The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-07-05

iduals highly endowed for unaided achleVe
ments of inestimable value, but we mus
not wait for prophet to arise. That me
dunn talent and intelligence, which ike tn
middle class in society, is the reliable force
gets its strength out mainly, and | may sa.
only, in combinations.
There is in the average man and woman
largely prevalent desire to do something, TO
the general good. 1t is felt by all as deb
they owe, and there is genuine pleasure II
the sense of having in some way paid thu
debt. In the middle ranks, country ha
always, even when financially oppressed, I
teeming treasury of energy in this ennoblinl
feeling
1t is my earnest desire, young gentlemen
to impress you with this great truth. These
societies bring out the resources and energies
of Il country and direct them. Animatet
by public spirit, disciplined and marshaled
they are prepared to urge country along
on the path of progress and in battle array
to withstand the evils which would retaro
its progfess There have been at work some
causes to diminish our reliance ON this grea,
machinery, of which will speak after g
while.
The value of these agencies was first and
manly exhibited in the advancement OF the
sciences, literature and the arts, and it is
needless to dwell upon the universally at
tested and acknowledged benefits which
have resulted to mankind from societies OF
this kind. Before they had come into gen
eral notice Lord Bacon in the New Atlantis
placed the natural sciences, each under the
direction of Il separate body of men, and
over these he placed another body of men
whose office was to collect from the subor-
dinate organizations, all the discoveries and
observations, and to digest them, and sim
plify their application to the uses of man.
kind. These last he named "Benefactors.
Voluntary societies for the advancement OF
the progressive sciences have realized the
half prophetic vision of Bacon. The Royal
Society of London, which stands at their
head, was founded by private individuals
after Bacon's essay appeared. 1t is enough
to say of societies Of this kind that they
supplement- and minister largely to the
growth of the great educational establish
ments. Education is advanced and applied
and reaches the mass of mankind. You
need not be told that if you regard your de-
ploma as a mere honorable discharge from
the University, that its light will die out
like the spark. These societies offer a great
theatre of action and great public to APP
plaud, and therefore definite and attaina-
BILE object of ambition to those who seek dis
tinction in learned and scientific pursuits.
Suppose for example that we had an histor-
ical society in Mississippi, as we find them
in other States. The materials are rich and
abundant. 1t would exert an immediate
influence on the chain of history in your
University, investing it with new and live
ly interest and so any other branch of
learning, and especially in the progressive
sciences.
The efficiency and energizing power of
these voluntary agencies have been applied
very generally in the United States to the
industries, as a method of teaching how to
get the most and the best out Of this princi
pal pursuits, especially in agriculture in its
largest sense, and with amazing success. We
have exhausted language in extolling the
capacities of our soils, and they are very
great indeed, and yet we have but one indus
try-one branch Of agriculture conspicuous.
That country will lag in the race, which
has but few pursuits is as true as that its
progress is shown by,their greater number;
and that a people lag, and deteriorate, is as
true as that the highest civilization is found
in those countries in which there is the
fullest complement of pursuits. At the
great fair at Philadelphia, it was observable
that Canada and all colonial England, Bra
I'll and the new States of the West were adj
vertising for immigrants, and this was done
by the exhibition of the variety of produc-
ton, and especially food products People |
who seek a country will shun these in which |
the range Of products and pursuits leave
,ofr oh 10 lou
may justly complain of faults of govern
ment, and vices of population as temporary
lindrances to immigration, but in the end
md over all, and through all the capacity
# country to give this liberty of choice
nd to afford the assured basis of a livingin
he production of food will decide its fate.
'eople listen to our oft-repeated assertions,
,ut they look for the evidence and that evil
ence is not here conspicuous by any means.
Why have you not developed these resources
I sixty years of your life? If it be good
n us, it is good for you" Apply your society
ork at this point. c
Again: this one branch of agriculture, S
hich we have allowed ourselves to drop S
own upon, requires more human labor, Z
lat is greater number of laborers, than v
ny other branch Of agriculture or husband
Y and the yield is less in proportion to the '
lborers employed, than in any other, and t
ON an experience of fourteen years t
nder existing conditions less than in s
ny other industry. Unsupported by t
ny vigorous auxiliaries, it has lost {
is independence, and rural life, that f
eautiful variety of life, that flower of the
elds, has withered and died. Moreover I
ne class of laborers chiefly employed in cot i
On culture, are not the poorer, or as it is ,
allied the lower class of society as composed f
lsewhere, where the upper and lower class /
of the same race are interlaced by that
instant ascending and descending which {
pes on, and keeps up close connection and j
ympathy between the upper and lower class. {
hat great body of negro laborers we have |
ere, is detached and separated from the
PIPER class by line at once indellible and c
npassable. 9
1t is great mistake to suppose that this 5
ant of connection and sympathy is COM t
ensated by q stronger local attachment.
ignorance and feebleness of character has t
rought on that peculiar timidity which {
lrinks from change, but the desire of {
lange is strong and easily aroused, and
hen aroused, as we we have lately seen, it
ms into an ungovernable and unreasoning v
ampede. s
This great interest is, therefore, subject t
, labor famine, or what is as bad the con- i
ant apprehension of the disaster There C
one perfectly feasible remedy, and that is 5
, bring out the energies of the people in
lie development of those industries and v
ranches of agriculture which do not re- o
lire so many labOrsrs, and which will C
tract different class of laborers-sheep O
usbandry, fruit culture, stock raising, the il
of grain and forage, the dairy Il