The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-09-03
The Southern Farmers-Thelr True
90 Policy.

The Hon. B II. Hill has recently
made speech at the Jonesoore
Fair in Georgia, in Which with M
Usual vigor and originality of though
he points out the peculiar evils tx
~ which the Southern farmer is subject
Z I'd, and the remedy which needs only
to be applied, to put him on the higt
road to independence and prosperity
H. states truly that whilst all wealth
comes out of the ground, yet as 8
class the agricultural population are
The poorest in all countries They
toll, aud others reap-they produce
{ and others grow rich Ill hand
ling their products - the plan
ters are alone poor, whilst tho ira
, dcrs aud manufacturers count their
wealth by millions. The cause of
Iii. is, that the whole tendency OF
; Legislation is to build up every inter
est at the expense Of the agricultural
s.. and this result follows because whilst
the manufactures and the merchant
take direct personal Interest in leg
ioisIation, and seek to direct it, the
: .plante, looks only to Providence Tor
fruitful seasons, apd does nothlng
more. ...... ......... ..
According to Mr.. Hill tho agricul-
tural:popu!ation, with. individual ex-
is poorer to-day than ever
before, and in spite OF 'favoring sea:
sons and fine crops will be poorer Oh
til, lst day of December next than
On the lstday of January last. Large
nroits will omade, but they will
me-. bo realized here, but vii! 60 to
haild up tho wealth Of other sections
In other words the Southern plan.
n ,ers arc serving as so many slaves tc
cultivate plantations owned by North
ern people, who reap the profits O.
thpir industry. .,.
-: "Who vii, get the profits then, yor
will ask? l will tell you. Wal
street will get millions of your pro
fits, The manufactures in New Eng
:. 3and will get many millions. The
corr raisers and hog growers in the
West will get other millions. The
= lien merchants will get other mil
lion. The brokers and cotton fac
! TORS and commission merchants will
s .pet still other millions. Guano men,
life insurance companies and many
1,ther artful contrivances will get the
remaining millions Of your profits,
and the great majority Of the farmers
may 20 home and be thankful if they
Lave food and clothing, and have set.
tied up their bills and preserved cred
it enough to 60 through the per cent
,niIl another year. .
~ wish [ had time tHshew you how
all the commercial, manufacturing
and spccrlating world have formed
their schemes, shaped the laws and
united in harmonious shrewdness to
gather the profits of cotton planting
in, the South.
tell you to-day, l care not what
seasons may come, what large crops
YOU may raise, still, nndcr existing
conditions you will ever grow poorer
who produce cotton, and they will
ever grow richer who handle it after
it is produced. Without great
change the Southern States arc des-
tined to become so many plantations
practically owned by the Northern
j.. people, and the Soutbern people so
many hireling slaves to work them
And in this coudition you will reap
scarcely the wages, and not half the
respect, you accorded your former
slaves. And yet the very reverse of
this fate is within your power. Under
tho present policy the next genera.
't;oa Of Soathern people will become
the poorest, the most powerless and
the most contemplate of carth's in.
habitants.. While, under u wise poll
cv, the next generation of Southern
peopls may become tho richest, the
most powerful and most respected OF
Of living peoples. W!m. destiny
will we choose ?" .. ..
But, YOU ask, how can this better
destiny be secured? I will toll .yon
First-make cotton your surplus
crop. In these 'fivo words lie the
Samson locks Of your future power
Make your own fertilizers by resting
cropping, grassing and manuring
your, lands. Thus you become indie.
pendent Of the guano merchants
Raise your. own provisions. Thus
- You become independent of the pro
vision merchants. Your cheapes'
d and safest.lin of transportation runs
from your own fields and hog-pens tc
g:yonri own barns and meat houses
With no debts for your supplies, you
viii uecd no accommodation credits
- at two per cent. per month. Thus
you becoms swdependent OF broker
and cotton factors and lien mer
chants. You can sell your own cot
ton, at your own time, TO your own
.ehosen buyers, and for your own
price, and will get your own money.
None of thesc Thugs can cotton
planter do who planls on'a credit and
borrows money to tuy his provisions
But, yoi say, the Western States cap
raise provisions 80 much cheaper
than we can that we can make more