Year: 1868

HOW prosperity can DO ACcSCOrcO


Pursuant to call from the Presi
dent of the Chamber of Commerce, a
Memphis, on the Oath inst, a meeting
of citizens was held, and Mr.. John Ev
erett, of England was introduced ant
addressed the audience. We think thu
readers of the Home Journal will b.
interested as well as instructed in a pc
rusal of an outline of the remarks made
on the occasion.


The speaker commenced by saying
he was altogether out of his place il
attempting to speak; he was worker
and not talker. His place was in the
busy haunts of the city. He lived on
Lombard street, London, which many
of his listeners knew to be very busy
place, where people worked great dea
and talked little. His object was not
of political character, but to promote
if possible, the material interests Of the
people.


General Richardson, of this city,
when on visit to London some time
since, had made him promise if he ever
came to this country to visit the South,
and in compliance with that promise
he was here, and had consented to ad-
dress the citizens ofMemphis. He was
here to make observations of the char
acter of the country, its interests, re.
sources, condition and prospects. He
would not make himself officious, but
he would make some suggestions in all
kindness. Men here OF intellect, edu-
cation and social position were strick-
ell down in spirit, and ready to yield the
great race oflife. He felt it his duty to
do anything in his power for ameliora-
ting the misfortunes and sorrows of
such people.


He said he regretted he had not met
the people here in SUMMER times, years
ago but said we were both too busy
then. The people Of England know
little more Of the people of the South
than they do Of the inhabitants of the
moon, and in some of the Northern
States it is almost the same. In New
York he had heard the most unaccoun-
table and false tales Of oppression
down here. He came with all these
impressions, expecting to find people
utterly ruined and passing away. Com
ing, as he did, a stranger and not ac-
quainted with the peculiar troubles and
sorrows Of the people, he could see
things in brighter light than they
could.


Here are found some Of the richest
lands and finest resources of the
world. The lands of the South gener
ally arc far superior to those of Eng
land, and the climate is unsurpassed
anywhere. You can go on with your
agriculture three-fourths of the year,
instead of being housed that time by
wintry blasts, and compelled to keep
your stock in close quarters Also
Your hills that kiss the clouds are full
of mineral wealth, equal to any in the
world. Some of the finest surface
specimens he ever saw was shown him
by Colonel Sam Tate. These are the
resources that prop industry, stimulate
enterprise and arouse energy. The
people of England say that you pos
sess the elements Of natural prosperity,
and that this country was designed by
the great Creator to be agricultural and
great. If one race will not make it so
some other certainly will be found to
do it. That is what the people say on
the other side.


Without stern manhood nothing great
can be established. People may make
a country, but country can never
make people. Wherever there is true
manhood there will be prosperity. In
what does manhood consist? A deter.
mination to carry out our purposes, to
bear misfortune, to exercise fortitude
in the face ofadversity, to suffer and
move forward at the same time. The
question then arises, have you this true
manhood2 If you have not, then
whence came such herosm, gallantry
and endurance in the little conflict
which you have had2 Whence the de-
votion, sacrifices and patient endurance
of your noble women at home when you
were far away from them3 This is
certainly manhood of type not inferi.
or to the ancient heroes whose names
are inscribed in history, and whom we
all learn to revere in childhood; and
no one can believe that such men will
give up. We cannot believe that this
country, rich in all the elements ofpros-
perity, will be abandoned or allowed
to 60 down.


What, then, are the means and hon
are they to be used to bring about that
prosperity commensurate with your re-
sources. No country is truly and per-
manently great that is not agricultural
ly so. Whence comes the greatness Of
little England2 Her ycomanry have
ever been her power and glory. They
are the foundation Of England's prov
ess. They are prosperous, by tilling
almost every inch of the soil to the
highest perfection, and you, to become
great and prosperous people. must
make use Of every loot of soil.


No country Is rich long that goes
abroad for everything to eat and wear.
"If 1 90 to Loudon," said the speaker,
"from my country place, for grapes
and pears. and nuts, and potatoes, and
fruits, when / can raise them % well at
home, at . tri6ing cost it is quite like
ly that the constable would soon DO clio
sing me out Forgive me, II talh
plain to you, for it is for your own
good. that I'speak; but I learn that
your people have been in the habit oi