Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-11

party my most earnest, cordial AM
active support.
To the different newspapers through
out the State, that have made kin1l,
mentions of my name in this conn &c
ton, also return my most profound
thanks.
Respectfully, your obedient servant
ALEX. w. CAMPBELL.
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATtUN.
The Polytechnic School in Troy, \
Z, which celebrated its fifteenth ami
versary a few days since, is the oldes
institution Of the kind in the UniteC
States. Its leading idea was the belle
that natural science may be useful,
applied to all industrial arts as a par
of their practical study and everyday
practice. Fifty, and even forty year,
ago, this notion of uniting a knowledge
of natural laws with the industry Of
farming and that of common mechan,
zeal trades, mining and manufactures
was secuted as utOpian and visionary
Experience, however, has proved that
the better practical working man un.
derstands scientific facts and principles
in their relation to his labor, whatever
that may be, the more effective and
profitable can he make the muscular
and intellectual force which he posses
ses and expcnds in his calling. Yet, a
large share Of human energy is wasted
and lost to laboring people and the
world because public opinion fails to
appreciate the conservation of energy
as a natural law. Man has only linn
tied amount of force, and he should use
it wisely.
But, before we attempt to handle
matter Of any sort, as a pursuit in life,
we ought to learn, If possible, how Ma
ture governs and controls it IN all its
combinations, conditions and manifes-
tations. that we may everywhere utilize
natural forces and everywhere expend
our own strength to the best advan-
tage. The muscular strength of mil
lions has small value, because they
have very little knowledge of energy in
position, and of energy in action, and
cannot 60 ahead and happily apply the
mental and muscular powers nature
gives them.
Down to this hour, society has no
full and mature industrial education,
because the conception Of such a prep
aration for life of honest toll is itself
in the embryo state. Ideal conceptions
are Of slow Development and growth,
perhaps that tLey may have the virtue
and solidity to last as long as our COM
mon humanity. Science, industry
and capital, combined with indefinite
millions of workers and profound think
ers, all acting in perfect harmony, can
not fail TO achieve grand results.
Men Of learning and scieI e are ready
for cordial corporation, but, unhappi-
ly, the masses are not. Industrial sci
ence is a myth to them. Hence, in for
ty-seven States and Territories of a
free, self-governing people, there are
not twenty industrial schools worthy of
the name. This fact shows with what
the human mind ciings to its
time-h0nored traditions. Communities
that most need educated labor, resist
industrisl education most as an inno-
7ation of prescriptive rights. This
makes unequal progress still more I'M
equal, and tends TO discord and dis
Science must be fully and
fairly applied, else it Is very little bet
ter than iron and coal IN the noun
tain.
Unfruitful knowledge and unfruit-
'ul labor properly belong to the dark
ages Of the world. Barren fig-trees
have been watered, and cultivated long
enough. and the doctrine of hopeless
poverty and sterility for the million is
osing ground.
One Of the first efforts of industrial |
education Will be to cure the artif- |
,ial sterility inflicted on some two
hundred million acres Of old fields in
he United States. To impoverish the
iol by the hundred million acres, that
)aren land may impoverish our pos
erity, IS an unjust, inhuman act.
United science and muscular labor Will
top this, rejuvenate the earth and more
han double its primitive fruitfulness.
Education without productive indus
ry is light in a dark corner, but it is
he poor, reflected light of moonshine
Ievoid of vitalizing influence. Nothing
S more defective, nothing more uncer-
ain than the quantity called education.
ike other vital problems, 1t is in its
apbla infancy