The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-02-09

&AS d pOiltlCul lUtlScI. tuc NASH .
vile Banner is not a success, but
when it touches upon the material
interests of the country, it generally
strikes the nail square on the head.
The following facts and advice given
by it in a recent issue to the old
and young men of our State, are as
true as holy writ, and as wise as the
words of SOLOMON. The are wise
words because they are true, and fur.
nish the only means OF redemption
for our people from a state of power.
ty and ruin. If the writer had re-
Gently lived in our own town, he
could not have written facts that
more completely describe the con-
ditiOn of affairs in this community
Several years since, at the beginning
of the year, no less than forty young
men, hale and hearty, applied to Gen
EwELL, for situations as overseers
On his large farm, but not solitary
one would consent to work himself.
This alone illustrates the condition
of things in this county, and this is
only one of many instances that
might be cited. But to the Banners
article:
The number of young men in the
South out of employment and with
no visible means of support could be
counted not merely by the hundreds,
but by the thousands. We suppose
there is not a city or small town in
all the Southern States but has its
surplus of young men in daily i'll
quiry ola situation to measure calico
or weigh out groceries for the most
limited of salaries. We have had
frequent applications from young
men willing to work for their board
and clothes until they could fall into
something more remuherative. 1t is
very plain that, instead of making
wise provision for the future, we are
actually raising up generate On of
paupers. We have been devoting
too much attention to the professions
and too little to the trades. We have
any number of excellent colleges
turning out swarms ofyoung doctors
and lawyers to starvc, and no insti.
buttons for the education of skilled
mechanics. 1t is time we were be-
ginning to popularize industrial pur-
suits-to dignity labor, and make
honest work respectable. Parents,
it matters not whether rich or poor,
are wronging their boys by not
bringing them up to some useful art.
First, a good solid English education,
and then few years apprenticeship
to a coed trade, and then we shall
see fewer young persons crowding
the towns and cities TO fill positions
only fit for girls or women. No child
of wealthy parents will be any the
worse off with the practical know.
ledge Of some useful branch of
even if he should never
to follow it for a living. No
railroad Superintendent or President
is so efficient as one who was educa-
ted up from the shop, and knows
how to build a locomotive as well as
the master mechanic under him.
The best President of a manufactur-
inc company is the man who was
educated amid the whir and
hum of the spindles. The knowledge
of the mechanic arts is more useful to
the people of our section now, than
the knowledge of the learned profess
sions. The commercial hope of the
South is in the successful prosecu-
ton of industrial enterprise. The
wealthy citizen should lead of in this
work of regeneration. Let him at
ford practical evidence of his faith
in the industrial future OF his section
by teaching his children to be useful
u .eful members of the community,
and let there be generous emula-
ton among all classes to dignity
labor and to elevate the mechanic
pursuits to level with the profess
sions of law and medicine. Once
get this spirit awakened throughout
the community, and the whole peo-
pie will be inspired with confidence
al d higher hopes of the future. Com |
merce will thrive under it's healthful !
influence; real estate will enhance
new workers from abroad will come !
in to put their sturdy shoulders to
the wheel our homes will be beauti-
fed Z, or waste places be redeemed,
and prosperity, comfort and moral
Improvement will take the place of
AID desolation, and lawless- |
ness. TO be a powerful section we
must be Independent. To become
people we must utilize the
with which God has bless
ID our prolific section, and keep our
money ct home. Above all to begin
"a must stimulate our own
hildren to become -. aud
cs and builders and ARCHITECTS
ngineers, instead oflawyers, doctors
nd counter-hoppers. Rather let us
IMPORT our professionals than our
if we must import either,
nd let all go to work and honor the