Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-09-26
POLITICS AND FAMINE.

the southern peOplc. iSthVi "O"iN Va
lnay work disastrous results. The crops
of the South are failure, and, in many
parts, famine is to be apprehended. No
prudence could have averted the agen-
cies of destruction. They are of fate, and
inexorablein their operations. The pres
ent system of planting--the millennium
of agriculture and productions fail
ure, dreadful mistake. The tickle sea-
son has crowned it, and ruin is complete.
We quote from New Orleans letter,
that the reader may see some facts upon
which our remarks are based:
NV ORLEANS Sept. 10. lse6.
Throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and
Alabama, the accounts are very gloomy.
On Red river scarcely anything will be
made, in Rapides parish particularly.
Not only did the overflow destroy the
crops of a great many, but the heavy
rains and the army worm have made the
destruction general and equal Very
fesc, If any, wU pay their gear eE
penses. This | have on the best author.
ity. that Of Mr.. -, who is planting
himself. and is just down from visit to
the parish. What the planters are to do
God alone knows They make no cora,
cotton, potatoes, or pess-those at least
who we're overfowed They have no
gardens, no sheep, no hogs; and what
they and their families without taking
the laborers into account are 10 live on,
is difficult TO see. A great many mort
gagged their lands to raise money with
which to carry on their planting for this
year, under the hope, at least, that they
would clear their farming utensils and
mules, if they did no more. The result
has been that they lose everything. IL IS
heartrending to hear the accounts from
every quarter | do not really think the
crop can reach one million bales. The
effect will be, while it disgusts the Yam
kee lessee and drives him hurting back
to water lots, wooden nutmegs, quack
medicines, and sham stocks of all kinds,
the price of cotton will rise, and the in
dnstrious, economical and experienced
cultivator will do something with the
next years planting
For people so sadly reduced by mis-
fortune, the whole world, it would seem,
should feel some pity, aud provide some
means of relief But such is not the
fact Quite the reverse is true Of a large
part of the American population.
Deaf to the cry of impending famine
Indifferent to all the consequences that
may follow its footsteps, they are intent
on inaieiing still other woes. The
negroes, the people in whose behalf a
relentless war is waged against the
South. will be the greatest sufferers.
Those of them whom cholera and desti-
tuition have thus far spared, will en-
counter other agencies of destruction.
Depopulation is progressing while the
ballot is offered them. Death shoves the
ballot aside and reduces them TO equality
with the worm in the grave. The men
upon whor, the responsibility is imposed
Of caring for them, are distrusied, ma
lirned and threatened with extermina
ton. The negro, by no fault Of his
own. reduced to this sad condition, is in
vited to thrust his only friend and bene-
factor aside and rule over him as a
master This, too, when that friend aud
benefactor is feeding and clothing him
when in health, ministering to him as
physician or nurse when languishing-
or burying him when dead The picture
has no attractions, but it illustrates the
extent to which mad party is hurryine
the country to ruin.
II any one objects to the justice OF
what we have written, and denies that
RadicaIism is bent upon destroying the
South, we ask him to read the following
extract from recent speech by JoHS
w. FoRSEY