The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1877-10-04
A Costly Lesson.

About the time Colonel William
II. Stephens and Major NJ. ]. Hicks
removed from Memphis, there was
a mania in Tennessee, Alabama
and Mississippi for removing to
California and Texas. The people
of Mississippi were cursed with
carpet-bag rule, impoverished by the
tax gatherer, and there was a gen
eral desire to emigrate. Many of
the best citizens of Memphis were
impressed with the mistaken belief
that our city alone was suffering by
the shrinking in property and the
depression in trade, and California
and Texas were the synosure of
their eyes. In column after column
the Appeal urged the discontinued
to stay at home, and labored to dis
pei the visionary ideas that they
had formed as to the prosperity
and happiness they expected to re-
alize in the new Eldorados which
their sanguine and distempered i'm
agination had conjured up. The
result has verified the wisdom of
the Memphis Appeals advice
Nearly all the Adventures are dis
satisfied, disappointed and deeply
regret their removal, and unite in
the opinion that there is nothing in
the new homes which can ever
subdue their preference for the
home of their youth and the land
of their birth. We have already
announced that Colonel w. H. Ste
phens has announced his determi-
nation to return to the mother
which is proud of him as an hon
ored son. In commenting on this
subject, the Jackson Dispatch says:
''The numerous friends of Colonel
w. II. Stephens will hear with
pleasure that he expects to return
to Tennessee, not being pleased
with his new home. This is only
another illustration of the proverb
that foreign birds have fine plum
age. After all, Tennessee has as
many advantages as any other
State. Texas and California, seen
in the distance, are as beautiful as
Paradise, or the Islands of the
Blest, but upon nearer approach
they are Invested of all the bril-
liant colors with which imagination
had clothed them. In this case,
par ensinence, ''Tis distance lends
enchantment to the view Hence,
we are not surprised to learn that a
cultivated gentleman, like Col. Ste
phens, is anxious to return to a
State which possesses so many and
great advantages over a compare
lively uncivilized country. 1t is
not denied that man may improve
his condition very materially by go
ing west. We can easily conceive
of circumstances which would justi-
fly man in emigrating to Texas,
or California or Oregon; and we
have no doubt that hundreds and
thousands of emigrants congratu-
late themselves on the change
which they have made. But it is
just as certain that they would be
glad to retrace their steps, if they
could. Like the children of Israel
in the desert, they sigh at the recol-
lection of all the dainties which
they enjoyed in Egypt, when they
sat by the flesh pots, and did eat
leeks and onions to the full There
fore, we would advise all who have
in contemplation a change OF resi-
dence to look before they leap "
The return of Colonel Stephens to
West Tennessee is q high tribute to
our State, and it is more powerful
commentary on the spirit of discon-
content than anything we could pos
sibly say. Indeed, there is no long
err any necessity for the press to ex-
nostulate with those who are dis
paraging the community in which
they live, for we believe every man
in our midst is now impressed with
the belief that, after all, there is no
country superior to their own, and
have, therefore, become contented,
without which they cannot be pros
porous or good citizens.