Year: 1875

From all sections come the most en-.
couraglng reports. The season prom
ises to bsODe Of prosperity and Of plenty


From appearances tbs crops Of corn and
cotton will be the most abundant grown
in the south since the war. For yeaTs
our people have been struggling against
hope. They have been both frugal and
industrious, but year after year they
have beheld the fruits Of their industry
turn 70 ashes in their hsnds-been com.
PEELED TO purchase the necesssTies OF life
from more favored sections; then is il
strange that so many Of them have been
persuaded 10 look upon this as an unfa.
vored land? Looking at the list Of sup
plies from their merchant, and then up
on the few figures that told them their
profits Tor 3 hard years labor, were they
not prepared TO listen to and believe the
story Of better country, better land,
better people? Yes; and many an in
du-triOus, worthy man sold for triie
his land, and followed this will-'O-wisp.
Many feel now the sad mistake. The
cry Of joy and thsnkfulness heard over
the country brings but dim smile to
his lips. He went in quest OF
the favored land, and met with
disappointment. While he may rejoice
at the good fortune Of his friends at
home, he keenly feels his fatal error.
The voice Of promise has carried many
the to Golden State. After sacrificing
their ali to transport themselves, i'm
agine their disappointment when they
find capital hss preceded them, and
that the mining interests are all in the
hands Of Jint-stock companies, andthst
labor has its peT diem there ~ here land
but little in .excess il any. Do the
agricultural districts present any offset
10 this first disappointment? Certainly
none. Take acre for acre, staple for
staple, and our lands in West Tennessee
will yield aside from the estimated
value Of the lRndsl as much, il not more,
than the most favored sections Of Cali
fJrnis; and in point OF climate and
heallhfulness, ours will compare favor
ably with any State in the American
Union. The farming interest Of the en-
tire south is now being developed upon
a substantial basis. We have learned
the bitter lesson that to devote our en-
tire energy and resource to raising only
products for export, is to place our
selves ct the mercy OF those who,
seeing our folly, prepared themselves TO
furnish US with meat and bread. Tie
thousands Of acres in corn and the num-
berless shocks OF wheat speak In unmis-
taxable tones upon that point. Again,
we are struck with the improved cOndi-
ton Of the farms. Our people are now
making their farms their homes, and
not mere place for business and labor
the spare dollar is now spent in inn
proving and beautifyiIg those homes.
Before the war we found the richest ofour
planters living in houses but little better
than those furnished their slRveg-none
OF the substantial home comforts about
them. All this is now changed, and you
find the man OF moderate means living
comfortably, his farm presenting snug,
hOme.like appearance, and he himself
a better and happier man. Possessing
the most salubrious climate and the
most fertile soil, all we of the south need
to become great, prosperous and happy,
is TO be ready and willing to extend
welcome hand to all who cast their lot
among us-snd they will surely come.
Oar towns will become manufacturing
cities, our waste places be made to
bloom, aid our people be independent,
happy and free.