The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-06-12
Cotton 0ulture---Its Inducements
and Present Prospects.

Cotton 0ulture---Its inducements
and Present Prospects.
For tie Louisiana Democrat old, or
what is frequently termed "anh bells,a
times," it was frequently charged on the
planting community, and those interested
in the sale Of cotton, that they were ever
denying, (even in anticipation Of the re.
sult) what would be the probable yield Of
the great staple, with the hope thereby Of
probably enhancing its value. fsuch was
really the hope or expectation Of any, we
all know how, after it proved ephemeral,
if indeed the result did not prove absolute
" injurious to those more Immediately in
terested. Per contra, against those who IN
commercial parlance are called Bulls, =
there il also another class, trained "Beas,
whose effort it has ever been to magnify
the probable yield Of cotton-and hence
hope, at least, to depress ito price. 30. to
arraign the two classes, as above designa.
ted, under one head, let us say, as the
Bulls have sought to enhance the value Of
cotton, by trying to impress the world
with the belief that the yield Of the article
would be inadequate to the demand, &C
have the Bears endeavored to depress it by
the broad assertion that ito production
would prove in excess. Both were wrong
while each Of the parties thus autago
nistically arrayed, may have expected o.
hoped to gain by putting forth, (and ate,
too, before the seed had terminated In the
ground) the probableyield ola crop, which
the necessities Of the whole civilized world
required, it may safely be asserted thai
each have ever been disappointed ifa
temporary advantage occurred to either, il
was speedily followed by reaction in the
market, by which it was lost -perhap.
more than counterbalanced.
Cotton, more than any other leading
staple, has ever been regulated more by
the actual, than any speculative demand
hence any effort to depreciate by one class
or enhance it's probable yield BY another
is not only wrongi in itself, but as history
hath showed, it has ever proved an actual
loss to one party or the other, not unfre
quently to both. That truth then, and
fair dealing should not only actuate and
govern US in all our transactions, and
moreso, probably, regarding q commodity
very justly considered leading one, in
the commerce Of the world, we hold to be
truism. Nothing good can. or should be
hoped for by leading others into error, OF
even if so, "does the end justify the
meansq"
/ trust you will not consider the forego
ing remarks as simply an episode. They
are but a prelude, as consider necessary
to more fully elucidate the subject. Ibeg
(briefy as possible) to allude to-we are
ever justified in arriving at present conclu
sions from positive facts, things as they
absolutely exist, were discussed, and as il
is an axiom "that like causes, produce
like effects" hence by our experience o.
the past may we base probable future re
suits. Taking this as astand point, what
are the present prospects Of the cotton
planter9 What or where his hope Of pro
fit for his labor-his many weary days o.
toll, his many sleepless nights Of care and
anxiety does the appearance Of the pres
emit growing crop justify the revival o.
hope long deferred2 Here perchanct
might some Northern or Manchester cot
ton manufacturer, some specializing
bear" exclaim, hold on! not 60 fast! yor
forget there are yet four or five months in
which the cotton crop may grow and ma
ture-very true, but would not the reply
be as apt, physician treat myself" L
we may not be permitted to argue from
facts as they exist, aided ythe experience,
Of a.quarter ola century to sustain u.s.
What greater credit should attach to those
whose "hopes are father to their thoughts
whose arguments are based alone from thu
fear that their greed and avarice may b.