Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-14

OcCuplcu Dy tNtetttgeg1Es ftg scDDtes' wien 4tlll
barns and stOrehOuses, fHe horses and cattle,
making a necessity for and producing and
sustaining the railroads, merchandise, manu-
features and the various incidents TO thrlY-
ing, prosperous. producing people. 1t is a
grand prize held out in full view and within
reach of all. 90 f0rIcdrd and take II, for you
are fully able. Turn your backs to the towns
and cities, the learned professions. and the
various pursuits of traffic and speculation and
90 20 the farm with all the powers of your
gaiRd, soul and body. Away forever with the
idea that we must go to the villages, towns
and cities to hunt for society and educate our
children. A farmers life is the happiest in
the world. He can certainly enjoy many
comforts and Injuries as the citV gentleman
If he VIII only use the means within his reach
and not try TO run too JdSt az the start and
break down, or ruin himself by desire for
Office and meddling IN politics and other peo-
pies business, except in matters for the gen
eral good of all and deeds of brotherly love
and charity and ard TO those who are in dis
tress.
Without system re man may expect to sue
coed. Although at first the prospect may
seem favorable, soon the scene will change,
and he is sure to fail.
While these propositions may all be admit
ted as true, the question will present itself.
.'aofH systematic farming be generally adopted -
In answer to this, it may be very properly re-
Piled, from present indications, it teilL Be done
Gerry sEosoly.
How then shall this improved system, to
which l have briefly and imperfeetly allad-
ers generally The answer is at hand. Let
US ourselves demonstrate the truth of these
principles by putting them in practice, and
teaching 1t to our children and neighbors
and, IN very short time, a decided change
Will take place everywhere. Our people will
be out of debt, with abundance around them
many OF them becoming rich, with large
fortunes free from mortgages to merchants
and Northern banks and loan associations, to
whom many are now largely indebted. paya-
bic in annual installments. Oh that l could
II l. = q
get rid Of these loan associations, 1CGreh0ases
and banks, and keep indepeRdeRt OF
them BY systematic, energetic work,
With proper economy. gou can 10 y
don't depend on bankrupt and relief laws, or
homeSteads and exemptions. which may all
be very good in their places. Rely upon
brave hearts and strong arms. Again, let it
be repeated, work out and shake of these
shackels Of tyranny. Go at it without delay.
Then every foot Of our land viii be in de-
mand, aud thousands will be flOcking to
Georgia to enjoy our fine water, pure air,
rich mineral mines, and fertile fields, where
happiness and prosperity viii reign trium-
plant throughout the length and breadth of
our grand old commonwealth, from the Savan-
nah to the ChattahOOchee, and from the
mountains to the sea.
At the conclusion of Col. Mobley's
essay, which was listened to with the
closest attention, the roll of delegates was
called and the badges of the society were
ulStIlbNbcu~ HIS OCCuplSQ COuSAucIdD10
time, and in order to reach an adjourn
ment by II o'clock to-day, the time APP
pointed by the committee for the depart
ure of the excursion steamer, it was de-
clded to proceed with the business an
nounced for the afternoon session.
In so doing the President called upon
Hon. n. E. Harris, of Macon, who was
announced to read an essay on "Techni-
cal Education in Georgia.
Iot sfc Tod ho hoI
anticipated being called upon at that
time, and further that his essay was more
Of the character of an address than of an
essay. When first requested to appear
before the convention he was informed
that he was expected to deliver an adj
dress. Upon receiving programme Of the
proceedings he saw that he was announced
to read an essay. He had, therefore,
transformed his address and given it as
much of that character as possible.
MIR. HARRIS ADDRESS.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Georgia
State agricultural Society: One afternoon in
May, 1882, the manager of the telegraph and
Messenger, passing my gate, in the city of Ma
con. invited me to a walk around the square.
On our way the subject of the State UniYer-
sity b as mentioned and after some discussion
as to its management and prospects, my COM
paniOn said: "a school of technology is the
great want Of the State at this time. The
Legislature ought to appropriate a million
dollars to found and endOw such an institu-
ton"
The word then was new to me, but after an
explanation / stated that would rather be
the author of lew making such apprOpria-
ton, and founding such an institution, than
to be Governor Of tbs State.
To the suggestion il this conversation was
due the effort subsequently made by myself. in
connection with other melabers, in the Legis-
lature to establish and endQW school of the
character named.
The events attending that effort, End the
failure which followed, are all too recent IT,
need more than reference in passing.
When the resolution appointing committee
to investigate the subject was first presented
to the Committee on Education of the House,
quite notable event occurred. Several men,
bers OF that committee rushed to their feet ST.
simultaneously, and asserted that their own
thoughts were voiced in the measure-that
there was nothing of which the State stood
in greater need than such a school, and heart
lily pledged their voice and influence to aid
the purpose of the resolution. The committee
gave its unanimous Endorsement to the meas
ure.
can never forget that investigating trip.
Nine young men of the South, all ignorant of
the first elements of the subject under consid-
Grafton, turned their faces to the North for
light. Georgia went back to Massachusetts
to study first principles What scorn for such
a course we would have felt in the old ante
bellum days! The ingenuity and sharpness
of the Massachusetts Yankee were once the
subject of unlimited jest among US. We
held ourselves alOof from them,
Boosting a nobility of wealth and ease,
like the Pharisee, rejoicing we were not in
their position. We set up the blood of the
Cavaliers against the lineage Of the Plymouth
fathars and thanked God for the accident
wh&b gave us the grandest civilization the
wOrM ever saw.
Now, with the source of our wealth all gone,
with the gospel of labor only lately preached,
and but little learned among us, we crept back
to the scene of the nations workshops to learn
the history and study the progress of that ma
tiOnal characteristic which we once despised.
Whatever may be said of the success of our
mission one thing is certain, it filed those nine
members of the Georgia Legislature with ar
dor and enthusiasm, and they returned to
Georgia impressed with the belief that the
future progress of the country depended on
the introduction and support of technical
education; that in this was the remedy for all
our present evils.
The people of the country have discovered
that we made one grand mistake; we did not
take enough members of the Legislature with
us. We ought to have carried with us 81 other
members besides DR.. Orr. There happened
to be just that number in the Legislature OBJ
posed to the school.
We have this consolation in our defeat-the
work which we did, the discussions which we
provoked, and the facts that we gathered,
have made Il salutary impression on other
than ours, and it is safe to hope
that the interest thus aroused will cause some
other Legislature, more liberal and more pat
IlOtlC IMAM Tie IdSl, 10 take luC measure up
where we laid it down. and carry it forward
to the consummation 50 much desired by all
who understand it.
Here Mr. Harris gave a short history of the
fate Of the bill. He claimed that it was lost
by reason of the number of absentees; that it
was reconsidered next day, and was not again
He said it was only pOstpOned.l
The subject of technical education is occu-
plying prominent and important position in
the public thoughts to-day. A. b. Hewitt, of
New York, in a recent interview at the Coop
er Institute, said: The people which is not
interested in the subject of technical educa-
ton now is behind the age"
Though undoubtedly the leading feature of
discussion in all educational circles, yet the
system as now understood, Is OF compare
lively recent origin. True, technical schools.
in which certain scientific profess
sions were taught, have long been in
operation, but the schools carried on upon
what is known as the Russian system-sepa-
rating the art from the trade, and putting
theory and practice in parallel, and therefore
in this country than, possibly, the year 1866.
On this system the great leading institutions
of the kind are working.
Our first ideas of industrial schools were
taken from a vastly different class of schools
to those now referred to. The former were
based, generally, on the idea of the apprentice
system, think. For instance, no problems were
no graduation of the series of prac-
teal experiments was relied on; no certain
system was followed, in fact, save what was
suggested and necessitated by the demands of
the trade. The student learned at hap-ha
ard, his wishes were not consulted, and no
regard was had for aptitude, and no room al
lowed for choice. 1t was like putting corn
into hopper to be ground-the stones crush