The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-11-05

our OIuJOTs nus enllllled nullldn lnlellt-
genCe everywhere, the wisdom of our
statesmen has been owned and ac,
knowledged in the parliaments Of the
world, and whilst there is no mcretir-
cious show OF regal magnifcence in our
achievements, our crown is endademld
with peerless splendor and glory,
In the century of our existence that
is now fast rounding to its close, We
have progressed from the little clear
ing in the woods to the broad acres Of
the open farm whose beauty charms
the eye, from the hoyel to the stately
mansion, from the rude sanctuary in
the wilderness to the brick temple on
the highway, from the unwindowed,
puncheon-Aoor den TO the well-equip-
ped schoolh ouse, from the starveling
acadamy tothe prosperous college from
the scarecrow old iron works, turning
ont an hundred pounds of the reduced
metal in a day to the blast furnace
turning out one hundred and twenty
five tons in the same time; from the
wooden mold-board to the Oliver chill
pillow, from the pegged shaft and sheet
fan to the steam thresher, from the
stump tailed "sorrel-top' to the
Clydesdale and Norman, from the
"pennyrile" to the Holstein and Jer-
sey, from the "razorback" to the Ches-
ter White, from the tallow dip to the
arc light, from the "pony express to
the telegraph, from the flat bottomed
water craft to the magnificent steamer,
from the numbering stage coach to the
flying palace car, from the hard drudg-
cries to labor saving machines, from
the eight by ten weekly to the mann
moth daily, from hut villages to beau
full towns and cities, from jeans and
linsey to broadcloth and velvet, from
the hermit's recluse to the crowded
center's bounding activities, from one
dollar on wildcat concern" to a
thousand on Uncle Sans unialing
treasury, from population below one
hundred thousand to million and a
half, from slow, plodding, tardily re-
warded industry to the New Lille that
is effusing its enriching blood through
the arteries Of the country.
We have not occupied all the
heights of our vantage ground, MOI
have we improved all the opportuni
ties which have come to us. AS far as
we have gone, we have simply picked
up a few gems on the border where We
now stand, whilst the vast field lies
unexplored before us. Yet, we are
proud of what has been done and is
still doing, and believe what has beer
wrought and what will be wrought il
the swift process OF the years, vii
warrant us in celebrating our centen
NAL year with great eclat.
We embalm the defeats and victories
OF our war strife in song and story, We
enshrine its heroes in bronze and mar
bic, and why should we not build the
triumphal arch and voice an unstint
ed praise to the grander and noblel
achievements of peace?
Tennessee is ready to do her duty
in this way in 1896. An appeal to the
patriotism, fealty and liberality Of hel
citizens for a BETTING celebration o
the centennial anniversary of her ma
tai day will not go unheeded. The
anniversary, it is true, will not reach
us for some time yet, and this very
fact should spur us to renewed actiyi
ties and industries to make the bes
showing possible. In developing on
mineral wealth and in the building 0
railroads, towns, cities and manufac
turing enterprises we have ample tim,
and opportunity to make grand eX
hibition of our natural wealth and ad
vantages-one that will impress tn
world with the necessity Of making II
one of the leading factors in its indus
trial development.
This matter is far more importan
and far-reaching than any question o
, issue that the politicians can conjur
up. 1t concerns our vital, materia
interests. No man should be electe
Governor or member of the lagislatul
' who is not in favor of liberal State ali
to this enterprise. Every county ant
town corporation in the State shoul,
come forward, not with empty word
of appreciation, but with substantial
contributions OF fl,1us and exhibits
The railroad companies, also, shouI'
come forward with generous donations
to the pride and honor of the Stat
from which they derived so great he'll
at the time of their pressing need
The rich men OF the State, who hav