Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-16
INION AND AMERICAN.
EARN AND GARDEN.
TUE REAL NEW DEPARTURE.

THE REAL NEW DEPARTURE.
We congratulate the farmers and mechan-
les of the State upon the probable passage
of bill introduced into the Senate a few
days ago by Mr.. Tolley, to establish Blu
reau of Agriculture. We know Of nothing
so much needed in the State. Our re-
sources are comparatively unknown even
by our own people, and no provision has
ever been made for collecting any statistics
in relation to the State other than those
given by the United States census. This
bill proposes TO remedy this fault in our pre-
vious legislation and to introduce a new
agency for collecting facts.
Among the many important reform move
ments for which the third quarter of the
nineteenth century will be noted in history
none is Of more moment than that which
now engages the thoughtful attention Of the
best farmers of Europe and America A
material reform in the agricultural world
means a long step upward in the general
prosperity of mankind. 1t is an uplifting
from the bottom-an elevation of the
foundation on which the entire superstruc-
ture of society rests. Hence, however we
may differ concerning the much-talked-of
''new departure in politics, there can be no
dispute concerning this ''new departure
in agriculture. This is one of those
movements which all men hail
as bringing blessings to them, be their
condition what it maya movement Of
far more significance and of infinitely more
worth than any which politicians have or
can inaugurate. ...--.
The world over, seven-tenths of man
kind are actively engaged in the business OF
agriculture. Any movement, therefore,
which affects this class materially, mus,
needs be felt by all the rest of the world
for all the rest of the world is directly de-
pendent on this class for food and clothing.
It cannot have escaped the attention of
any thoughtful observer of the times that
throughout the United States, the farmers
as a class are beginningto exert an influence
on the public policy of the country. Notably
is this manifest in the princely
munifcence with which Congress has con-
tributed to the education of the sons of
farmers. This is but the beginning of the
end, we trust. When the men who own
the soil and till it, come to the front there,
will be a stability and a Conservatism in the
public policy of this country which Of
itself will 60 far toward erecting that pros
perity for which all good men pray.
But it is not for its political significance
that we now consider this, the real 'new
departure" of the times; but for the more
direct and more important influence which
it must exert upon the economical and
financial condition of the country. RecOg-
nizing the fact that the financial sal
walton of the nation depends almost
entirely upon the agricultural interests, we
are naturally and keenly alive to any and
every movement which they may make,
looking toward an improvement in their
condition, and an increase in their capacity
for supporting the great burdens of the ma
ton. Inthis light it is that We attach so
much Importance to the Agricultural Con-
gress recently held in this city, and in this
light we look with especial interest on the
movement now making to revive the Blu
reau of Agriculture in this State. The loss,
of this Bureau was not the least of the
many injuries inflicted upon the State by
the war. 1t was just beginning to grow
into Importance and influence when
the war began. And we have not
doubt that the reCuperation of the State
in all matters pertaining to the farm and its
manifold interests, would had been far more
rapid since the war had there been in
the State a Bureau of Agriculture. But it
is not too late. There is plenty of work
waiting for it to do-work that no other or
ganization can do so well, if at all.
The various agricultural associations and
societies throughout the State are doing
much good and viii continue in well doing;
but their work lies in another sphere and
their efforts are only local. There is all
the more need for a State Bureau
that may collect, assert, digest and dissent
nate the fruits Of the labors of the vari-
Gus societies. There needs must be some
common source of information, some COM
mon channel Of commandments the ben
eft Of all. In short, the farmers Of Ten
nessee need a State Bureau of Agriculture.
and we are glad to know that they are like
ly to get it. After its establishment we
may then hope to compete with other
States in the race Of material development.
We may then hope to see our own peO-
pie familiar with their own resources. We
may then expect to see men and captal
pouring,in a regularly increasing volume. in
TO our State, and life and energy take the
place Of inaetion, sluggishness, and depend
cucv. There has been no measure inauru-
rated Sincethe war which meets so fully the
hearty concurrence and the support of the
farmers i'm the country