Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-01-05
Mr.. Tilden on Cotton.

sition recently paid to Hon. Samuel
j. Tilden the compliment of formally
adopting series Of resolutions invit.
ing him to visit the Exposition which
has been so complete and brilliant
success. They also appointed a com.
mittee, consisting of three prominent
gentlemen, who were also accompanied
by Governor Colquitt and Gen. John
B. Gordon, to present these resolutions
to Mr.. Tilden personally. Finding
himself unable to visit Atlanta, Mr..
Tilden excused himself in the follow
ing graceful and interesting letter:
GRAYsToSE, Dec. IL.
TO The Executive Committee Of The IHterHd.
tioaaI Cotton Exposition at atlanta:
GENTLEMEN; l have had the honor TO
receive your resolutions inviting me to
visit the international Cotton Exposi'
tion as your guest, and designating
Messrs. Robert Tannahill, John ii. In.
man, and NJ. B. Fielding as q special
committee to communicate them 10 me.
have also had the honor of personal
presentation of copy of these resolu
tions at the hands of those gentlemen,
accompanied by Gov. Colquiti, the presi.
dent of the exposition, and Gen. Gordon.
1t is with much regret that feel
obliged to deny myself the great pleas
ure rendered me with such distinguish.
ed courtesy. II would delight me to
interchange friendly greetings with the
citizens whom | should expect to meet
at Atlanta, and to avail myself of so
favorable sn opportunity for observing
with my own eyes the elements OF in
dustrial growth which promise future
OF marvellous prosperity to the southern
States. Above all, desire 10 contri
butte my influence, however inconsider.
able it may be, toward encouraging a
movement to organize investigation and
intelligence concerning subjects OF vast
interest, not to the south alone, but TO
our whole country and the world.
| may venture TO hope that the public
spirit which created and has sustained
this exposition is not exhausted, but
that the signal success of this first essay
will induce similar efforts, attract in
creasing public attention to them, and
secure for them wider co operation and
more perfect development.
The last time / visited those islands
which were the homes OF most of our
ancestors realized what n benefaction
it was that had set in these heavens a
sun which is generally radiant and
sometimes blazing. 1t is what climate.
logists call the upward curve in the
hourly and daily tides of heat, which
makes our 450,0OO,000 bushels of wheat
a sure crop, which ripens our l,7j0, 600.
600 bushels of corn, aud which enables
US to grow 6,0O0.00O bales Of the best
and cheapest cotton.
The invention which separates by
machinery the fibre of the cotton from
the seed gave new comfort To every
fireside. Better clothing at less cost
was n boon to mankind. The fact that
one.half OF the present cotton crop is
the product of white labor has dispelled
the illusion that the Caucasian race has
been excluded by Providence from their
natural share in so important a culture,
and assures in the future an ample sup.
ply of labor from sources of indefinite
extent. This result derives momentous
importance from the fact that the actual
culture of the cotton is now applied 10
less than one-thirtieth part Of the lands
embraced in the cotton belt.
The development of your agricultural
industries will soon be followed by
manufactures. A mature community,
while IL is enlarging the positive volume
OF its external commerce, increases the
proportion Of domestic manufactures
which enter into the local consumption.
The advantages OF a superior adaptation
of climate, soil, and other spontaneous
bounties of nature, and Of a geographi.
cal contiguity to the market are q legiti.
mate protection to the local industries,
founded on the greatest productiveness
OF human labor in supplying the wants
OF man, and upon the utmost saving in
the cost Of transportation between the
producer and CONSUMER. IL contrasts
with the artificial devices OF legislation.
always unskillful, and often perverted
by ,elfsh greed. which generally have
the effect OF diminishing the productive
power of human labor, just as il the
soil were rendered less fertile or the
climate less genial by act Of Congress in
order to enable the deluded beneficiary
10 make some profit out Of enterprises
otherwise unremunerstive. The south
is rich in natural capacities of produc-
tion, as yet mainly unapproPriated. To
utilize these capacities is benefcent
process. It's results may come, not so
fast or so soon as some may hope, but
predict that when they do come they
will in their magnitude transcend the
anticipations Of the most sauguine.
Your fellow citizen,
SAMUEL J. TILDES.