Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-06-21
THE GREAT QUESTION OF THE DAY.


the all-absorbing question Of our agri-
cultural communicable solving of
which seems to be most perllexing.
1t is evident that there must be
new departure from the old beaten
track hitherto Travelled by the tillers
of the soil. From them the wealth
Of the State comes-without them all
would sink to ruin. In advocating
their interest, we are adv coating the
interest Of all.
Monopolies, for the past ten years,
have been fearfully on the increase,
and the farmer has to bear the bur
den of them all. Thus the few are
enriched at the expense of the many,
and it is high time that some counter
movement against these monopolizers
Of trade, who are sucking the life
blood out of the country, should he
made.
Already in different portions Of our
country, our farmers are forming
themselves into associations for mu-
tual protection. 1t has become an
absolute necessity; for the concentra-
ton of capital has become So strong
that the merchants twist the farmer
around their fingers, give what they
please for produce, and charge what
they please for what they furnish
Hence, the merchants become princes,
and farmers their most abject slaves.
If this stale of things continue, our
country must and will plunge into
irretrievable, utter, hopeless rain.
Hence, VIC call the attention Of our
agricultural community to he 'mpor-
lance Of combining together for their
own protection, their mutual interest,
and for the improvement Of. their
financial condition.
Why should they contiIuc to have
so many middle men standing be-
tween them and the consumer Of
what they produce-who pocket all
the profits, and, in turn, still stand
between them and the producer of ar
ticles which they consume, thus max
ing a double profit off of the farmer
thus forever keeping their noses to
the grinding stone and their backs
ever bending to toll for the benefit Of
their masters-the merchants.
Why not combine together and
have your supplies laid at your doors
at wholesale prices, with only the adj
ditional cost Of carriage, instead Of
having to bear an additional tariff Of
from so to 100 per cent, purchasing
commissions added, and from IS to
% per cent for advancing!
Ulder these circumstances, is it any
wonder that we hear the cry of hard
times all over our land? Now, four
farmers would save themselves from
these perpetual drains upon their in
dustry, they must form themselves in
to associations as patrons of husband
ry. Capital is concentrated against
them, and they must concentrate
against capital. If things continue
as they are, capital will continue to
accumulate in the hands of the few,
and the rope will be drawn even
tighter than now We find capital
concentrated at the great centres Of
trade, used to foster corrupt legisla.
ton, in the passage of bad and oppres-
sive laws, and entail the burden Of
heavy taxation upon the people, while
it enriches the capitalist more and
gives him greater power to tighten
the screws.
It remains for the tillers of the soil
to say, whether they will longer sub
nit to this degradation of their man
hood. You have sunk thousands o.
dollars, toiled and labored to recover
from the disastrous effects of the war
but you are poorer now than when
you begun-the soil still yields her
bounty to your handy craft,-but
where are the fruits of your toll p
where the capital ysu invested to
bald up your shattered fortunes and
to leave patrimony to your children
all gone into the Golfers of the CAPT.
talistl What improvements have
yea ahle 70 make on your farms
~ = becoming dilapidsted
- - compelled to put
~ saltlvstion = you have
ret " IL eenstant drain.
49,.