Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-09-03
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE,
Plain Truths for the People.
NO. LXXXII.

NO. LXAXII.
EDITORS CHRoNtCLE:-With the last
six weeks have travelled throughout the
length and breadth of East Tennessee, and
have had fair opportunity of judging of
its resources, its disadvantages and its pros
poets. Besides 1 have been familiar with
it for over quarter of century.
In the last twenty-five years, strange as
it may sound, there have been no striking
changes for the better. The country stands
just where it did then. To be sure, in the
plans and operations of few farmers, there
has been some change; and we have few
men who have adopted broader views con-
corning our development. But, in so far
as q radical change for the better is con-
cerned, ON a broad and comprehensive
scale, there is none. Indeed I am prepar-
ed to endorse the conclusion that the soil
of East Tennessee is not as fertile and pro-
ductive as it was twenty years ago. There
are sections or localities where the utmost
exhaustion shows ITSELF The lands are
completely worn out, and the owners, them
selves, reduced to poverty. Many of them
are trying hard to get their lands off their
hands at almost any price, and are yearn-
ing for fOOthold upon our western bOrd-
ers. They now begin to see the folly of their
ancestors, and of their own, in moving out
and running the finest agricultural region
on the continent.
But how shall we remedy this sad state
of things? That is the question. You
perceive its importance. For one, / am
free to confess that there is not much hope
| of the present generation and of the pres
ent population. We are joined to our
idols We are gnarled oaks whose knotty
textures can not be altered. Fossils of j
century's growth, We are not likely to un-
dergo any material change. Nor can [
perceive any weII-grounded hope of the
rising generation doing any better than
ourselves, the way matters stand now.
We advocate no new ideas, nor do we urge
progress as the fascinating Watch-word of
the times in which we live. Our children
are breathing through our nOstrils and
speaking through our Threats, Like pa
rents, like children. They are the same
| earnest advocates of the same ObsOlet
ideas advocated by our grandfathers and
great-grand sires.
How shall the old order of things be up
heaved and set adIift? First and foremost
the native race among us, the "home
guard, y must learn to appreciate their sec
ton, and, appreciating it, go to work III
solid earnest to improve 1t. That IS one
way, and it is good one. There Is an ev-
ident lack of due appreciation of our ad
vantages, and there is most frighful in
cubus upon our energies. We must get out
of these "hateful ways" If we did but
know it, we have the finest country on
earth, a fact which some of our citizens have
learned to their sorrow by going away
| from it.
We must encourage and foster education.
That is always country's bulwOrk. Here,
in East Tennessee, unfortunately, we have
not learned to appreciate and admire this
profound truth. We have most shame
| fully ignored it. Some of us have opposed
it and continue to oppose it. And we won
der that we are behind the age in view of
these terrible facts. Can any other result
be anticipated than that of poor soil, indif-
| ferent farmers and widespread stagnation
in all the departments of Industrial enter
prise? Could we hope for other results
Why, then, should we stand aghast at the
blight which is everywhere seen in East
Tennessee Ignorance is the fruitful
mother of all this. An enlightened educa-
ton dispels it. Energy, enterprise and
advancement follow in its brilliant make.
But few of the tillers of the soil are educat-
| ing their sons, and fewer of them still
bringing them up between the handles Of
the pillow.
These thoughts will be continued.
| G. w CHARLTON