Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-07-12
A GOOD WAY TO GROW RICH AND GREAT

The ceaseless, tircless struggle for wealth
among Americans Is one of the striking
features of their character. In every COM
munity the disease is chronic. IL is un-
mistakablc, though manifested in differ
ent ways In some States the mere desire
for money and wealth is paramount. Men
and communities struggle to pile up the
mere outward signs Of riches-costly
dwellings, flashy equipages and gaudy
jewelry, piles of rough brick and mortar
their standards of wealth.
But money is not alone wealth. States
with plethoric treasures, with populous
towns, with rich, fertile lands extending
thousands of square miles, with canals,
rivers, railroads and improved public roads,
with costly public buildings, are not al
ways the wealthiest. All these a State
may have, and yet in the march of pro-
gress, in the unfolding of power and in
fluence in the great things of the world, it
may be miscrably poor. There are things
State may have that are worth more
than mere money, because in the yearly
balance of accounts, in the stated invento-
ries OF public assets, they yield in due
time not only money, but that which sure
ly and increasingly yields money!. e.,
general Intelligence, courage, honesty, pub
lie spirit and sound patriotism. Take from
people every index of wealth; put them
upon barren rock or desert and give them
education, enthusiasm and honor and
in time they will as surely grow rich and
powerful as the sun shines or the dews of
heaven fall. On the other hand, give n
people money, give them sunny cline
and fertile fields, but leave them to mere
ambition for wealth or pleasure, rob them
of virtue, schools and national honor and
they will sink into utter poverty and sin.
A great writer has said /: " A great poet is
worth more, in the computations of public
wealth, than any largest millionaire; for,
If he may yield but single short lyric
that has the force TO kindle nations feel
ing, and becomes its national hymn, he
brings in vaster wealth than whole con-
voys of ships laden with the riches of the
world. In it he buys courage, enthusiasm,
constancy, victory, all that conserves the
order, knits the strength, concentrates the
love of the State-what no largest largesses
in goldcan either buy or out weigh"
Do we need proof of this? Have we not
States that, with poor soil and poor natural
of every kind, have neverthe-
less always given us the master spirits in
our Governmental affairs and controlled
the capital and influence of this mighty
people? With far less of money than sis
ter States, they have nevertheless always
had what yielded and controlled money
brains and honesty.
We need never in Tennessee expect to
take that high rank in this country which
nature intended for us, until we throw of
some of our prejudices and realize the
great truth that our minerals and lands
and unsurpassed advantages are but mere
foundations for greatnes and wealth, and
that what we sorely lack to make them
productive, is more general intelligence,
more public spirit, more honesty and vir-
tue. These we can get quicker and surer
through schools and immigration than in
any other way. We have wealth, what
we lack is the brains and energy to multi
ply it. Money can not buy this but
healthier public sentiment, kindlier feel
ing for all goodmen no matter where they
first saw the light of day, general educa-
ton, will buy it, and no man dare say the
price is high. All we need give is, to
thrust unmanly prejudices from us, to re-
pei mean influences, and to warm our
hearts with enthusiasm and good will for
all. If we can have school houses in ev-
cry neighborhood, and healthy immi-
grafton, we can soon make every man of
our people two men, by the intelligence
we put into him, every minister and teach
Ell of two-fold influence, by giving them
warmer hearts and keener minds to work
upon, and make every engine, every
mine, every means of yielding wealth OF
multiplied power, by putting behind it q
better mind, n stronger heart and arm, Il
more enthusiastic and superior man. eau
we not afford to try this plan, which re-
ney"