Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-01-05
Why Are We (the s,onth) Poor!

EDITORS CHRONICLE: An article with
the above caption, taken from the Southerf
| Enterprise appeared in the Wing and Re
giSter OF the 3Uth ult. The writer gives the
following answer, which amplifies and IL
illustrates, viz: "We rely upon other SOC
tons too much for oar ,cants;: We send ou'
money array to DC used to Keep an noi
heel upon our aecks." Now, would high
Iy educated and intelligent people do this
such an instance cannot be cited on the
face of the earth at the present day, or IN
the worlds history. We answer. We are
poor beca use Of our ignorance and for no
other reason, for sharp, quick and gen.
eral intelligence would have prevented all
the causes or sources OF our poverty emu
merated in the article referred to. True,
we have a considerable number Of talent
ed, learned, literary, scientific and pro-
fessional men in the South, but the great
mass are deplorably ignorant. But few I'M
professional men have knowledge OF the
7llCinaelts of science and art even, while
the mass Oh laborers, the common people,
are entirely unread in history, s-eo-
graphy, agriculture and the mechanic arts.
But III the Northern States, especially
III New England, through the agency OF
common schools, distrlcU and village circu-
laGlng libraries, debating clubs, TarInef s.
clubs, lyceums and lectures, there is an
active, sharp, inquiring intelligence that
prizes into scans and discusses every subject
and that pervades the entire community.
such people will be prosperous, influen-
tial ana ricn, without any superior natural
advantages Of soil, climate and mineral
wealth. Manufactures and business enter
prises of every kind take root naturally
among such people, while nothing pros
pers in the midst of ignorance, but idle
hess, poverty and crime. OF the three
great sources of national wealth, viz: Ag-
rIcuitures, Manufactures and Commerce,
the North has the advantage over the
South in the latter only, while the natural
advaAta OF the South over the North in
the TWO former are very great, and in that
OF agriculture almost Incompatible. What,
then, gives the North her immense SUPERB
orlty over the South, and has filled that
portion of the land with wealth and the
comforts and blessings that wealth brings,
and, outside of the large cities, has well
nigh removed poverty from the land? We
answer, a general and christian education OF
the people, producing every where, energy
thrift economy, and above all and vltail-
zlng all, thorough and compact system. AS
Prof. kirkpatrick demonstrated, clinched
and riveted III his recent powerful address
before the Board of Trade OF this city, IAN
address which ought TO be published, read
studied and taught all over the South, all
any people needs is brains, good brains,
good morally and thoroughly trained.
Brains ought to rule and ,OiU rule. Give
the masses Of the South the same intelli-
gence and trained, cultured skill that in
spires and directs Northern labor, and in
two generations we will outstrip the North
il prosperity and wealth.
Let us, then, push on the cause of eduea-
ton by every possible means, and despite
fiuence, prosperity will soon dawn on our
section, SO long held fast in the relentless
grasp Of ignorance and prejudice.
FREE SCHOOLS.