Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-09-11
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immigration from abroad and from
other States, over the loss by emigrar
ton, 310,274 persons. What an ad-
dition to the wealth of Massachusetts,
What a loss to the wealth of Tenn
essee
What reproach to our statesman
ship is the contemplation of these factsI
We should bow our heads in humilia-
ton, and yet should resolve that the
stain upon our wisdom and patriotism
shall be removed. In the struggles
and heats of political strife, we have
lost sight of our material interests.
We have been laggard in the dis
charge of our social duties, and now are
left far behind by other, and in some
cases newer communities, that with
practical good sense or else blessed
with greater good fortune, not rent
and torn by the passions engendered
by our great civil war, have directed
their efforts to,the building up of their
industries and the accumulation of
wealth.
Let US resolve, gentlemen, that in
the future we will unite the efforts of
men of all opinions, without regard
to differences in the past, in the work
of establishing our industrial systems
upon sure and firm foundation, and
in accord with the great laws that
govern us as social beings. Let our
industries be varied, according to the
conditions and to meet the wants of
every locality. Let our, cotton and
wool and. leather be made into fabrics
at home, for the use of our own peo-
pie and others. Let our mountains
and hills be forced to yield up their
treasures of marble, of iron and coal.
Let our great marts of commerce be
strengthened and builded up by de-
manding that the great highway Of the
South shall be constructed and that
the valley of the mighty Mississippi
shall be protected against invading
foods. Then will the husbandman till
his fields with renewed hope and ener-
gy confident that he viii find consumers
at home for all the earth may bring
forth.
Thus, gentlemen, we viii be able to
meet the pressing demands that year
by year will be made In discharging
the obligations that rest upon us and
sustained by the elastic energies of
free democracy, without regard to
unpfopitious bounties, to defective
revenue systems, and faulty money
projects, we will be able to advance
the prosperity of the State and secure
happy homes for ourselves and our
children.
Let us cease from our chickering's
and adopt "our policy as our politics"
Never losing sight of the cardinal
principles of the Constitution, and the
great fundamental laws that underlie
our system of government, let US learn
to tolerate differences of opinion and
recognize the fact that we are all
Tennesseans-all interested in the
future of our beloved State.
And now, as the Centennial of the
Republic begins to dawn upon US, let
us offer as a sacrifice, upon the altar
of our common country, and if for
no nobler purpose, for the sake of a
common interest, all the hates and
bitterness forged in the fierce conflict
and kindled into burning heat in the
flames of civil war.
This is now, and to be for all time,
our country. Here will be our homes
aud the homes of our children. Our
Mother Tennessee needs the brain and
the muscle, the energy and enterprise,
and above all, the wisdom and moder-
alton of all her sons. We have
nothing to gain in Christian charity,
in fraternal love, In material prosperi-
ty, or national stability, by nursing
the feelings that gave birth to the
struggle, or cherishing the animosities
begotten in the dread hour of battle.
Let us forgive and forget.
All, no. We cannot forget the
achievements of the brave men who,
falling upon the field of battle, woR
for themselves and their country i'm
perishable fame. We have common
pride in their names, immortalized by
great actions whether they wore the
blue or the gray, their fame is the her
itage of the whole people.
As tribute to their yalor and man.
ly virtues, and in token of our recon-
citation, we will erect cenotaph at
the capital of our State, to tell to our
children, through all coming time, the
story of their constancy, their courage,
and their heroic deeds.