Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-08-21
OUR. CONDITION AND DUTY.

To any one who has observed the way things
have been drifting for the last six years, it is
evident that the southern country will never
be able to compete successfully with the other
sections Of the Union, until complete and
thorough change is effected The elements Of
recuperation in the soil and climate of the
southern section are abundant; but until they
are properly applied and a change brought
about, all the natural advantages we possess
will avail us but little. 1t seems to be useless
to tell our people again, that they are COM
mon prey to all sections Of the country. This
has been done over and over, and yet no one
seems to be impressed with the fact. No one
seems to be doing anything to rescue the coun-
try from a system of slavery, calling and op-
pressve Our planters seem to be insensible
of the fact that the majority of them are toll
ing, year after year, to feed and enrich north.
ern manufacturers and spectators. White
and black are kept in state but little better
than slavery by these monopolies. Amongst
these, there is concert of action. Everything
is done by rings; but amongst the southern
people there is no concert Of action. Onr
mental energies are expended in concocting
little and belittling political schemes, and
our pecuniary resources are wasted in putting
these schemes in operation, whilst others are
enjoying the fruits Of our labor. Year after
year the proceeds Of the cotton crop makes
its way out of the South into the large cities
of the North and West. These sections are
growing rich, while the South is barely living.
The declaration is constantly made that there
never was such time to make money at the
South as the present. This is true. Money is
made easily at the South, but it is impossible
to keep it. 1t all goes for calico and muslin,
shoes and stockings, coats and pants, vests
and shirts, plows and hoes, spades and axes.
In one word, we have to buy everything, from
the bed we sleep on to the nails which fasten
down the lid on the coffin in which we are
buried. We may talk about independence,
but it is all nonsense. The sun does not shine
on more dependent people than those of the
South. If any individual takes umbrage at
this assertion let him reflect for moment, be-
fore he gives vent to his wrath. Let him be
sure that the clothing he wears and the food
he eats are home production.
1t does seem that this deplorable state Of
things might be remedied. Surely, with the
vast natural resources which the southern
people possess, they might control something.
If change was effected which would enable
our people to retain the proceeds of one cot
ton crop in our midst, it would place the
South amongst the moneyed nations of the
world. Dollars would be counted by the
hundreds of millions. If plan was adopted
which would secure to the South one half of
the clear gains from the cotton crop, the
amount would be more than doubled. Land,
in the South, instead of being fabulously
cheap, would be fabulously dear. A system
of improvement would be inaugurated which
would soon place the South amongst the
most advanced nations of the earth. To ef-
feet this change, nothing more is requisite
than the permanent establishment of manu-
factories to work up the raw material. This
is not selfish. 1t is morally right, and it is,
in pecuniary point of view, our duty. The
establishment Of manufactures would not de-
crease the amount of cotton produced. On
the contrary, it would have tendency to i'll
crease it very greatly.
The only question to be decided is, is the
establishing of manufactures practical? In
other words, can the thing bedone? We
believe it can. A company Of men can be
formed that are able to furnish all the funds
required. Such companies can be organized
in various sections of the South. By such
companies, we candidly believe, large profits
could be made, and the general good greatly
advanced.
Sometimes, we feel convinced that the South
will be extensively engaged in manufacturing
but the southern people may let the period
Of their engaging in it pass, and others may
engage in it and make themselves still richer
| at our eXpense.