ADDRESS AT ATLANTA. 



(Reprinted from " The Atlanta Constitution,") 



GENTLEMEN, It gives me great pleasure to assent to the request 

 of some of your number, and to address } T OU on the subject of the 

 proposed exhibtition to be devoted to cotton. 



When I planned this trip it was intended merel} 7 for a change and 

 recreation : but I received a telegram from Mr. Kimball, informing 

 me I might be called upon to speak to } T ou ; and I therefore prepared 

 this address in the short time left me, incorporating with it a state- 

 ment previously written, which I intended to verify on this visit to 

 the South. In the short time permitted me, I had no time to prune 

 it or to smooth its rough points and expressions ; and I am, on the 

 whole, glad of this. When you challenge a Northern man to speak 

 to you, it is better that you have his first thought. 



The kingdom of cotton has been long divided ; and, as it has been 

 said that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, I have re- 

 ferred to some of the causes of its former division, believing that a 

 thorough union can onty be promoted by a full discussion of the facts 

 and methods of the past, the changes and the prosperity of the 

 future. 



If I have been somewhat sharp in the points I have made, bear 

 with them, remembering that I only speak as an economist, and not as 

 a party politician. When we who are business men take a firm hold 

 upon political questions, and try men and measures by their effect on 

 industry and commerce, a great advance in the true science of politics 

 will have been made. This is what I have attempted in this address. 



It happens to have fallen to me to suggest that such an exhibition 

 devoted to cotton should be held ; and , so far as I am entitled to give 

 an opinion as to the best place to hold it, I now give it in favor of the 

 cit}* of Atlanta. [Loud applause.] At first I thought the necessary 

 combinations could be made, and the more needful contributions of 

 money could be most readily obtained, if New York were selected ; 

 but I am now satisfied that, even though the exhibition may not be on 

 as grand a scale in respect to cotton machinery, if the exhibition is 

 held here, it will be more complete and more useful in all that relates 

 to the cultivation of the plant and to the preparation of the seed and 

 fibre, if so held here. 



This is the main point, and it is also more important for our 



