Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-02-21
A WORK TO BE DONE.


htical differences to enter into and disturb
their actions in life. In business, in
church, in society, in schools, in newspa-
pers, and everywhere else, we see and feel
too much Of political prejudices and pas
sion. We most certainly believe in every
man holding firmly and unfinchingly to
his own views upon questions of State.
We believe every citizen ought to keep so
Uniformed upon all political questions as
that he can intelligently and independent
" Judge of all measures and men presented
for popular action on election days. But
while we advocate this, we think there is
place and time when it should bedropped.
We know men differ honestly upon politi-
cal questions just as they do upon doctrines
in theology rprinciplesin science. As their
differences are honest in these respects, we
do not see why they should cause distrustor
divisions in other matters. If we, as a
people, for example, should lay aside all
other differences for the time, and heartily
and unitedly work for good schools, pros
porous working churches, live well at
tended agricultural societies, farmers clubs,
evening reading rooms and literary asso-
Citations, we could soon have them. There
is enough talent, enterprise and iberality
in Knoxville and East Tennessee to secure
all the good Influences certain to flow
from such organizations as we have named,
if we would but quiet all jealousies and
strifes, and do away with our petty cliques
and rivalries. There is nothing that SO
surely or quickly buries all animosities
and distrust, as the commingling and ex-
change of ideas which such intercourse
brings. If our young men would meet
together in the evenings, spend their time
in reading and in the discussion of literary
questions and current news, how much
sooner would they bury the animosities of
the past, and how much more would it be
calculated to elevate their minds and lib
eralize their views, than by meeting to-
gether in cliques, busted with the plots,
and noisy with the gossip and crimina-
tons incident to them.
II our farmers were to organize district
or neighborhood clubs, and meet stately
to discuss the best kind of oats or wheat to
SOW, the best stock to raise, the best grass
to grow, and the hundred other questions
peculiar to their calling and upon which
new experiments and new applications of
scientific principles are daily throwing
new light and giving new aids, how much
pleasanter would be their neighborhood
and how much more congenial |
heir labor.
If our ladies were to meet upon some |
common ground where religious, social and |
,ther differences could be for the time for |
gotten, and aid for the poor and sick or
united efforts for our common christianity |
provoke the kindly and christian good
will which God implants in their hearts,
now much pleasanter and more agreeable
would their every day life become. If our
business men would one night In the week |
lrop their trade rivalries and political |
and meet upon some common
ground aud labor to enlarge the CONNER
'ial advantages of our city, multiply its
abroad and river interests, liberalize our
laily intercourse, encourage city improve
nents and public works, how much they
ould do towards harmonizing all other
Inference and uniting us together as
community more zealously and efficiently
o labor for our common good. Why can
lot these organizations be secured? We
10 not know of greater public necessity
low demanding our attention. If we will
ontinue to carry with us in every relation
# life the bitterness and prejudices now
eemingly inseparable from political con-
ests, we need not expect to become the
harmonious, prosperous and attractive
community we ought to be.