Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-23

" - - tA4N " 2 N AzA2ASAAkfe
b. +. johnson, Esq, one of the lecturers
before the Industrial University Of Illinois,
has delivered the ablest discourse that we
hSye seen in print on the seanses that have
placed farmers on the down grade to bank
reptcy and ruin with brakes broken, Rand
small chance for escaps. He says:
@To resume, then, since, in my mind, We
owe the present depressed and deplorable
condition OF the earning interest: First,
mainly TO depreciated paper currency,
which forces us to sell low at gold prices
(the prices tngold for corn and oats iuEI1iy-
erpool makes the price in Illinois), and buy
: high at paper ones; second, 70 sshigh pro-
lection tariff, which robs the West to en-
rich the East; and third, to high and ex-
tortionate railroad freights, which have been
produced by both; and since we have, nine
ty In hundred of US, helpsd to bring this
state-of things abetat, there can be no per-
mapent Improvement until there is a radical
change in the public sentiment Of the coun-
try. And since such changes are slowly
brought about, we must look toward diver.
styling our industry; we must try, we'must
study, we must observe. we must expert
ment, and ascertain whatin Illinois we can
grow which will pay us better than corn at
20 to rs cents the bushel, and oats at Is to
Is cents.
g Men sometimes are master of%her fates-
= The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.'"
We think that both Shakespeare and
johnson are right. PROFESSIONALLY, the
fault is in ourselves that.we are underliugs
In the South and West-not in s'oar stars"
When, in times of great excitement, nine
tenths ofthe people go sstray, nothing but
sharp adversely and bitter experience can
bring them back TO the guidance of sound
common sense. ga radical change in the
public sentiment of the country" is indis-
pensable, or the ruin that now threatens
Western and Southern industry will be
complete. The public sentiment of the
country has been in harmony with the
views advanced By Mr.. Adams, in his late
eulogy on William Henry Seward, before
the New York Legislature. Radical states
manship has TIE misfortune to be founded
on an untruth-and unless it can be shown
that there is no practical difference between
false theory and true one, in our legisla-
ton and government, our false theory or
principles must be abandoned. It
is humiliating to party and
personal pride to do this; but it
is reform or ruin. The ideas
and craftsmanship which created an inf,-
ted paper currency and aims to keep it in
existence for the benefit Of spectators, in
definitely in the future, belong to the Sew
ard and Adams way of thinking and reas-
oning. Their assumed facts fatty contra
dict our national history previous to 1860
Their policy is based on the principle that
the Federal Government should take good
care of the bankers, and manufacturers,
and these parties viii take care of all far
mers and laborers. Every working day in
the year, labor pays million dollars into
the treasury for purposes that will not stand
the test of fair criticism. Government cor
ruption perpetuates itself and multiplies
rascality in every form. Shall there be a
radical change OF not? Mr.. johnson says:
Government interference has been SO
violent as to break up the order aud design
of nature. East of the Alleghanies, manu-
features and the country generally were
never more prosperous than at the present
time-due, principally to twelve years
continuance of high protective tariff; west
of these same mountains, farmers were
never in a condition of distress and power
ty more wretched. East, the benefits OF
the tariff seem to increase with the length
of time it has been in operation; West,
since the war, the prices of farm produce
have steadily declined"
We are glad to see men who are leading
University lives, and in no way connecte
with party politics, recognize that shocking
"violence" which ''breaks up the order and
design of nature" by our government, to
rob the many of indefinite and unknown
millions and enrich the few sharpers, who
nominated q man for Pres
ident that signed q bill to put an extra
100000 in bis own pocket, taken from the
pockets of the people! Surely, the fault is
in the people themselves that they are SUN
derlings."