Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-11-27

MACHINERY THE POWMR OF NATIONS.
Many entertain the opinion that the num-
Der of inhabitants, the climate, the extent Of
territory and the natural fruitfuuess ofthe soil,
are the exponents of nations power. If this
were so. those nations would be the most pow
erfui which possessed the greatest number Of
inhabitants, the largest extent of territory the
finest climate, and the richest soil But do we
find this true respecting the nations OF the earth?
No; some of the weakest and most depressed
of them, TEEN with inhabitants, basking under
the most serene Skies and walking upon the
most extensive and fruitful plains. Look at
China, Persia, and most of the Indian King
doms, in Asia; all Africa; Spain Europe, and
Brazil in America, for proofs of the opinion
ingenious people will make any country great
and powerful. Not without natural resources
to be sure, but what signifies an abundance Of
natural resources in any country, unless the
people develop ard apply them, 1t ist herefore
the genius and the industry of the people Which
constitutes the power and the wealth of nations.
Take Great Britain at the present moment
because that country presents prominent eX
ample. It's population amounts to about tweR-
ty and half millions, (20,5 36,357) with only
two and seven tenths Of an acre of land for
ecch, q climate by no means genial and soil
not very productive naturally. 1t maintains
since the world began, and an army both large
and expensive. The annual revenue of the
general government amounts in round numbers
to about two hundred and fifty million of dol
lars, involving a tax of more than twelve dol
lars for each man woman or child. Now, if we
allow one fourth of this population-a very fair
estimate-as being actual producers, it stands
on. in bold relief that 5,l34,O89, pay S25O,OOO,.
600 of taxes every year to the general govern
ment, besides supporting all the rest of the
population, and paying the great county and
municipal taxatous Of the country. Is not this
a wonderful and extraordinary thing in the eyes
of men? But this small army of workers can
not perform such wonders; they cannot pay
such taxes and support such armameuts by the
lobors Of their own han0s. How then, are all
these things done? By machinery; in our day
that country which employs the greatest
amount of the best machinery in every depart
ment of industry; is the most powerful. It
was calculated ten years ago that Britain had
manufacturing machinery in operation equal to
l.. Ii, Of
nearly half the inhabitants of the globe. This
is the secret Of her power and ability to raise
such extraordinary revenues. The genius and
Industry of her people have developed her nat
ural resources, and small though she be in ex-
tent, the roundclay of her drum, beats a morn
ing march round the globe. Our own country
is extensive in domain, fruitful in soil, varied
in climate. has one-ffth more inhabitants than
Britain, and possesses natural resources sur
passing all other nations Its commerce floats
on every sea- its inhabitants are ingcnius, in
telIigent, and industrious, and its physical pow
er is second to no other nation. But without
the great amount Of useful machine power
which our country possesses-thOse Brierean
hands of iron which spin, weave, SOW, reap,
forge, grind, saw, plane, and hew-our country
would not be powerful, though its inhabitants
were twice as numerous, and It's natural resour-
ces ten fold more abundant. Machine, then, is
the foundation on which rests the physical pow
er of modern nations, and its perfection and
multiplicity should be the aim and object OF
every citizen. New and useful inventions
should therefore be fostered and encouraged by
all and inventors amply rewarded for their pro-
ductions, because they are the sources OF ma
tional power Scientific American.
For 'Loudon Free Press"