Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-08-18
From the Nashville Gazette.
 PatrOnIze Home eIudirstry.

Time after time, yes with a frcquen- cy we feared might become tiresome, have we urged upon our readers the great importance of patronizing home industry. With all the poor skill we could command in argument and all the resources of reasoning and persua- sion at our disposal, have we addressed ourselves to the work of directing pub lie attention to this subject. The fact that it is the duty as well as the inter- est of every member of a community or resident of q city or town-to pat ronizc and encourage those who pat ronize and encourage him, is so plainly apparent anc certainly true as to need no explanation or reiteration. Words are not needed to make this duty and interest palmer to even the dullest comprehension. Every member of a community feels that it is his duty, and ought to know that it is his interest to contribute to the business success and prosperity of those among whom he lives and upon whom he depends for patronage. Yet every member of this community, we regret to know, does not act as if he thought this to be his duty or interest. We personally know and coulf name, if necessary, citizens of Nashville, whose every dime of pat ronage is received from the people of this city and it's vicinity, who prefer to send abroad for everything they want. Acting upon the ridiculously absurd idea that nothing made here or bought here is good enough for themselves and their families, these persons send to manufacturing or mercantile establish- ments in eastern or western cities for articles that are made just as well and could be purchased just as cheap at home.
 These inconsiderate parties ought never to complain about hard times or wonder at the dullness of trade. They have done and arc doing everything in their power to cripple the industry and paralyze the energies of the very me- chanies and other producers whose patronage has enabled them to pay for articles they buy in other cities, while the work of the home mechanic remains without demand. Men who habitually act in this way cannot cer- taintly be troubled with great deal of s'the milk ofhuman kindness" or an- noycd with a very high appreciation of the golden rule ill it's scriptural sense. Until there is very material change in this respect on the part of our citizens we may expect to hear of hard times and dull trade. Money spent at home is much more apt to get back into the pockets of those who expend it than if sent off hundreds of miles just to please the promptings ofa foolish fancy. The home mechanic is the patron of the merchants and farmers among whom he lives, and if his industry and energy are too poorly encouraged by his neigh bors he is apt to seek some other place of residence and work. Hundreds of competent and industrious mechanics in this city are idle to-day because they have no work to do and not sufficient means to go elsewhere. What class of persons have been mainly instrumental in producing this unfortunate state of things Those who have gone abroad for work that could have been better done at home. These are the persons who have done most to make times hard and trade dull in this particular locality. There will be no very decided change for the better until all our peo- pie learn and practice the important lesson of patronizing home industry and homo npfarpr;oo