The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-01-18


One Of the great wants of our
country now is immigration. We
need largely additiena and intel
lectual and physical force to devol-
op our unbounded resources. TO cu1-
tiyate our broad acres Of fertile
lands, and TO multiply and man our
mills and factories, to open our wa
ter. courses and build mp railways,
to disgorge untold mines of wealth
from the bowels of the mountains,
and to fly in our midst all the diver
sified arts Of industrial life and ac-
tiyity. Each and every State in the
South is capable Of sustaining well
more than quintriPle its present
population. Augment our numbers
to that extent, and our intelligence
in the same ratio, and we would at
once take front rank among the
powers Of the world.
Population by its native increase
is too slow to meet our wants.
The question Of great practical mo-
ment, absorbing all minor conside-
rations, is, then, how shall we get
the immigrants? Are our lands
productive enough and cheap
enough to induce them to come?
Unfortunately for us. lands equally
fertile, and costing no more, are
in other States and Territories. Do
the Iaboring classes receive higher
wages here than elsewhere for their
labor2 l have already shown the
opposite to be true. Would a de-
voted parent, having the welfare Of
his offspring in view, and knowing
the uncertainties of human fortune
and human life, be more likely to
move into our midst than else
where! Alas! no provision has
been made here for the education
of those he loves most. In far the
greater portion of our country,
schools are exceedingly uncertain
and equally worthless. Chill
drcn are growing up in igno-
rance and too often in idlencss and
vice. "The prudent man foreseeth
/ the evil and higleth himself" The
thoughtful father forecasting the
future of his child, sees only hard
struggle and an uncertain issue in
the battle of life. The intelligent
immigrant therefore seeks his home
in other lands and beneath other
skies, afording brighter prospects
for him and his generations after
him.
1t seems then, upon moro careful
consideration, that we in fact offer
but few and comparatively unim-
portant inducements to influence
that large and enterprising class OF
! persons, seeking new homes, to set
tie in our midst. Emigration aid
societies fail to solve the difficulties
of our situation, because their plans
and expedients are all temporizing
in their nature. For the same rea-
son they fail entirely to reach the
SOURCE of our misfortunes, the pro
life fountain Of our wants and
weakness. To invite such a tide Of
migration into our borders as
shall speedily restore our waste
places, build mp our strength, anC
place US on the high-road to great
ness, we must emulate the example
Of those fiourishing and power
full States, which not only through
their aid societies greatly reduce
the expenses of emigration: which
not only guarantee to the immi
grant himself the enjoyment o
equal social, political, and religious
privileges; which not only sci
their lands at reduced rates, ano
offer other present advantages t.
the settler; but also throw thei
public schools wide open to hi
children, and tender them gratui
tonsly the bounty and blessings o
an education.
But this article is already sufn
GENTLY long. At tome future tim
1 propose to. continue the enquiry
r. B. GARDNER.
GILES Co., Tenn, Dec. 20, 1871