Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-23

Under this heading the New York Turf,
Field ddd Farm, thus refers to the speech
recently delivered by Col. Killebrew at
jackson:
Col J. B. Killebrew, the Agricultural edi-
torof the Nashville UNION AND AMERICAN,
recently delivered an address before the
West Tennessee Agricultural and Mechani-
cal Association Fair, and in this address the
Colonel presented to the consideration of
his audience some homely truths. He COM
menced by pointing out to them the extent
to which the industrial interests of the State
are depressed. The lands, since the WARFARE
decreasing in value, and once beautiful
homes are growing dilapidated. In conse-
quence of this there is an eXodns of the
best young men of the State. The depres-
sion, he argued, is not from the want of in
telligence among farmers and mechanics nor
is it the result of a want of natural advan-
tages. The people have failed to appreci-
ate the true lesson of the war. There is
too much snowy parade in living. There
must be more economy practiced, hands
strong enough for labor must not refuse to
work, and those farms which are too large
for cultivation should be divided.
The Colonel speaks words Of wisdom.
Tennessee has great natural advantages.
She has some of the fairest valleys and some
of the richest uplands in the world. With
her lines repose the elements Of greatness
There is scarcely any limit to the variety of
her fruits and agricultural products; and
her vast mineral beds are inexhaustit,le.
But of what moment are all these, II the
people do not work together and take ad-
vantage of them? Plainly, it is the policy
of the State to divide the great tracts of
land into small farms, and thus encourage
immigration also to give earnest attention
to the manufacturing interest.
"The langour and inaction of death are
upon us, }" said Col. Killebrew, ''and we must
shake it off at any cost" The people must
have confidence in each other in order to
successfully work together Capital and
labor must sympathize with each other and
go hand in hand. Very earnest was the
speaker in condemning the custom Of teach
ing youth that the professional career is the
only one that fills the measure of
ambition, is the only one that COM
mands respect. The professions are
already crowded, and to continue re-
cruiting for them is to teach lesson that
saps mental yigor and destroys independ-
ence. On the farm and in the shop there is
work for all willing hands. In the over.
crowded ranks of the various professions
| there are idlers who waste their lives in
YEARLY waiting, like Micawber, for 'some-
! thing to turn up" Far better do that which
is ever ready to be done than to idly wait
| for that which may never come.
1t is grand mistake to hold out dazzling
professional honors to all the youth of the
land, for in doing so you build up a large
| body of lazzaroni. This is practical age,
ane we should teach all to look upon practi-
| cal pursuits as highly respectable. Because
a man earns his bread by the sweat Of his
brow it does not follow that he is bOor.
| The Colonel urged the farmers of Ten
nessee to organize, in order that they might
make their influence felt in the State, and
| then demand that the Legislature shall be-
stow some fostering care upon industrial
pursuits. The address was a sensible one
throughout, and it would be better for the
people of every State should the homely
| truths be presented to them more often than
| they are in the chaste and yet forcible Ian
guage Of Col. Killebrew.