Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-10

what they were in the State Of New
York, during the last nine years.
We should beware of monOpolies IN
this country, and of vested rights to
do wrong under the sanction Of law,
either old or recent. In a notice OF the
agricultural labor strike led by Arch
the London Times says: "a strike OF
agricultural laborers. such as that We
hear of in Warwickshire, is a very diff
ferent affair from strike of spinners,
weavers, lace-makers, artisans, miners,
pitmen or even of men employed on
the telegraph. The British public has
a much deeper sympathy for the
rural laborer than it has for
those other GLASSES, but then
it does not regard him as
man to strike, and that is one of the
reasons-perhaps the chief reason
why it has so much sympathy for him.
When people take care of themselves,
and do in fact take good care of them
selves, they SO far repel sympathy and
forfeit it. We are profoundly moved
and deeply interested for those who are
cast on our pity and benevolence.
This is the special case of the rural la
borer"
The above statement is probably true
in the main, but this profoundly moved
and deeply interested British sympathy
for agricultural laborers has been pow
erless to prevent more powerful COM
bination of employers, to resist
strikes, and prevent the emigra-
ton of bondmen to the manor born.
The labor question is as ripe, per-
haps as rotten, in England as it well
can be in the United States. Extreme
selfshness of feeling and thinking
carry the day on both sides, while the
elements of civil war are liable at any
time to kindle into blaze. Less We
hemence and violence, and more calm,
philosophical consideration of facts to
give them their true meaning, are
greatly needed to investigate and set
tie industrial, financial and social prob
lens on an enduring basis.
We need more savings banks In the
South and greater wisdom in their man
agement. In England the post-ofice
department performs public service
of this kind, but it would
hardly be free from favoritism
and corruption in this country.
Our Freedmen's Bureau and Banks
tell the story in advance. Honest men
must be brought to the front, in whom
all can have confidence, and not be
disappointed. The time has come to
purify politics, rebuke dishonesty, and
that extreme bitterness in public serv-
ants which makes them at once the
smallest and the meanest of mankind.
Craftsmanship should be diligently
cultivated as perennial plant insepa-
rable from the soil of freemen. Not to
do this, is to drive, by bad laws and
high taxes, both labor and capital out
of any commonwealthinto a community
where they can do better.
Itispossible sendtwonative Tennes-
seeans to the West, where weget oneim-
migrant to till the ground they have left.
Grave errors are at the bottom Of
this operation, and Just enough out of
sight not to be seen by many who vote
the Radical ticket. Nothing is more
needed than legal reform; yet nothing
is more difficult to command, after the
ballot-box and the Federal Constitu-
ton have been debased, and the gen.
eral level of legislation lowered to the
negro standard of intelligence. This
cancer of the body polite and our So
cial life is not inviting to white per-
sons seeking new homes, come they
from what country they may. The out
side world regards it as an mcurable
disease, and unless white people IN the
South are able to see the danger and
act together for the common good of
their race, its best citizens will
be likely to emigrate, and the
others sink their blood to a
common stream with the African.
Passing events of each day tend in this
direction, and the daily press will come
short of its duty to the public, if 1t
fails to give facts to their true interpre-
tation, so far as it may be able.
Fanaticism is not satisfied with the
injury it has already done to the
Caucasian race in the Southern States.
The Acknowledgement of party of this
race for partisan purposes was ap-
plauded by Radicals at the North, and
something of the kind may be at
tempted again to perpetuate power.
The South must have wise self-gov-
eminent at home, before people at a
distance will care to entrust their
lives, fortunes and children, to the
keeping of our State laws and courts.
Lawlessness and frequent personal at
tacks by firearms and other weapons,
operate to keep away many who would
otherwise settle among us, bring capt.