Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-01-25
A SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN ON THE "scuM.u


Some days ago we gave a synopsis Of the
remarks of Gen. Harding, before the Farm
ers' Club of Davidson county, upon the
subjects of educated labor and immigra-
ton. The sentiments advanced We find
given more at length in communication
from Nashville to the Cincinnati Conf
n,erciaE. AS reported, Gen. Harding, who
is one of the largest land-holders and most
shining lights of Tennessee Democracy, in
comparing white and black labor, said:
!, There was also political influence in this
| matter. White laborers might be as ignorant
| as the negro but they would be more ifdepend-
entin regard to their votes dwould not be easi-
| yswayed by anypolitical demagogue who might
come among them. Again, Just IN the proper
| ton that the Laborer educated up to the
standard OF educated men, Just IN that p7opor-
ton he arOUtd be miserable CIite he cGs employ
| ed as ta6orer."
Turning his arguments to the question of i'm
| migration, he proceeds as follows:
HE doubted whether that benefit would flow
from immigration that was expected from Il;
The scum and lo1rest class Of Europe would
populate the country, and what would be gained
by that? 1t might be said that this would in
crease the revenue of the country. but that
would not benefit the people generally, but only
the few who could gain access to the nations
crib. These people generally left Europe for
Ewropes 5e7aetft, and if they came over to this
country we might in time want to get rid Of
them. 1t had been said that immigration would
benefit the country. by cutting the lands up into
small farms. But when this was done, the peo-
pie of the State would become penurious, mig
gardly, skin-finted class of Yankees. 1t would
destroy all confidence and all soeiality. This
was broad assertion, but he only referred to
those who have travelled in densely populated
countries to bear him out in his assertion. I'm
der the Homestead Bill, of which so much has
been said, those lands in the West which would
have remained for our children, had been taken
up and occupied by the scam Of Europe. This
Homestead Bill might have added to the reve-
nues of the country, but he did not see that the
people had been benefited thereby"
Upon publishing the substance of these
sentiments at the time referred to, we ex-
pressed our surprise that they should be
entertained IN this day by even such
representative Southern gentleman as
General Harding. Thereupon we were
sarcastically reminded by the IVhig and
Register that "sone people" think as
General Harding does, 1. g., that to
give the laboring man intelligence
without giving him the money to crafty
his intelligence, that is have fine racing
stock and pleasure parks, is to make him
miserable. We have asked the Wing once
whether it agrees with ''some people" on
this point, but have not yet been accorded
an answer Now that his views are more
pointedly expressed, we can see just what
sentiments this class of Southern men
hold on these great questions. They OPP
pose education because that would elevate !
the laboring man, give him nobler aspira-
tons and enable him to Judge of the traits |
of a true gentleman-traits they do not al
ways possess, their wealth and assumed |
titles notwithstanding. They oppose inn
migration because that would build up'the |
country and bring, as part of our popula-
ton, men of business capacity and great
usefulness, whose energy and industry |
would more entitle them to the respect |
and esteem of their fellow citizens, than
their own selfish, Indifferent course, or
their want of public spirit in matters of
real benefit to our people.
But this man Harding is one of the
shining lights of Democracy, and, there
fore, his shameful sentiments meet with no
dissent from the Democratic press of the
State. Do we understand thereby that the
Democracy of Tennessee are opposed to
any more of ''the scum and scurf of Eu-
rope coming TO our State? Do they be-
lieve the foreign population in Tennessee
left Europe for Europe's benefit"
Gen. Harding's sentiments are libel on
the age we live in. They are the offspring
of narrow, bigoted, prejudiced mind, for
no man of any observation or liberality
would make such a sweeping and false
charge. There are German citizens in
Nashville of more intelligence and quite
rs much culture as Gen. Harding. To call
them the scum or scurf of Europe is the
grossest insult and SANDER. A man who
can contribute nothing more valuable or
useful to the industries or worth of the
State than o race horse, or has no higher
aim in life than to keep racing stock ought
not to be so profuse or so violent of his
abuse Of class of citizens rs worthy, use
ful and intelligent as any we have.