Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1874-04-16
For the Herald and Tribune.
Our Createst Need.

nently iorta' the great lack OF liberal
education"
The cry goes up to-day from our beau
tiful hills and valleys, and is echoed
through mountains Of iron, and is muir
INJURED by the ripping waters of a hundred
dashing rushing streams. Why 90 we
not move onward in the grand march Of
progress with those other States whose
our are for inferior? The response
comes back, you do not build on the
firm foundation of liberal christian edu>
cation, and every tide of imposition, and
storm Of speculation, sweeps the sands
from beneath you, and you continually
sink.
This is why our great resources are
not developed and every stream does not
turn a spindle. This is why our grand
mountains still conceal their wealth of
mineral, and so many broad acres go un-
titled at an enormous expense, 1t is on
this account that 80 many beautiful and
fertile farms are being worn out from the
want of q proper knowledge of their cul>
tivation. And above all it acts as a great
weight against the growth of Christianity
itself. For it is we'll known, that in the
absence of a proper cultivation and un-
folding of the great truth Of science, in
fidelity and superstition will spring up
in the mind to choke the growth of the
Christian religion. u.
We do not see in every vicinity q
aouriShing chnrch, and every church with
its pastor, and every pastor with his sala-
ry. Nor in every community a Sunday
school, praycr,meeting, missionary ascot
ntion, and such other essential organiza-
tons. When a community shuts out edu.
cation, or rather n%eglects it, she cannot
expect to cope with those whose schools
and colleges are their pride and honor.
Though Sparta glories in her military
proves, and scorned the eloquence and
civilization of Athens; yet because of
the lack Of these, she was continu.
ally subject to the wishes Of the Athen.
JAMS, and hor want of literature was a per-
petual source of discord and trouble.
Our natural talent, like Sparta's, may
be ever 80 great, our intellectual. capaci-
ity for above the average, there may be
many nut-shells which enclose writer's,
orators, statesmen and d%ivines; but if
that nut cannot be planted in fertile
soil, it will never grow to bless the com
munity with its fruits.
An ~uneducated populace has ever been
subject to imposition Of every kind, and
~tyrannical powers has long fourished
where Ignorance reigned supreme, and
until people are educated to see things in
their proper light, they must be contin'
ually used as tools to place men in office
of power, beneath whose heel they too
often thus place their own necks. While
an improper comprehension of political
affairs and blind party spirit leads a com
munity, corrupt morals, limited talents
narrow minds and uDchristian principles
faint politics and blot out every SEM
blance of a right influence upon the PEG
pie.
While great inventions and improve
ments from science and the mechani,
arts bring the world into u%nitary condi
tions, while the circulation of thought ant
action is accelerated, SO as to strengthen
the bounds Of Christianity in other part
Of our country, while the seeds of c%iviliza
tion and learning grown upon American
soil, are borne to the four winds Of the
earth and heather lands bear testimony
to their growth and perfection, must East
Tennessee be forgetful of her greatest in
t%erests, which alone are needed to place
her foremost in the ranks of States.
Many may say we already have our
schools and colleges all over our country
So We have. But quality is the great
prerequisite to usefulness and success.
Strange to say but tbs true, that toe
many are only colleges in name. and do
not meet the demands of the day. What
agreat want Of ECONOMY is to be observed
in the present system, where united effort
is treated as a mere secondary matter, il
not forgotten entirely.
Aside from our University, why moi
make old Washington and Tusculum, sis.
ter institutions as they are, the Holyokc
and Amherst of the South and thus carry
out the great plan begun nearly a centu,
ry ago, in self denial and restitution, BY
the great Pioneer of literature, West Of
the Aleeghanies,
System sustains the universe, support,