The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-05-18

versihed industry. The problem we are
striving to solve, If it is not inso luble,
is at least one of the most difficult in
The whole circle Of human endeavors,
and if we do solve it successfully, we
shall be greater than success in war,
however glorious, could have made US.
Being without that density Of popula-
ton which QApld of itself create diversi.
ty Of occupation, and which our North
ern Neighbors have had So long, we
are striving to exhibit such diversity
of resources and capacity of develop
ment as will attract capital aud the
streams of immigration poured out year
after year from Europe into climates
moro like than is ours to that Of the
home Of the white race. Your com.
mittee do not mean to report that the
thing is impossible, but to point out its
true difficulties as the best preparation
Tor surmounting them. IF ever we sue.
ceed it will only be by the union and
concentration of all the intellect and all
the capital there is among US upon the
one great problem. And it is this very
union and concentration which is so
hard to maintain, when the few thou
sands OF our population arc scattered
over so wide an extent Of country.
Your committee would then suggest
that there is no way in which our pco-
pie can so we'll provide for the future
development of tho almost incxhausti.
bic resources Of tho climate, the soil
and the waters, bestowed upon them by
Providence, as by providing for con-
sistent aud permanent unanimity Of
purpose and concert of action, by frc>
quent gatherings, like the present
Convention, by forming aud sustaining
local Clubs aud societies, aud by main-
tanning periodical publications devoted
to the discussion of the industrial
resources Of the South. The attrition
Of mind against mind attained by such
meaus, while it tends to produce
unanimity of purposes conduccs
also to division Of labor, aud diversified
industry is only tho full development of
division of labor.
They must also learn to value those
scientific methods of investigation which
alone can be sure of eventually reaching
precise and trustworthy results. They
must, too, be willing to risk something
in the investment Of capital upon ex>
pcrimcnts. knowledge aud money are
two different forms of power which go
on accumulating much faster when they
work together than when each is left
to toll alone. We must learn to or.
gapizc for a common purpose the ad.
ministrative skill of the successful man
of business, and the skill in research,
which is the gift Of the successful man
of science. And for this purpose we
must combine scientific education as
far as possible with education in bust.
ness.
One fthc ways by which a people
may be force nto full dcvelopm ent
Of its material resources is by foreign
conquest, shutting out from it every
other avenue Of progress-and it may
emerge from such subjugation the con.
qncror Of its conqucrors.
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.
Production, wc all know, is the chief
element of national prosperity food aud
raimcnt arc essential to human comfort,
and, Of course, the moro directly and
certainly these are supplied, the moro
room and the more encouragement for
higher attainmcnts. AS general rule
men must be placed above the pressure
of daily need before they can have either
the leisure or the desire for mental
cultivation.
We arc not now to learn that miud
rules the world. Tho history of this
country, until the late revolution, has
left us no doubt as to this position. II
was to the leisure for mental culture
which the prcdominanco OF agriculture,
under peculiar circumstances, afforded
10 her first men, that our State owes
her acknowledged supremacy in the
Federal Councils. 1t was the fertility
of her soil, combined with pcrmanence
of labor, that cuablrd her to live and
prosper under system Of partial and
oppressive legislation, to which the
world knows no parallel.
Wo have been berclt Of our peculiar
advantages, and are DOW thrown upon
the resources which We share in COM
mon with all mankind. Nothing is left
but our soil, our climate and ourselves
but these are left, and they constituc a
fund of material which renders us fully
competent to regain our lost position,
and command the attention aud respect
of the world.
Indeed, We arc not sure that, in the
long run, our nsfortnncs may not prove
an advantage to us; for while "Cotton
was King" and our great staples were
furnished to us with facility and
certainty which dcfed competition
there may have been, perhaps, too little
of mental effort in the department. o
agriculture. and sense Of security
which tended to foster our natural indo
lcncc, and thc still more natural pride
Of our hearts. we had inscnsibly become
both dependent and exclusive This wa.
not IL wholesome state oi'ihings, and the
energies which are now demanded, and
the co-operation and mutual considcra
ton which have become absolutely nc.
ccssary to our success, may eventually
placc t,Y upun n firmnr foundation an,