Year: 1873

strength vary according to that peo-


ple's civilization. Atthis day national


power and prestige depend upon pro-


gress in useful arts and the most prof.


table application of productive labor.


Now, more than ever in the worlds


history, money is power. And the ag-


gregate wealth of people is the re-


suit of labor so wisely applied as to


be remuneratiye beyond what is nee


essary to sustain life. Money itself


depends for its existence upon labor


properly applied. And he that in


creases the productiyeness of labor


and renders it more profitable, adds to


the aggregate wealth of his country


An industrious mechanic, in the pur-


suit of his trade, really does more to


strengthen his country and to enable


it to resist oppression from without,


than the most eloquent orator or most


brilliant writer. Demosthenes with


all his eloquence was powerless against


Philip; and Cicero fed before his en-


emies in vain to save his life. Hire


ling soldiers backed by the energies of |
a manufacturing people were, not many
years ago, successful against the brav-
est patriots fighting for their homes.
Labor skillfully applied and aided by |
machinery will accomplish more for
people than valor and genius combined.
Indeed, the vital force of a nation is
measured by the amount of its ma
chinery employed in the productive
arts,


2. In an extensive country, where
one::section is more populous, rich and
prosperous than another, the stron-
ger section will generally have ten
dency to oppress the weaker. As So
ciety is organized in modern times,
the three great pursuits of man, agri-
culture, commerce and manufactures,
must be combined and carried on to-
gether in due proportion in order that
a people attain to the highest degree
of prosperity. In the North these
three great departments of human en-
terprise have each been encouraged
and vigorously pushed forward while
in the South agriculture alone has
been relied upon, and manufactures
and trade have received comparatively
but little attention. The consequence
is that the South is weaker than the
North, at least, in material or physi-
cal strength. Eloquent speeches and
sound political platforms will never
remedy the evils, which have resulted
and which still flow from this weak
ness. 1t may not speak well for hu-
man nature, but it is true that in the
history of nations might make right.
The only hope of our section depends
upon the development of our material
resources, the acquisition of wealth
and power by productive labor. In
this way we will secure all those rights
for which we have vainly contended
both with arms and oratory.


3. 1t is as glorious to save ones :
country from oppression and wrong
by the heroism Ct patient toll, as by
deeds of valor on the field of battle.
There is the sweetest music in the
busy hum, whir and rattle of the ma
chinery that is helping to make people
too prosperous and strong to be easily
deprived of their rights; and these
sounds of industry stir the soul of the
true patriot with as much enthusiasm
rs the din and thunder of battle, when
war is waged for his native
land. The pomp of military array !
may not be present, but in the manu-
now established and others :
contemplated in the South, toiling
artizans will work out for us indepen- .
lence and immunity from oppression
Iuietly but more surely than armed
egions could achieve them for us in
bloody conflict. Let US then bide ''the
pelting of this pitiless storm" of north !
ern hate and persecution, and by quiet,
faithful labor in manufac- |
lures especially, become strong in ma
-erial resources. Labor overcomes t
Ill things. 1