The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-03-20

more independent and less incumbent
with debt than those who have relied
solely upon the cotton crop. Were it
otherwise, it is hazardous for n people
to rely upon others for asuppiy of those
articles which are necessary tor q sup
ply of their daily consumption. The
horrors of famine, which have more tlan
once cursed the people of India in their
efforts to grow cotton to the exclusion of
breadstuffs would have been repeated in
our midst but that we were able to sup
ply our necessities from the teeming
granaries Of the Northwest. We shrink
from the contemplation should disaster
deprive us of that resource.
During the past year certain portions
of Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota have
been invaded by the grasshopper which
has swept their fields like fire and des-
troyed every vestige of vegetation.
Imagine your condition should a SINH
klar invasion become general in the
Northwest. Couple with its idea the to-
tai failure of 4 cotton crop, either from
the worm, from drought, or any other
unavoidable cause. Improbable as such
vlsitatiOns may appear, we have not the
subject ourselves to the possibility of
becoming the victims of such calamities?
Depend upon it, Il Wisest and safest
policy is, as far as practicable, to pro-
duce at home Il necessary supplies. Is
there a farm in the South upon which
this cannot be done, and at the same
time produce an average cotton crop as
the net result Of the farmers annual la
b0rs9 We believe there is not, and you
have only to practice this policy for the
| year 1874 and harvest time will proclaim
redemption to the South and a return to
wOnted prosperity.
AS our Constitution expresses it,, the
prosperity of nation is in proportion to
the value of its productions. Then how
magnificently prosperous should be. the
cotton States of this Union! Annually
100000 of bales of cotton are produced
upon Southern soils. But what proper
ton of this vast amount is returned to
indicate u prosperity? One-half of it
is expendedfOr necessary supplies, while
the remainder is divided between labor
taxes. Hence the cost of production has
exceeded the value of the article pro-
duced. Shall this policy continued
Extensive cotton crops have evinced
our unity of purpose and entailed power
ty upon us. An eqaaliy uniform adhe-
sion to mixed husbandry would secure
our re~cuperation. Patrons of the South,
do you appreciate your privileges? Re-
fleet upon your opportunity to exact
tribute of the world. Cotton is neces-
sity, and the extent of that necessity cam
be calculated with exactness. 1t is equal
ly we'll known what proportion of that.
necessity mustbe supplied blythe Cotton
States of America. If $500, 900 bales are
grown, they will be consumed before
another crop a be gathered, and a res
munerative market price will be sus-
talned~by the consequent demand. If.
100000 bales are grown, the large mar
ginal excess will control and depress the
market. It is not within the power of
our organization to control this. feature
of our condition. Alternatives for sue
cess are numerous, but we need rely on
~ upon the single one of cooperating
in the determination to subsist at home.
With this end attained, there is no reas-
on why we should not be the happiest,
most independent andprosperousp people
on earth.
D. Hyatt Aiken, S. c., Member Elk.
Com. Nat. Grange.
w. FL. Chambers, Master. Alabama
State Grange.
A. J. Vaughan, Master Miss. State
Grange.
John T. Jones, Master Arkansas State
Grange.
H. W. L. Lewis, Master Louisiana
State Grange
G. j, Smith, Master Georgia State
Grange.
w. Maxwell, Master Tennessee State
Grange.
Columbus Mills, Master North Carroll
ma State Grange.