Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-31

viii probably act on the sound principle
that knowledge is power, and try to 10
crease their knowledge by all laudable
means. They need practical education in
all that relates to the keeping of property
fiom the grasp of unjust taxes, tariffs,
transportation charges, and specu-
lators Of every kind, as well
as any that pertains to good economy in
every branch of tillage and husbandry. To
have professional skill as farmer or planter
and raise big crops to enrich corporations
or companies engaged in manufacturing
salt, iron, or something else; engaged in
banking, trading or working railways, far
more than the owner of the soil enriches
himself, is not quite the full measure of at
tainmenis due to a class ofcitizens placed by
their numbers in the majority, and by the con-
stitution in authority over the government.
Farmers should ponder well the fact that
they cannot delegate their sovereign right
of voting, to any better informed or be tier
educated class in the community. Not on
iy must their farming measure their knowl-
edge, but their voting tells the truth con-
corning the culture of their minds and the
soundness of their judgment quite as for
chilly. All know that man may be at once
sensible farmer, poor trader and silly
voter. He has learnt better how to man
age land and stock, than how TO make
shrewd bargains and select the very best men |
to enact laws; Others to judge wisely on the |
bench In matters of law and equity; and |
others to administer the laws of the land, |
both State and Federal. Farmers being |
themselves clear majority of electors, are |
required by our system of government to
say, either wisely or uuwisely, who are best
fitted to make the laws Of the country. |
They have to judge the Judges of the State.
They decide the momentous question Of |
the merits or dement's of The Chief Magis-
trate over forty millions Of people. Here
is work to be done over and
above farming. How is it to be done +?
If stay-at-home husbandmen neglect to ed
ucate themselves and their sons properly to
perform this additional duty, in what way
are they to obtain the 'needful information?
Surrounded as they are by many perfectly
new institutions, like railroads, telegraphs,
Steamboats,, and the boundless avarice and
ambition of aspiring men, is it safe to de-
pend on thread-bare traditions? TO do this
10 N irui hnth ~ |
Farmers must act on the defensive. Rad
icalism is aggressive in its nature.
Every State and national debt falls heavily
on titled ground, its owner and cultivator.
Education, which means an increase
of useful knowledge, is the only possible
preventive. Stealing from farmers under
one preteXt or another is no new thing in
the world. If Jacob did not steal his
brothers birthright, he came as near to it
as President Grant has to stealing 500, 1000 |
from the Treasury for bis services, which
sum was not in the bargain when the
people employed him as their public ser
want. Tolerate one act of this kind,
and million will repeat it.
If the moral sense and common sense Of
the great industrial classes were duly edu-
Gated, such loose and corrupt legislation as
the country has witnessed since the war, {
wouldIbe impossible. The great activity and
industry of scoundrelism must be met and
driven into its secret dens by equal indus
try and ten fold greater power. All the re-
sources of consummate art, advanced science
and immense capital, are pressed into the
service of rogues. Under such state of :
things, shall plain, honest industry, ]
ploddiDg out a laborious life on
a farm, do nothing in self-defence?
Honest industry is chosen defendant in
his great suit in equity, and the yeomanry
Of Tennessee are parties interested. AL
ready the State Industrial University of
Illinois feels the influence of the Farmers
Movement" A correspondent of the
Country Gentleman says the "farmers
movement in the West is not confined to
he consideration of the question of rail
Dads alone; it embraces the whole m after 4
If politics, education and government" 1t
will be the same in the South. Teachers who
leal largely in fossil ideas may soon sleep =
Iuietly with pupils to disturb their repose.
n education and in politics, the world is
moving very rapidly, and cannot stop for
N hour. The industrial classes see that
hey must be either SlaueS or masters. They
7ill strive to be masters, and should be Z
thoroughly educated for the high duties of b
'opular sovereignty. Nor should this ed e,
cation 60 deeply into pagan mythology, f
or into any part of the dead past, to the Ct
eglect of tire living present. The millions
hould be carefully taught how to keep a
roperty, as well as how to learn
n art, work and earn money.
10Y education that fails to make men is I'M :,
7orthy of the name. When family does
OF know how to earn good living, and
lake the most of every dollar received, its n
1ucation is defective. 1t becomes food to
ed and fatten sharpers and Williams. If
lere was no plumber there could not be 50
laDy plunderers. Vice, crime and disease
row on what they daily consume. Are
1ey to be encouraged in Tennessee or dis |
ouraged? This is mainly a question Of :.
llture or no culture. a.
>-W<
THE BAR OF CONSCIENCE. 10