The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-02-19
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AMI buried with the past. Our work
is for the present and the future In
our agricultural brotherhood and is
purposes we shall recognize no NORTH,
no South, no East. no West. IL Is rec
served by every Patron as the right OF
a freeman to affiliate with any party
that will best carry ont his principlea
6. Ours being peculiarly farmers
institution, we can not admit all TO
our ranks. Many are excluded by the
nature of our organization not be-
cause they are professional men. or
artisans, or labore-s, but because they
have not 8 sufficient direct interest in
tilling or pasturiflg the soil, or NAV
have some interest IN conflict with our
purposus but we appeal to all good
citizens for their cordial cooperation
to assist in our efforts toward reform,
that we may eventually remove frotn
our midst the last vestige OF tyranny
desire for fraternaI harmony, eaufta-
bic compromise and earnest co<opera-
ton as an omen of our future success.
1t shall be an abiding principle
with US to relieve any of our oppress-
ed and suffering brotherhood by. any
means at our command. Last, but
not least, we proclaim it among our
purposes to incnlcate q proper appreA
citation of the abilities and sphsra OF
woman, as is indicated by admitting
her to membership aud position in
our order. Imploring the continued
assistance of our Divine Master 70
guide us in our work, we here pledge
ourselves to faithful and harmonious
labor for all future time to return, by
our united efforts, to the wisdom, jns-
tice, fraternity and political purity of
our forefaters. aidt1 aH
a A memorial to the Patrons of Hus-
bandry in the Cotton States was also
presented and unanimously adopted.
1t is an argument in favor of mixed
husbandry in the South instead of ex-
pending the energies of the people in
raising single crop. 1t says:
= During the past seven years our
cotton fields have added to the wealth
of the world two thousand millions of
dollars, and caused prosperity to
smile upon every one who has ham :
died our crops. Have those who strng-
gIed for its production. Annually the
energies ofthe cotton planters have
been exhausted in attempting to pro-
duce maximum crop of a single sta
pie, while quite frequently he has re-
duced his means in supplying his nec-
essary wants. A system based upon
such a policy, and producing such re-
suits, must be radically wrong, and if
persisted in will lead to bankruptcy
and ruin. No people can ever become
prosperous " ho are not tself-sustaiming.
Our fertile soil, exhaushless mineral
wealth, abundant water power, and
genial, saiubrious climate avails us
nothing if annually we expend mil
lions for subsistence. It is generally
conceded that homegrown bread is
cheaper than purchased supplies, and
the observation of every plsnter is
that those Southern farmers who live
within themselves are more indepen-
dent and less incumbered with debt
then those who have relied solely up
on the cotton crop. Were it other
wise, it is hazardous for any neople to
rely upon others for supply of those
articles which are necessary for their
daily consumption.
Il then refers l0 the famine which
more than once has occurred in India,
owing to the efforts Of the people to
grow cotton tofhe exclusion of bread
stuffs, and adds: During the past
year portions of Iowa, Minnesota and
Dakota have been invaded by grass
hoppers, which destroyed every ves-
tige of vegetation. Imagine your con-
dition should similar invasion be-
come general in tho Northwest. Cou-
pie with this idea the total failure of
cotton crop, either from the worm,
from drought, or any other unavoida-
bic cause. improbable as ouch vista
tions may appear, have we the power
to prevent them? Is it Wise to sub
iect ourselves to the possibility of be-
coming the victims of such calamitiesf
Our Wisest and safest policy is, as far
as practible, to produce at home our
necessary supplies. Is there q farm
in the South upon which this can not
be done, and at the same time produce
an average cotton crop as the net re-
suit of the farmers annual labors5
We believe there is NOT Annually
four million bales Of cotton are pro-
duced on Southern soil but what pro-
portion of this vast amount is retained
to indicate our prosperity? One-half
of it is expended for necessary sup-
plies, while the remainder is divided
between labor and taxes. Hence the
cost of production has exceeded the
value of the article produced. Shall
this policy continne? Extensive cot
ton crops have evinced our unity Of
purpose and entailed poverty upon as.
An equally uniform adhesion to mix
ed husbandry would secure our re-
Cotton is q necessity, and the. ex-
tent of this necessity can be calculated
with exactness. Tf 8, SOC, 600 bales are
grown they will be consumed before
another crop can be gathered, and
market price win be
sustained BY tho consequent demand.
Il 100000 bales are grown the large
marginal excess will control and de-
press the market. Alternatives for
success are numerous, but we need re-
ly upon the single one of cooperation,
ia thedetermination to s0bsist at homo.
With this end attained, there is no
reason why we should not be the hap
piest, most independent aud prosper
Gus people on earth.
The memorial ID signed bY the Mas
Lers of the State Oranges of South and
North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi,
Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia
and Tennessee, and was not only
heartily approved bv the Committee
on Resolutions, but indorsed by every
member of National Grange.
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