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Show INTERESTING LETTER FROM THE SOUTH. Editor Journal.-Since writing you last I accompanied Pres. John Morgan to the Kentucky Conference, held near Rochester in Butler county. A ride of seventy-five miles from this city on the Louisville & Nashville railroad brought us to Bowling Green, where we took the boat for Rochester. After a pleasant ride of about ten hours we landed at the latter place, a small village, where we were met by the brethren laboring in that field, Elders J. G. Bigler, and W. Paul. They have had considerable opposition to contend against, instigated by a Methodist minister, at once preacher and magistrate. this professed Christian follower of the ?? and lowly Nazarene, so far forgot the command "love thine enemies" as to raise a mob composed of what Paul used to call "low fellows of the baser sort," but who, I understand, are deacons, class leaders and members of good standing in the Methodist church. However, by the determined efforts of a few lovers of right, like Priscilla and Aquilla, of old, who for Paul's "life laid down their own necks," the wolves were cheated of their lambs. Six Elders were present at the conference together with many Saints and friends. On Sunday morning the meeting was addressed by Elder Morgan who delivered an excellent discourse, some remarks on the liberality and tolerance of the Gospel being, no doubt, for the benefit of the old mob leader who luckily was present. Kentucky, sometimes called the ‘guerilla State," has within its borders many lawless and bigoted people, and the general mass of the population is more prejudiced against the "Mormons" than are the people of other southern States. But at the same time, to counterbalance this, partially at least, I have made the acquaintance of some of the most hospitable, liberal minded and honorable men from that State, that it has ever been my pleasure to meet. While returning to Nashville on board the Evansville, we were invited to preach to the passengers. The request would have been complied with, but I understand a lady (ahem!)-female-objected for fear something would be said to offend her chaste (!) ears. A general spirit of improvement seems to pervade the various branches of industry throughout the South. Cotton factories, the manufacture of oil from the cotton seed, iron works and other manufacturing industries are looming up in the different States. The large plantations are gradually being divided up into smaller farms, and the husbandman is slowly realizing the fact that thirty acres well cultivated yields more than five times the amount poorly farmed. Many fine four and five story brick buildings are going up here in the "Rock City," which now contains a population of 50,000; and in consequence of its central location and railroad advantages, is fast becoming one of the leading cities of the south. Good school are numerous here and in other cities and towns, but the country schools are fully fifty years behind Utah's rural districts. Carlise has said that England's people were "mostly fools." Perhaps the same could be said of other people as well as if bigotry and want of sense and education constitute a fool Tennessee spends $2.50 per capita to Utah's $17.50 for school purposes. True the 15,000 negro population is a drawback to the advancement of education, but the black man is making fair progress in the schools. The Fisk (colored) University of this city, and the district schools are well patronized, and the negro is demonstrating the fact that nature has not been slack in endowing him, in some instances, equality with his former master, with an average amount of intellect. A few moments' conversation with a Southerner soon reveals the land of his birth by his vernacular expressions. Their "tote," "howdy," "reckon," and polite "yes, sir" or "ma'am" (the latter always to be commended) are used for our western "pack," "guess," "yes" and "no." Our northern and western too common disregard for "sir" and "ma'am" in addressing each other, is looked upon as an unpardonable breach of etiquette, and a Yankee innovation which is stoutly resisted by even the meanest upholder of southern chivalry. It is truly amusing to hear the "best families" boast of their ancestral descent from "good connections," "good blood," etc. Some never tire of speaking of their having descended from old families from South Carolina and the Old Dominion, and wish you to distinctly understand that they are not of the common rabble. Many and strange are the remarks marks made on the Edmund's law. Fair minded men who have read the debate on the bill (and the speeches of southern members have been pretty widely circulated)are unanimous in declaring it oppressive and unconstitutional. Others, and they are not a few, who wish to glide down the stream of public opinion, gaze upon us with a look of compassion shed tears (crocodile tears) and, shaking us by the hand, say, with a patronizing ah, "Gentlemen, I'm really sorry for your people. This Edmunds act has doomed "Mormonism," sure. Why don't you missionaries return home? But then I reckon it's all right; we can tolerate you a little while, inasmuch as Congress has you on the hop." And thus it is, we are left to ourselves, unmolested, and enjoy a quiet hitherto unknown, to search out the blood of Israel. A. H. Snow. Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 18, ‘82. |