The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-10-31
Something About Oranges.

The following resolutions We're unan-
adopted by the State Grange
of Mississippi:
Whereas, The moral, social and finaD-
cial objects for which the Patrons of
are striving, cannot be at
tanned without first achieving the indie
pendence of the farmer and,
Whereas, That independence can only
be secured by policy of retrenchment,
reform and economy, and the overthrow
of the present mutual insurance credit
system; therefore, be it
Resolved, By the State Grange of
Mississippi, that the Lecturer of each
subordinate Grange in this jurisdiction,
is hereby required to submit to the
Grange of which he is Lecturer, the fol-
lowing pledge of economy tO-wit: Each
member of this Grange is hereby pledged
ment of his farming and other business,
until he places them on q cash basis.
Resolved, That the Lecturer of each
subordinate Grange is hereby required
to keep constantly before the members
of his Grange, by lectures and other
wise, the great difference between cash
and credit prices, and the impOssibility
of carrying ont the objects of the Order,
without the practice of the strictest
economy, until the farming interests
are put on O cash basis. .@ ...4
Resolved, That it is recommended to
the Patrons in this State, where they
desire to insure their lives, to insure
only in those companies which have
made the deposit in the State Treasury,
required by law, and which propose to
loan the premiums collected in Missis-
sippi, within the borders of the State !;
and to insure in no company when SOL
vency is not vouch for by the Insurance
Committee, Master, Secretary and Treas
urer of the State Grange.
In support of these resolutions W. D.
Gibbs, of that State, made speech,
from which we make the following ex-
tracts
AS THIS IS THE FIRST LARGE ASSEM-
BLAGE
of the State Grange, the adoption Of
some declared line of policy is expected
of You. The subordinate Oranges look
to you for chart whereby to sail them
selves. All are agreed upon the gene
raj objects Of the Order. How to attain
those objects, and how to work out the
financial salvation Of Mississippi far
mer are questions which, to q great ex-
tent, you must answer to those Oranges.
The line of policy suggested by the
Worthy Master, in his opening address,
no doubt meets the approval Of this
| body. It is in accordance with those
suggestions, and for the purpose of en-
phasizing and rendering efficient the
views advanced by him, on the neces-
sity of economy, that these resolutions
| have been introduced. As in all mat
ters of business, the. most important
should first receive attention, so in in
augurating reforms, the greatest evils
should be first removed, and then We
will often find that those of less magni-
tude will redress themselves. To the
candid observer of the present condi.
ton, Of agricultural affairs here
! the universal mutual insurance credit
system appears to be the great incubU,
that clogs the wheels of Improvement
and keeps the Southern farmer in the
bonds of financial slavery. apply th'
term universal to the system, for four
fifths of the farmers are its victims, anC
I characterize it as a mutual Insurance.
arrangement, for under it the homes
and industrious are compelled to pay
premium of insurance against losse
from the unfortunate, thriftless and dis
honest. Now q credit system of money
confined within reasonable limits, ant
based upon value and promptness il
the discharge of business obligations
is an Indispensable adjunct of moderl
civilization. Such a credit system i
!, nOtknOwn among us as the general rul
of business.
Have you ever thoroughly investi
gated the working of
: THIS PECULIAR SYSTEM
under which most of the cotton j
raised. In the first place, it is we
known that the policy of the New Or
| leans commission merchants is to dea
: only with country merchants. Their
are exceptions, but this is the polic1
It is policy that has necessarily re
) suited from the revolution in the plant
! ing system, and the unsettled state c
financial matters sOccasiOned by tn
, abolition of slavery The country mel
. chants can not, OF course, afford to nc
!, vance money or sell goods at cash prizes
on credit. He must charge enOug
: profit on his goods to pay the interel
: on the money that he bOrrOws from HI
r commission merchant, to pay his e.
9 penses, and to insure against losses fro
i bad debts. He can not afford to sell Il
less than from, so to 100 per cent. prof
# Thus the farmer no matter how sOIven
: must pay from 80 to 100 per cent. int
: rest for money to farm with, and sc
e his cotton at such time as the exigenci
t of the country merchant demand, Th
= is the case, whether the farmer max
r 10 or 100 bales of cotton. In addition
n this, the farmer is compelled to sell b
; cotton early, consequently, the spec
= lating and manufacturing world knOE
!, ing this, he loses even the benefit i.
B. price that a short crop ought to gl'
4 him. ,.i..9a.s..,. ,.,.u .l.4. .....: s.s e..
q q In plain terms, the farmer buys ever
thing at the price which the seller pu
upon it, ,andis generally forced tosell
figures put upon his products by parti
interested in buying them at the lowe
possible rates, It is a system where ;
the advantage is on the side of the W;
street capitalists. who advance the bu
of the money through New Orlea
banks, commission merchants and cou
try merchants. 1t lsareeiproeal arrang
ment, SO-cattRd, with the reciprocity
on one side. .... ..:...
THE RESULT OF THIS SYSTEM,
supplemented, as tits, with the extrav
"a eance of the Southern farmer, and /
ry exclusive devotion to cotton culture,
n, sIaeey- -alBDbitiigGted and as,odule1nt
rs slavery. Who can be more slave th
he who is dependent upon others i
bread, and is compelled to purchase it
such prices, and at such sacrifices 7
= is slavery for which the Southern far
er is responsible, and for the furti
~ continuance OF which he is crimina
m cnlpable. Don'tyou believe it is ala
ery7 If you'd not. see your manacl
now, you viii feel them, when, in t