The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1867-03-09
The Agricultural situation.

A season Is past and another crop
Of cotton has been added 10 the re
cords, but as far as its visible effects
can be seen on the wealth of tie
Southern country, IL had as well not
been made. A million bales has
been counted, worth not less than a
hundred millions Of dollars. But it
has gone--gone glimmering TO help
other people, and enrich other pock-
cts. There is nothing left of it. No
more money is in the South, than
before il was gathered. Some may
ask, where is It? We point them to
the huge heaps of freight and pro-
duce daily landed at the wharf, the
moment Il touches the shore, il wheel
ed away to the railroads and coast
steamers to feed the farming people.
There Is the answer to "Where has
the cotton gomez" Verify, we are
working only for our victuals and
clothes, and unless q different policy
is adopted by our country people, and
the agricultural situation is changed,
that is all we will ever get.
Is it not possible for us to learn
wisdom from past experience? Has
not fifty years Of experiment pointed
out the proper course TO follow?
Look at the thousands Of millions
worth Of Southern product that WIS
paid for in gold, and how much of il
remained at the time Of the unfortnn-
ate separation Of the States? Not
even enough could be found to satisfy
the desires Of the peoples Butler. Is
this always TO be the case, or Is there
a time coming when the cIink of
something purc-some surplus will
be left TO delight us with It's glitter
and charm the ear with the now al
most forgotten sound?
To every thinking man the way is
clear to wealth. All know the route,
for there are no crooks In It, and Il
can be, easily followed by those who
are determined. Everything that is
needed for success is given by the
Creator. The richest lands in the
world, and a climate suited to the
growth of everything, Is the heritage
Of the Southern people. No people
can be selfsupporting half as easily
as the people Of the South. Every
thing that is needed can be easily
made here. IL we woald improve
on the present, We must make our
bread and meat first, and then give
the rest Of our time to cotton. In
that way only can any advance be
made.
There is no other way, and we
might as well begin TO travel II at
once. We have trusted too much 70
cotton. Our hopes for years were
based on nothing else, and even now,
when what once did seem a reality is
vanished like a dream, we are still
hugging the strange delusion rs an
idiotic mourner slowly dying Of grief
at the grave Of a lost friend.
In the name Of common sense let
our planting people grow their own
corn and make their own bread and
meat. DO this first and give up the
exploded idea that Cotton Is King
And when home wants are supplied
then grow cotton, and the country
will grow richer.
If the whole South could be induce
ed to adopt q sclf-sustaining policy
by making their own food and raj
ment, and give the balance Of their
time to the culture Of cotton, no peo-
pie on earth would be a. rich a. we
would soon be. But IL our planters
are determined, as they seem 70 be,
to follow the old route, there Is moth
ing more to hope for than we have
already got. In that case our history
Is written. Who wants the picture?
N m n.