National Republican., 1883-07-02
Southern Growth and Improvement
Tennessee.

The utter overthrow of civilization in
melancholy gloom over tho face of society
and seemed to blight the very earth. But
the earth is responsive to every human effort.
Where selfish tyranny reigns it shows
signs of resistance and refuses its fruits to
tortured industry; but when, haply, freedom
and contentmcnt cheer the homes of willing
industry the fields and gardens bloom in
beauty and yield abundant harvcsts. Infant
innocence does not respond more promptly
to tender care than the generous earth to
those who use her resources with care 1t
matters not whether arbitrary injus-
tice, the gloom of bereavement, or sloth-
full indulgence and dissipation hold
dominion, cheerful plenty refuses to make
there its abode. No state suffered moro from
the results of the war than Tennessee, The
hopes and pride of her people were so shocked
that general gloom and sadness pcrvaded all
classes and the earth itself seemed to bo the
victim of terrible curse.
Years of patient suffering and indomitable
will, under the inspiration of universal
freedom, have mtigated the bereavements
and quckened all the generous sentiment
and harmonized the before divided people
Now every part of the state gives evidence of
industry crowned with abundance. The
growth of villages and towns shows re-
turned and increasing prosperity and
expanding intelligence. The ten
dency of the people to the towns
evidences the growth of the desire for coop
erative effort. 1t shows decline of the iso-
lating individualism of the past, and the
presence of the community of interest prom
ised by the renaissance of southern society.
Tho influence of new forces is everywhere
manifest. Fences destroyed during the war
have been repaired, habitations rebuilt and
ornamented, barns and outhouses put up, all
evidencing thrift and industry. The planta-
tions are rapidly being divided into farms,
yielding more bountiful supply for the in
creasing population, while a higher intelli-
gence and more cultivated tastes demand new
and varied supplies for their qualification.
The cultivation of cotton in large
measure is yielding to that of cereals,
grasses, fruits and vegetables, and unusual
interest is manifested in the rearing of stock,
and the students of social science begin to
think that more profit, honor, and health
would come from converting the corn crop
into beef, mutton, and pork than into the
best of whisky. Tho forests, heretofore
yielding but little profit to their owners, are
rapidly being converted into building
material and furniture, and now add largely
to the resources of the country. To all these
signs of improvement and progress toward
real and lasting prosperity may be added the
opening Of coal and iron mines, and the
establishment of factories all over tho state
Thus much we can say Of the increasing pros
perity in Tennessee under the new regime, and
much that is said of that state can be applied to
others of the states of the south, all of which
| give gratifying evidences that free labor is
more profitable to the country than that OF
slaves. Let us hope that the present is but
the commencement of an awakening through.
out the whole country that will reach the
foundations of the social, religious, political
and business sentiments of the people, which
now so plainly manifest themselves in the gen
eral good will aud growing desire for allegiance
and fraternity which can only result in {
general and much to be desired prosperity