Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-04-05
rs 1T CROAKINGl
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT CO.

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT &c.
MEsSRs. EDITORs:-In your leader of
last week you represent me, in referring to
a previous communication, as looking at
the dark side Of the picture you so hope
fully deliAeats OF the future of jackson
and as attempting to stimulate action by
appealing to the fears OF the people. Now
l beg leave to submit the question whether
q discussion Of the conditions actually ex-
listing, and upon which a continuance of
our present prosperity entirely depends
should be charged as action inimical to the
public welfare-whether it should subject
one who engages in such discussion to a
comparison with the lower order of crea-
tiong Are the people of Jackson 80 timid
that they shrink from an investigation of
the causes which are likely to retard her
Advancement There are those and the
number is not so few who believe with the
writer that it is quite time to take these i'm
portant questions under adyisement, and
candid discussion conducted in spirit Of
courtesy and free inquiry can not be other
wise than productive Of good.
''Truth is mighty and will prevail
Whoever has the weak end Of the argu-
ment must finally succumb. Discussion
will call forth facts, and whether they be
presented by one side or the other, they
will serve to stimulate thought, which in
Its turn will develop action.
As announced in my previous communi-
cation, there were other questions to be
considered than the one presented in that
paper; and, indeed, that article was merely
Introductory to the more important discus
sion Of the change of programme, which
upon our assumption was becoming neces-
sary. In the endeavor to occupy as little
space in your columns as possiblei l may
have failed to fortify the positions taken,
by the facts and figures at command.
Were to pass unnotieed here the contra
diction of those assumptions contained in
your article, it would be virtual admis-
sion that my position was untenable. The
foundations, therefore, must be deepened
and widened before the superstrueture is
begun.
1t will be admitted without question that
our only surplus production Is cotton.
This is the only export which we have to
exchange for the importations represented
in the varied merchandise of our stores. 1
speak now, not OF Jackson alone, but of
the entire section of country tributary TO it.
The city Is but the mart where the ex-
changes are made. City and country to-
gether must be considered as the unit,
The prosperity of the whole is the desid-
eratum. Two halves make the whole, and
however we may attempt to prove that
foHr-tenths is equal to six-tenths, we are
not likely to make the proposition clear.
Though the city may for time show evil
denee Of prosperity out of proportion to
that of the surrounding country, it cannot
be long maintained.
Let us now examine some figures Here
| will ineidsntally allude to remark made
Il short time since by = gentleman whose
opinions and advice l sincerely express.
He said to me, 'you must not attempt to
sustain your arguments by statistics; if
you do you will certainly fail to convince
Such advice might be pertinent in an age
when the masses were controlled by the
few, when education and reasoning power
was confined TO exclusive cl4sses, but in
these later days when the ubiquitous news
paper has become a universal educator,
stimulating thought and speculation, it is
presuming considerably upon the general
ignorance Of the people.
BnttS resume. According to your show
ing MeSsrS Editors, the influx OF popula-
tion which you claim and which 1 do not
deny you. subject to no depletion, would
necessarily imply an increase Of production
In our principal staple, cotton. Taking
the figures Of the past three years, the
shipments Of the crop Of 1879 amounted to