The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-05-02
1GHE CULTURE OF COTTON.
)Pinieas Of Hon. i. II. Hill OF
Georgia.

7 Georgia.
ExTRAc1 k15M HIS SPEECH Be
FORE KN1GR1CULTURAL FAIR.
Mr.. Hill said: "We of the South
are very poor. With individual ex-
captions, we are all poor. fear we
do not know how poor we are. I
am quite confident we do not imag-
ine how poor we are going to be.
AS people the agricultural popula-
tiop of the South are poorer to-day
than they ever have been, and they
are getting poorer every day" At
tier admit itting that they would make
good crops this year, he dampens the
ardor of his auditors by adding :
"Now'le me ask you this question,
how much will you make this year ?
I will answer for you. A large ma
jority of the planters OF Georgia will
be poorer on the 1st day of Deceme
Der next than they were on thee 1st
day of January last. I admit that
large profits will he made by some
people ON this years cotton crop i'll
the South; but what [ affirm is that
with individual ezceptions) these
profits will not bo reaped by the
planters and producers Of this cot
ton. Who viii get the profits, then /?
you will ask. I viii tell you. Wall
Street will get millions Of your
profits: the manufactures in New
England willoget many millions; the
corn growers and hop raisers in the
West will get many millions; the bro"
kerfs and cotton factors AID commits
sion merchants will get still other
millions; guano men, reinsurance
companies, and many other artful
contrivancesSwill get the remaining
millions of your profits; and the
great oemajority OF the farmers may
60 home and be thankful if they
have food anas clotlong, and have
settled up their bills, and preserved
credit enough to 60 through the per-
cefa. mill aolother year" s
Warming with his theme, Mr..
Hill continues: 81 wish I had time
to show you how all the commercial
manufacturing, specializing woTld
have formed their 4chemes, shaped
| the laws, and united in harmonious
shrewdness to gather the pro&ts of
cotton planting in the South
"I tell you to-day I care not what
seasons may come, what large crops
you may raise, still, under existing
conditions, you aciN euer grow poorer
qchO produce cotton, and they wHl
crer grow richer aUho handle 1t after
1t iseprodmced. Without o great
change, the Southern States are dcs-
tined to become so many plantations
practically owned by the Northern
people, and Southern people SO many
hireling slaves to work them. And
in this con6ition you will reap scarces
ly the wages and not half the respect
you accorded your former slaves.
Under the present policy the South
ern people in the next generation
will become the poorest, the most
poverless, and the most contempt
bic of. earth's inhabitants, while, un-
der wiae policy, tie next genera
ton of Southern people may become
the richest, the most powerful, and
Sthe most respected Of living peoples.
Which destiny will we choose ?"
"Rut You ask, How can this bet
ter destiny be secured? will tell
you. First, make cotton you'' surplus
crop. In these five words: lie the
Samson's locks of your future power.
Make your own fertilizers by resting,
cropping, grassing, and manming
your lands-ethus you become indie
pendent of. guano merchants. Raise
your own provisions-thus you be-
come independent of provision mer-
chants. Your cheapest and safest
line of transportation runs from your
own fields and hog pens to your own
barns and eat-houses. With no
debts for supplies, you will reed no
accommodation credits at tar0 pc,
cent. per month thus You become
independent of brokers and cotton
factors and lien merchants You
can then. sell your own cotton at you,
own time, to your own chosen buy
ers and for your own price, and will
get your own money. None of these
things can planter do who plants
on credit, and borrows money to buy
his provisions. Go on as you are
now going, making cotton your chief
crop and slavery is the doom of your
children and your children s children
forever Apeople that depends on
other people for food and clothing
are and must be slaves"