments was relied on; no certain
system was followed, in fact, save what was
suggested and necessitated by the demands of
the trade. The student learned at hap-liaz
ard, his wishes were not consulted, and no
regard was had for aptitude, and no room al
lowed for choice. It was like putting corn
into A hopper to be ground—the stones crush
and grind the corn, and a turn of meal is the
result, either coarse or fine, as the miller
willed.
The identity of the student would he lost in
the crowd.
The technological school of to-day discard -
ing the demands of the trade, awards to one
professor the school room proper, aud to
another the practice of the profession in the
workshop and laboratory, with the idea of
adapting to the purpose of instruction all
manuaUand mental labor, the two depart
ments keeping pace with each other, and thus
compelling the student to advance, the inter
dependence of the departments rendering
stagnation or rctrogradation impossible.
There never was a finer system conceived
than this, and it is something of a rebuke to
our national pride that we arc indebted for
its discovery to the power-ridden children of
Russia.
The great impulse given to technical edu
cation in recent years,outside of our own I (or
ders, arose from afaet that was sometime since
forced upon the notice of the inhabitants of
Great Britian. Nations are much line indi
viduals. If one of our planters should so im
prove the quality of his cotton as that he
could always command a higher price and
readier sale for it than his "neighbors, they
would naturally 6et to work to find out his
methods in ordar to apply the same treat
ment to their own crops. So with national
affairs. It was ascertained by the English
people that the sales of one of tbe leading
articles manufactured on the island had sud
denly aud strangely fallen off. Inquiry
naturally followed, and, to the great surprise
of the English, it was discovered that the peo
ple of one or two German States had lx*come
so wonderly skillful in the manufacture of
the article in question that they were abso
lutely flooding the markets of the world with
goods of better quality and at cheaper rates
than the merchant princes of Manchester and
Leeds could afford. A royal commission was
raised to inquire into the reasons, and it was
discovered that the German workmen, trained
themselves in high technical schools, had
been reinforced by the thought and study of
the learned colleges and the practical experi
ments of the students and professors therein
till a degree of skill and ingenuity hitherto
unknown in similar manufactures bad been
reached. The learned and industrious work
men had solved the problem of cost and qual
ity together. Investigation in other coun
tries only confirmed the first discovery
j and the English people were plainly told that
unless they should estaolish technological col
leges and institutions of high grade they must
make up their miuds to lose tneir position as
the foremost manufacturing nation on the
globe. It is safe to conclude that the English
Government will avert the threatened danger
j by providing the remedy at once.
, There are not wanting those in our own
country who have felt and recognized the
j importance of this subject. In 1882, the Gen
■ oral Government appropriated what is known
;.ts the land scrip fund to the States for the
, purpose of providing in each State a college
; lor instruction in agriculture and the me
| ehanic arts. In December. Iss2, the Commis-
I aioner of Education, in response to a Senate
: resolution, made an elaborate report showing
i the results of the appropriation, with the pres
; ent state of technical education in the Union.
In the same year the Congress appropriated
! over $481,000 to the Indian tribes of the West
j for the purpose of industrial education.
Many of the States, following up the policy
j of the General Government, have snpple
! mented the land scrip fund by dtrect doua
j tions from the Treasury, in order to carry out
more effectively the purpose lot which the
fund was intended.
Private individuals, catching the spirit of
the times, and impressed with the importance
of this branch of education, are endowing col
leges and universities with the means neces
sary to impart such instruction, in man v of
our sister States.
The colored people, too, have hy no means
been overlooked by those who arc friendly to
their interests. A portion of the income aris
ing from the Slater fund has been applied, in
accordance with the directions ef the doner,
to tho support of schools of technology
throughout the South, having for their object
the educating and training of the colored
children in the branches taught in such insti
tutions. A department for this purpose has
been added to the Atlanta University,
and the sum of $2,000 appropriated annually
for its support.
So also the Lewis High School for colored
children, at Macau, has opened a depart
ment of the same kind. Notwithstand
ing the fact that our Legislature
| refused to establish such ail institution
l for the white children of the Slate, vet it is
: some gratification to know that the General
Government is determined to give the In
dians the benefit ot such education. It is some
i consolation to know that the Northern friends
! of Southern negroes are determined to give
j this population among its the benefits of such
j education. It ts some consolation to know
that our sister States of the South are
awakened to the importance of this matter,
| and are apparently determined to give their
white children the benefits of such education.
And it is some consolation to know that the
millionaires of the North are opening and en
dowing departments in Vanderbilt and Yale
and M ashington Universities for the purpose
of allowing the children of the rich and the
proud to obtain the benefits of such education!
The comments of the press, while the mat
ter was yet pending before the Legislature, if
read m the light of the subsequent fate or the
( bill, would create a smile, no doubt, to-day.
The New \ ork papers said the movement was
an evidence of the fact that Georgia still in
tended to deserve and keep the proud name of
the Empire State of the South. The Tennes
see papers, commending Senator Brown's po
sition on the subject, said it marked the com
mencement of anew era in Georgia in ttie
line of progress. The Alabama papers prom
ised us help, and heartily commended the un
dertaking. The South Carolina papers hailed
the movement as evidence of an awakening
to a sense of the new order of things. Missis
sippi papers urged their own citizens to be
stir themselves in a like direction. Even the
Boston papers declared that the movement
was siomentdus, and bespoke an effort to
solve the great problem forced on us bv the i
war. Sot a paper in Georgia opposed it— i
most of them favored the movement. Not a
leader of note, not a man of brains opened bis
mouth in any other way than to commend the i
policy of the proposed measure.
J. Technical education is especially adapted '
to the present wants and necessities of the
race. It is essentially a resolution to first
principles. It aims at raising hand work to a
level with brain work and "advancing both
together.
This result is demanded by the character of
our civilization. The spirit of our age is em
phatically practical and utilitarian. Even
in educated circles the old canons of taste
and criticism, of merit and orthodoxy, are
changing. The newspaper lias become the
great authority in our literature.
The day| of tine theories, sickly sentiment,
muddy metaphysics, is passing away.
Science has assumed the ccutral position
amoDg the great agencies of human progress.
Discarding the former idea of show and dis
play for the (jactation of her wondering dis
cip. 1 " 8 only, Me is employing the vast re
source? Of her ki u*tloin iri the multiplica
tion of new sources of wealth. In tho
lightening of the hardens of labor, in the en
couragement of industry, and in the eleva
tion and advancement of the race.
The state of the public mind, the bent of
public achievement, renders technical edu- ■
lion a necessity.
The school-room ought to gather up the
threads that run through the great lines of
thought in the country, and putting the
student early in possession of them, enable
him or her most effectively and unerringly to
find and to fill the allotted place in the ma
chinery of a self-advancing progress. Such a
school-ro >m would be the reflection of the
great world outside—an image of its thought
answering its questions and solving its prob
lems. Here should be found the roots of that
knowledge which will insure to its possessor
not only support and comfort, but even wealth
and glory.
Men fought out the battle of the classics
when the elements of wealth were in
herited from former generations; when
ease and leisure fostered poetrv
and high art, and the ideal of all
happiness was to be able to enjoy life without
the necessity of laboring continually to ao
quiremeans to support it.
Now science has risen up, full statured, and
exacting obedience from a people called to la
bor for all excellence with hand and brain,
proposes to concentrate iu her dominions the
hope, the heart and the will ot tlie world.
The sewing together of the fig leaf in tlie
garden, it is said, was the germ ot all subse
quent invention. Since then, man's handi
work, adding value to the raw material, has
fitted and prepared the products of nature for
the uses of tlie race. Few tilings are used or
employed by us which do not owe something
to the skill or the labor of men.
In a state of nature men are estimated ac
cording to their ability to use their hands,their
eyes, their cars or other senses. The Esquimaux
is rich among Ids fellows, and can marry anv
girl in the land, if he but own a single iron
spearhead aud have the courage, tlie strength
aud the skill to use it.
On this side lies a region wide enough for
infinite development. Great men are onlv so
because they are t?.-tellers. Thev have some
thing to do or show or to say to ilieir fellows.
Rower to control is based on a superior power
to show find declare to others what is neces
sary to be done and how to do it. A man is
only great when judged by results.
The poet, writer, orator, statesman—these
are all educated handicraftsmen in the high
est sense of the word. Reasoning from anal
ogy, the loftiest development of human power
ought to be in the domain of mechanical con
struction. God's mightiest glory is revealed
to us in creation—in the originating, putting
together, and managing of a material as well
as moral universe.
Law in nature is only the application of
God's mind to material things. lathe study
of these laws then is revealed the mind of
God. In ancient days the attestation of a di
vine commission was made to rest on the
ability to control material tilings apparently
to conflict with law.
The striking nature of a miracle was due to
the fact that to finite eyes the working of it
reversed tlie great lawof physical philosophy,
and effect no longer followed cause.
I repeat, that in this wide range of hand
work, with an educated brain putting its
achievements into form audshape, lies all dis
covery, all invention, all development, all
progress, all material success.
Here may be found the origin of all the
power and glory of our modern age. Not to
Latin, or Greek, or Mathematics is traceable
the wonderful advance of modern times. Civ
ilization took its first forward strides and
gathered its amazing victories from the labora
tory of the chemist and the workshop of the
engineer. On these thresholds it began to
work its world-wonders. Aristotle’s philoso
phy could never move a people one step for
ward on the way of material progress aud de
velopment. The dry pandects of the gloomy
stagirite never made bread for the hungry,
stored the coffers of the rich with gold, or
broke the crust from the gems of the orient.
There is no mater, al wealth in metaphysical
abstracts ns.
To the inventor, the architect, the builder—
to all those standing on this high platform
of human endowment—the nations are in
debted for this modern era of advanced
thought and development. To lie able to dis
cover, harness and train to useful purposes
the great forces of nature requires the highest
faculty oi the human mind, and illustrates
more - clearly and unmistakably than any
thing else man’s power over matter, his claim
to kinship with the great intclligencies of a
higher and an unseen life.
Whcu the study if the classics had reached
its acme Science was almost unknown,
her votaries under the ban, and the feeble
glimmerings thrown on the salile background
of the world’s ignorance gave little indication
of the glorious sunlight that slept beyond the
clouds.
. The names of martyrs index the pathway
over which she has come. For a time—a long,
weary lime—the batteries of the churches were
leveled at her head, thick darkness curtained
her presence chamber, and her disciples wore
the prison garb or fed on the offal of a debased
and ignorant world.
But the seeds of the truth were still sown.
The Prussian philosopher hid in his closet for
thirty years the wonderful story of the Co
pcrnlcan system, oblv to sec the light for the
first time as that light faded forever from its
author's eves. Gallilco abjured his faith for
the sake of the church, in the presence of the
torture, the dungeon and the stake, but
“whispered it again to the angels and to his
own heart.”
The darkest night, the lowest depth was
reached when the Ptolemaic system riveted
on the necks of the world with its countless
cvclcs and epicycles, drew from
tlie irreverent lips of Alphonso,
of Spain, the declaration that had he been
present at the creation, he could have given
(rod Almighty sbme suggestions that would
have been of vast benefit to him in fashioning
1 he universe.
Science drooped and trailed her tattered
colors behind the car of superstition. It
seems strange to us now that men could live
and flourish and tieget children under such
circumstances. But the human race adapts
itself to its surroundings.
So science survived the iron collar of super
stition. Newton brought back the sun, and
Stephenson, Franklin, Morse and Edison have
cleared the atmosphere of clouds and storms.
When the locomotive first lifted its voice
amid its waving plumes of vapory smoke
and shouted its notes of triumph over con
quered space, the world held its breath in
very awe at the grandeur of the achievement.
The roar and rush of burning wheels, the
shrilLacrcam of the steam pipes, the glancing
clouds of smoke and dust, challenged the
wonder of the multitudes and spread
the noise of its triumphs far and wide.
But a grander triumph than all this
was that,when in the silent, guardedehamber,
the apostle of science started with cabalistic
click, the harnessed lightni-gon its pathway
of tiny steel around the world. Mon hint
talked licfore of annihilated space and
wondered at the achievement, hut sturdy
Time still bore lus battered front in science’s
way and reared bis gleamiug battlements of
stone and iron frame, and beyond us all his
wide unconquered domainion, stretched, chal
lenging hope and bidding expectation, fold its
tired wings. But see the sequel: When the
long, thin wire uncoiled and stretched away
from sea to sea and shore to shore,"tond nature
yielded up her chemic forces to the human toil,
the subtle fluid undermined the iron walls and
stone escarpments of the monarch’s realm,
and letting in the children of the light, they
seized the stubborn ruler and brought him to
the feet of man.
Time is fettered now. Yon click that car
ries messages of love or hate or joy has but
its instant echo in the ears of those who wait
the tidings on the world’s extreme; but it was
reserved for the latter half of the century to
furnish the crown.
Science reached the azure mountain top
when from the iron wire that holds it she took
the cold, dead voice and brought it back to
life. Creation's herald this in the coming
triumphs of the mighty mind of man.. The
past had blossomed, fruited, ripened, when
the telephone was made. Lo, the trinitj’ of
the century—steam, electricity and magnet
ism !
Who shall say then that the education
which fits a people to mingle in and aid the
march of such wonderful progress is not de
sirable?
But the subject is one in which the
Southern people ought to feel a deep interest,
as well on account of its relation to the sub
jects of genera! education as on account of
its own direct tendency and influence. Edu
cation is the great want of our people. The
notion that learning qualified the individual
to cope more successfully with his less fortu
nate neighbors was universally- received,even
from the days of the Puritans. Nevertheless
we were once disposed to laugh at the idea, or
if we acknowledged its truth we felt that the
advantages should be confined to those only
who could afford to pay for them. State edu
cation was deemed" by us an infringe
ment on personal rights. Possibly in a
country where wealth was as nearly equally
distributed as in ours before the war, the
practice of the theory did verv little harm.
Now, however, our misfortnues have taught
us to entertain a different view. The war
prostrated our energies, broke into ourhabi’s,
cut off our ancient methods of supiiort, abol
ished our system of labor, lessened the value
of our lands, changed the elements of our
prosperity, and destroyed the principal source
of our wealth as a people. Compelled by the
force of circumstances to fall back on our
selves in the woeful hour of defeat and disas-
ter, we have been learning the lessons of la
bor, and trying to work up slowly from the
depth of our aioverty to something like the
position to which our history entitles us to
aspire. VVe are able to see now and appre
ciate how the native intellect of the New
Englander has been sharpened and strength
ened through the long attendance of the
children iq>on the tine public schools estab
lished in that section of the Union.
The history of the world affords no parallel
to the humiliation aud degradation to which
our Southern men and women were sub
jected immediatelj- following the close of
the war. No people have ever stood such a
trial, met defeat with more fortitude or
emerged more triumphantly from such a
struggle.
France recuperated rapidly from the disas
ters of Sedan and the butcheries of l’aris. but
she bad to encourage her a government of her
own people, who made aud administered
her own laws. Her rulers wrought with
her in harmony, r haring themselves
in the general" burdens and aiding
to meet the fearful demands of her situation.
England, after the civil wars of Cromwell,re
cuperated rapidly from her torn and prostrate
condition, but it was done under the fostering
care atid protection of a government loved by
the English at home and feared by the ene
mj- abroad. Germany, discordant, jet pre
serving the traditioual'love fortiie fatherland,
rose rapidly from the prostration wrought by
the iron hand of Napoleon, and in less than
a ceuturj* tore the boasted insignia of suprem
acj-from the descendants of her conquerors,
hut the government that fostered and the
rules that led the German were of his own
choice.
What has been our condition? The North
had subjugated us, crushed our sovereignty,
and turned loose under the protection ot the
strong arm of the conquerors, a race of beings
lately our slaves, unlearned and incapable—
made then) our equals. Nay, what was worse
than all, by carefully fanning the flame of
dissension and feeding the tiros of discontent,
sought to control the servile race as an in
strument of torture to keep in power the
party and principles that had ruined us!
What a monstrosity! Look at the South
erner! Bowed down under a
load of enforced poverty, his
hopes of his nation’s glory dead, branded
as a traitor and a rebel by his conquerors,
insulted for the reason only that he loved his
home and his State, and sought to defend
them; reviled and jeered at, and denounced;
threatened with imprisonment on any pre-
text by the satraps of the conquerors; a ser
vile race in authority over him, as a punish
ment for his rebellion; his children growing
up in ignorance, kept back by the war; his
lands, the only refuge from starvation, washed
1 to clay and gaping in gullies: and the govern
ment "that should have protected and aided
him managed by aliens only interested in
crushing his manhood and wasting li;s sub
stance, while the bayonets of a hostile army
pinned the cloth of defeat on his breast, and
drove him out a stranger from the halls of his
fathers—from the homes of his people—what
wonder that he grew restive and longed for
some avenne of escape—for some means to
strike the font yoke from his neck? It seems
to me that the North ought not to be surprised
that our white blood, which sprang from the
same source as theirs, should have sought t i
assert itself here. What would the
liberty-loving children of Massachusetts
have done under such circumstances?
But the problem is working itself out, and
the solutiou ought not to include, and cannot
require the overthrow and destruction of onr
race, the ruin of our peace, aud the blasting
forever of the prospects of our posterity.
The story of our struggles, of our deep
humiliation in those dark days following the
war, will never be known.
Through all, our people have been true to
themselves. The spirit of our women has kept
us tip. 1 thank God for the work that they
have done and are doing in our land. We get
glimpses now and then of their heroic strug
gles with poverty, with grief and adversity in
the homes of our people." There is no standard
on earth by which we can measure the gran
deur of their heroic devoteduess to duty.
11. The great advantage derived from the
establishment of technical schools is to be
found in the tendency of these schools to pro
mote diversity of interests and encourage
manufactures in the country.
This fact ought to commend the subject to
every true Georgian.
The great want of every manufacturing
community is educated, or competent labor.
Here has always been the chief obstacle to
tlie building up of auy great en
terprise of this character in the
South. New England furnished employ
ment not [only to her own people, but to
all the best class of skilled operatives floating
in with the tide of immigration from the old
world. There was no demand South for such
labor, and there was no de.mand because no
such labor was to lie had.
Wherever skilled labor goes capital will fol
low. Especially is this true in a country like
ours, where the subjects for development are
so numerous and so near at hand.
Heretofore we have been essentially au ag
ricultural people. Our soil and cli
mate are adapted to the production
of the world's greatest staple, and we have
made its culture the leading interest of our
people. Hence arose early the conflict be
tween ourselves and the North on the subject
of the tariff. It is not to be wondered at that
our people mostly favored free trade. Pro
tection by government becomes oppressive
unless it results in building up home indus
tries. Unless a people desires to and cau
manufacture its doors ought to be open to the
world, so that its citizens may have access to
the market at the lowest rate" possible.
But the country that depends on the markets
of other nations "for its necessaries and luxu
ries can never be as independent as that one
which furnishes its own supplies and keeps at
home the money required to buy them.
There should be, therefore, when practica
ble, such a diversity of pursuits in the coun
try that the supply and demand may always
be in proper proportion. The farmer's pro
duce will supply the manufacturer with the
means of sustenance, and the product of the
labor of the manufacturer will supply the
farmer in turn with the means of carrying on
his farming interests and adorning his home.
This reciprocity will keep the money at home
and in circulation, instead of sending it be
yond the borders to fill the coffers of other na
tions.
Supno6e, for instance, a gentleman living in
Savannah should determine to erect tine
dwelling. He can hire hands and procure
material for that purpose either in Europe
or Savannah. Suppose he hires his hands in
Europe, and purchases his materials there.
As the hands live in Europe, it is presumable
they will return when the building is finished
If the building cost $30,900, when it is finished
the country appears richer by 130,000, but to
offset this, the man has sent out of the coun
try just $30,000 for wages and material, so that
not a dollar rs gained in Value, and $30,000 of
the circulating medium has goue from the
country.
Suppose, on the contrary, tlie man hires his
hands in Savannah and buys his material at
the same place. How then does the account
stand? $30,000 have gone into the building,
which swells the aggregate apparent wealth
of the city: $30,000 have gone into
circulation for material and labor.
The money is still 1* the country and
may be applied to build other houses, to erect
barns and mills, purchase machinery, open
mines, aid the farmers, the merchants, the
laborers and generally to assist in the devel
opment and improvement of the whole coun
try.
Market values depend largely on the eondi
tion of the finances of the community.
production is more dependent on this than
the farmers. The smallest constriction may
lose him all the profit ofi,a hard year’s work
for when the time comes to sell,"his prodie?
must generally go.
Mon are prone to buy where tliev ean g
the goods cheapest. If England sells t.roa,*-
eloth cheaper than Massachusetts they *. ,
let us buy of England, and save the moat
The policy is a short-sighted one. While
may be true that on one trade we raav saw
$5 or $lO by getting the article cheaper.
to do so we have sent the price of the art. .
out of the country, and we may lose l.\
what we made on that sale when we com ~
sell our own produce next time, out of wh
we realize our income. The money that
paid for the goods, w ith all it* intrinsic v!
and purchasing qualities, has gone, ami w
have aided to retard our countr .
progress, and brought nearer to our doors i
days of depression, hard times, and Uaancji
ruin. It is only necessary that a suit:
number follow our example to bring th,. ",
pass at once. Here lie* the cause of a i ,-
present troubles. Our agricultural predic ts
have been worth almost twice as much as i.
fore the war. I believe the gross income
Southern planters from their farms is near,,
double what it was under the old regime, 1 ,
tiic profit on production has gone to enr
other communities.
An examination of the export values of lii.
country shows that the farmers of Geor*.-:.t
and of the South are absolutely paying the
war debt. Your cotton crops since the war
have supported the government, fed tin
hungry of the North, clothed its naked, driv ,
the engines of commerce, floated your flag on
the seas, paid the rich dividends of the bon ■ ■
holders, and made possible the Vanderbilt-,
Astors and Goulds—money kings of the world.
The nation is supported'by vour cotton—ti ■
balance of its trade preserved. Onlv the men
who make it grow poorer from year to vear.
Where is j-our profit? A steady" stream’*: . *
North and West for food, for cloth***, f.r
necessaries—yea, for the very sugar which
would grow in your fields, and the corn tl. ; ;
is almost indigenous to your valleys. Th -e
are all consumed in the using." and a : i
nothing to the permanent wealth of the land.
The time has come for a ehange. Your
wasted lands, your discouraged husbandry,
vour burdens of debt, your discontented pope
lation, >our waning commercial importance,
warn yon that the old system is a failure, an
anew system is necessary to save from tin
hammer "of the Sheriff the little that remain,
of your former opulence. IV hat is yet r
remedy? Your cotton crop is verv valualU
It was worth nearly $280,000,000 "last year!
Suppose it were possible to keep the ent:
crop of one year, with all its possibility , r
expansion, at home for distribution. Y- ;
would scatter $280,000.000 through thecouir
Suppose you could spin that cotton cropu n,
yarn. You have almost doubled its
and left the money that did it iu the poo',
of jour people. You have now nearly ss*
ooorooo worth of property. Suppose youwi .
it into cloth and knit it into hose. ‘You li t ,
again nearly doubled its value, and the men
is still in the country. You have now aim..-t
enough property in your possession to pay tqy
national debt. If the money which mad. t
and the money for which it sells could rem dn
in your country you could discount :<•
loss of your slaves and the destruction f
j-our property hy tin* war, and jet has * a
margin to commence business on a loftier sc .is
than any nation on earth. These are your
possibilities. In proportion as vou appro
mate them in that proportion "will you \\ n
hack your wealth and regain your lost pr .
tige as a people. You may never be at'• i
one vear to secure one cotton crop in this wav
but do you not think that with proper anpii’
ances the State might compass the twentieth
part of this amount in one vear. and that
with average success this inigfit continue f r
twenty years? It would make vou there
est nation on earth.
We talk about raising our own produce, and
the political economist preaches this doclr r
through the public press and from the pisi
form. Still, the teaching is unheeded, and
our planters go on from year to vear, rain- -
cotton, and relying upon "their ability tip'
chase necessary supplies in a foreign "mark \
Why is it? Simply because they are in and,
Cotton is money the world ove'r—it is like ,
much gold dug up from the fields, and the p) ;
ter,pressed by his factor and commission mer
chant on the one hand and his dire uecessit -
on the other, plantsevery possible acre in
ton, hoping from year to year to be abf
lift tlie mortgage from his farm or his sp,
and yet like the bewildered traveler of the
desert in pursuit of the deceitful mirage, finds
himself each year onlv further away from Un
goal of his hopes. The system never can ia
amended till there is introduced into the coun
try a greater diversity of interests, till tlicri j
a greater supply of currency, till land appre
ciates, farming improves, and the people ho
own real estate feel that they own property
iu a progressive and growing country. <1 •-
tined soon to lead in the elements of mater ,l
wealth aud prosperity.
Toeusure this result the country's reson
must be developed.
The census of 1880 makes sonic curiou-, re
lations. The entire capital invested in far -
ing in the United States, including lai
fences, buildings and farming implement-'
amouuts to $10,600,000,000. The value ot ■
entire farm products for 1x79 was $2,213 Or
-000.
On the other hand, the amount of capital
invested in manufacture is $2,790,000,000. The
value of the product for the same year iv i
-55,:;ii3,000,000. Of this, $1,025,000,000 represents
profit over wages and the cost of mater: i .
These figures would seem to show that manu
facturing pays a larger percentage on the
capital invested, and, therefore, adds more : ,
the material property of the country than
agriculture. The figures further show that tlie
added value of manufacture to raw material
is nearly equal to the value of the entire pi-o
duct of all the farming interests of the country.
It seems, therefore, that man’s handiwork on
raw material stores np values and adds to the
wealth ot the country, as well as The labor of
him who makes two blades of grass grow
where only one grew before.
The census tables bear out the proposition
that a people is most prosperous when us
agricultural and manufacturing interests are
in corresponding planes or ratios of develop
ment.
The three greatest farming States of tlie
Union are Illinois, Ohio and New York. In
these States the farming capital is valued it a
little over $1,000,000,000 in each State.
In New York $514,000,000 is invested in
manufactures. This is larger than any otiicr
State in the Union.
In Illinois the manufacturing capital is
$141,000,000, and in Ohio $189,000,000.
The farm products in New York in 187 were
valued at $178,000,000, in Ohio at $157,000,00u,
and Illinois at $204,000,000. The latter wa*
the largest product of any State in the Union.
The value of the manufactures of New York
for that year was $1,080,000,000. the largest in
the Union. Of Ohio. $348,000,000, and of Illi
nois, $415,000,000. The number of farm* in
New York is 241,000, in Ohio 247,000, and it
Illinois 250,000. The average value of improved
farming lands in New fork is about S6O per
acre; iu Illinois about S4O, and in Ohio ah, ut
SO2 per acre. These, taken as a whole, are
probably the most prosperous States iu the
Union.
Compare their condition with that of your
own State. The farming capital in Georg. .l
is $112,000,000. The capital invested in main:-
factures is $20,000,000. The farm products
were worth in 1879 $07,000.0(a). The luauuf.v -
turing products were worth $30,000.00). Tlie
number of farms in Georgia is $138,020. U-e
average value of improved land is about sl4.
In these four States the areas of farm land ire
nearly the same. Illinois standing highest.
The population—leaving out New York < tty
and Brooklyn—is about double that of Gc< > -
gia in each State.
These figures are sufficient to enable u -to
deduce a theory and raaken comparison. The
first thing we notice is the almost entire ab
sence of manufactures in onr State, compared
with the enormous capital invested iii tlie
other States named; secondly, the low aver
age value of our farming lands, compared
with those of the States mentioned: thirdly,
the small productive capacity of our State in
proportion to population; and fourthly, -he
singular ratio which onr farming pnducts
bear to the capital invested.
Looking at these facts, the last stated w • ;M
lead us to conclude that our farming paid a
larger dividend than that of other States, were
it not for the fact that we know from long and
bitter experience that the cost of cottoH vul
ture is far in excess of that of other farm pro
ducts, and that there is very little margin for
profit. That the first fact siated is the non--
sary cause of the existence of the other two,
no one acquainted with tlie facts ought seri
ously to dispute.
Take another illustration:
Michigan has nearly the same population
with that of Georgia" The acreage of im
proved lands in both States is the same
[though Georgia has double the number of
acres in farms) and the number of farms if
nearly the same. The value of all farming
capital in Michigan is $499,000,000, against
$112,000,000 in Georgia.
The crop product in 18*9 iu Michigan was
91.000,000 against 07,000,000 in Georgia.
Here is a case where the population is the
same, the number of acres in improved lanoi
the same, the number of farm- nearly the
same, and yet the value of the prouu t in
Michigan, notwithstanding the rigor of the
climate, and the difficulty of living, is 124/-X 1 , -
OGO greater than in Georgia, while the cost ®*
production is more than double in tlie latter
■State. What the reason?
Michigan has $93,000,000 invested in man
ufactures, and her annual product is SK I . -- *
000. Her people have a market near at >” ; -
and her manufactures command rapine
encourage labor, and insure substantial pro:;!
in every proper pursuit. The cost of )
remains at home. The result is that her ia:w
are worth S6O [ier acre—taking the average of
the State. The fact that the Michigan L
are richer and more productive will not ex
plain the discrepancy. Our lands arc •
susceptible of the highest improvement, au'j
are adapted to the gqowtli of almost every
farm product on earth, and we can work ; n
them all the year round. Take the who.e
census through, take the statistics
from any source you please, an’
the truth is demonstrated that no
States are making money, and real r (-
a product in excess of the cost of living..ex
cept those States where the agricultural '. ,n
manufacturing interests are carried on in cer
tain just and legitimate proportions to o
other.
Together these pursuits are all powerful o*>
the destinies of a country; separated, an
there is no class on earth left so depended
the farmer. .
This idea of diversity of interest was uV™
by Hamilton and the’Fathers in the ear.tc
days of the republic as a means of secarms
its safety. It has never been necessary here
tofore for the South to study the problem “j
attempt its solution, for we "possessed in oia
slaves a source of wealth that paid its d |t; '
dends far in excess of bank stock or capital
in manufactures, and that without the vexa
tion and trouble attending the former in
vestments. With the negro free this source of
investment is denied us, and we have forced
upon us the same question to which the Nortn
found an answer ready nearly a hundred
years ago.
The voice of the English Commission, tße
experience of all the nations who have tried
it, the practical results of the system un w r