The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-01-12
LETTER FROM rfLDEN.
The sage of Gsraystone on the
Resources and Development of
the south.

AhC say = va sTayekohC on TIC
Resources and Development of
the south.
GRAYsToEE, Dec. nth.
To the Executive Committee of the Interna-
ti0nal Cotton Exposition, at Atlanta:
GENTLEMEN--I have had the honor
to receive your resolutions inviting me
to visit the International Cotton Ex>
position as your guest, and designating
Messrs. Robert Tannahill, John. Fl.
Inman and M. B. Fielding as a special
committee to communicate them to me.
I have also had the honor of personal
presentation of copy of the resolu>
tions at the hands of tbo'e gentlemen.
accompanied by Gov. Colqnitt, Pres
ident of the Exposition, and Gen. Gors
don.
1t is with much regret that 1 feel
obliged to deny myself the great pleas
ure rendered me with such distin-
guished courtesy. Tt would delight
me to Interchange friendly greetings
with the citizens [ should expect to
meet at Atlanta, and to avail myself of
so favorable an opportunity for observ-
ing with my own eyes the elements of
industrial growth which promise a
future of marvellous prosperity to the
Southern States. Above all, desire
to contribute my influence, however
lnconsiderable it may be, towards
encouraging movement to organize
investigation end intelligence concern
ing subjects of vast interest, not to the
South alone but to our whole country
and the world.
l may venture to hope that the pubs
lie spirit which created and has sus-
tanned this Exposition is not exhausted,
but that the signal success of this first
essay will induce similar efforts, attract
increasing public attention to them,
and secure for them wider cooperation
and more perfect development,
The last time I visited those islands
which were the homes of most of our
ancestors realized what benefaction
it was that had set in these heavens
sun which is generally radiant, and
sometimes blazing. Tt is what clima-
tologists call the upward curve in the
hourly and daily tides of heat which
makes our $50 million bushels of wheat
sure crop, which ripens orr 1,750
million bushels Of corn, aud enables us
to grow six million bales of best and
!, cheapest cotton.
The invention which separates by
machinery the fibre of the cotton from
the seed gave o new comfort to every
: Preside. Better clothing at less cost,
was boon to mankind. The fact that
one half of the present cotton crop is
the product of white labor has dispeled
the illusion that the Caucasian race
; had been excluded by Providence from
heir natural share in so important a
culture, and assures in the future on
, ample supply 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 to less than one-thirtieth
: part of the lands embraced in the cot
ton belt.
The development of your agricultural
industries will soon be followed by
manufactures. A mature community,
E while it is enlarging the positive vol>
nme of is external commerce increases
) the proportion of domestic manufac
lures which enter into the local con,
sumption.
The advantages of superior adap>
eioh Va Sl'ii"bS, Gol'y anu otHCl SDDtl-
taneous bonIties of nature, and of q
geographical contiguity to the market
) are a legitimate protection to the local
industries, founded on the creates,
productiveness of human labor in sup.
, plying the wants of man, and upon the
utmost saving in the cost OF trans
portation between the producer and
consumer. It contrasts with the arti.
; fetal devices of legislation, always un-
skillful, and often perverted by selfish
greed, which generally have the effec,
: of diminishing the productive power
of human labor, just as if the soil were
rendered less fertile or the climate less
genial by act OF Congress, in order tc
enable the deluded benefclars to max
some profit out of enterprises otherwise
unremunerative.
The South is rich in natural capac-
tiles of production, as yet mainly un-
appropriated. To utilize these capac
tiles is benefcient process. Its re-
t suits may come, not so fast or so soor
| as some may hope, but 1 predict thai
when they do come they will, in theil
magnitude, transcend the anticipa-
, tons of tho most sauguine. Your fel.
low citizen, SAMUEL J. TILDEN.