Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-11-21

W
as to quality of work, guaranteed in every
instance Particular attention given to fine
work in colors.
"ACCEPTING THE SITUATION.''
Since the surrender of Robt E. Lee, much
has been said in the South about accepting
the situation of things. In political point
of view, there has been very little discretion
left to most of the southern States. The pres.
ent condition of things has been forced upon
them, willing or unwilling, and there is not
much probability that in practical point OF
view, any change will take place in the south
ern States at an early period. The govern
ment of most of the southern States will re-
main in the hands of the present incumbents
for long time. This is especially true of
South Carolina. It is hardly possible for any
great political change to take place in this
State during the present generation. Our
people may just as we'll accept this now, as
wait ten or twenty years and then do it. We
are firmly convinced that no advantage,
either for the individual or for the communi-
ty, can be secured in any way, or to any ex-
tent, from meddling in politics. Now, as all
the elections are over, we (if we may take the
liberty would most earnestly advise our peo-
pie to do as the fox did which strained every
nerve to reach ripe bunch of grapes but was
not able. This animal, noted for its cunning,
said, concerning the grapes, when exhausted
by useless labor: "They are sour" Our
people have struggled manfully to bring about
political reform and failed-signally failed.
Let US now, as brave people, quit politics
and 60 to something else. If our object is
only to make money, there are few better
places on the continent than the State of
South Carolina. Our taxes are high and Ia
Dor is uncertain, but in spite Of both these
drawbacks, as much money can be made in
South Carolina by farming, in proportion to
the amount of capital necessary to be invested,
as in any State in the Union.
Some of our readers may be disposed to
call this declaration into question. All we
ask is a careful examination of the facts in
the case. Money power, and land is power.
1t will keep any law making body in the
world busy to deprive the land holders from
exercising an influence in society and from
controlling their enactments. The men who
own the soil control the bread and meat mar
ket, and consequently exercise an influence
over all in society who eat. With regard to
taxes, it matters very little to the property
holder whether they are great or small. The
poor man, who has no capital but his labor,
has to pay them all, or the heaviest part Of
the burden falls upon him. A few days ago
we heard a planter of this county declare that
he would not take twenty dollars per acre for
his land. The reason he assigned was that
land was better investment than money
loaned at one and one-half per cent. per
month. He positively declared that his
lands had paid him, the present year, from
twenty to thirty.fve per cent. on the capital
invested. Let us make the calculation. Three
acres of ordinary land will, one year with
another, make bale of cotton. The land
will cost not more than ten dollars per acre.
This would make the three acres worth thirty
dollars. The bale of cotton would sell for
seventy dollars. Suppose it takes one half to
produce it; this would leave thirty-6ve dol
lars. Suppose that it takes one half of this
thirty-6ve dollars to keep up repairs, pay
taxes and supply the means for cultivating
the land. This would leave clear gain of
seventeen dollars and fifty cents, or little
more than fifty-eight per cent on the capital
invested. A thousand dollars thus invested
would make, in round numbers, five hundred
and eighty-three dollars.
If labor is uncertain, it is surely cheaper
and more profitable than it ever was. Once
there was money invested in the labor Of this
country; now there is none. This is one con-
dition our people should accept. 1t may be
said that labor will become scarce in this
country. There is nothing gained by antici-
pating evils. There is not much danger of
such state of things. twill be time enough
to talk about the scarcity Of labor, when that
crisis is upon us.
Our people, generally, are prodigal in their
habits Few men in the State Of South Caro-
lima have ever learned the art of saving. We
must make change in this respect. The
amount annually expended by our people in
toys and gew gaws, is enormous. We have,
as a whole, contracted the habit of buying
whistles for ourselves, for our wives and for
our children. Dumb watches, brass jewelry
and wooden nutmegs find a good market
everywhere amongst our people. All this must
come to an end. There is no economy and
far less sense in people who can make fifty
eight per cent. on their capital by farming,
in squandering it in purchasing chips and
whetstones.
There is one other condition which we, as 8
whole, must accept. We must each and all
of US attend to our own business closely. The
only way that we can make the shop keep us,