The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-02-17

being peculiarly a farmers in
stltution, we can not admit all to u ranks.
Many are excluded by the nature of our or
ganization, not because they are professional
men, or artisans, or laborers, but because
they have not a sufficient amount of interest
in tilling or pasturing the soil. 1t NAV have
some interest in conflict with our purposes,
and we appeal TO al good citizens for their
cordial cooperation to assist in our efforts
towards reform, that we may eventually re-
move from our midst the last vestige of cor
ruption. We hail the general desire for fra
ternal harmony, equitable compromise. and
earnest cooperation, as an omen of our fu-
ture success. SEVENTH shall be an abiding
principal with us to relieve our oppressed
and suffering brotherhood, by any means at
our command.
But NOT LEAST,
we proclaim among our purposes to inculcate a
proper appreciation of the abilities and sphere
OF women as indicated by admitting her to MEM
bership and position in our order imploring, the
continued assistance of one Divine Master to
guide us in our work, we here pledge ourselves
to faithful and harmonious labor for ali future
time to return by our limited efforts to the wis
dom, justice, fraternity and political purity of
our forefathers. \ memorial of the pafrons ~
nusOandry, In che cotton rtates was also pre-
sented and unceremoniously adopted. 1t is an
argument IN favor of mixed husbandry in the
AhC CnClElCs
OF the people in raising a 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
ana caused prosperity TO smile upon every one
who has handled our c~rops-save those who
struggled Tor Its production. Annually the en-
ergies Of the cotton planters have been exhaust
ed in attempting to produce a.maxium crop of a
single staple, whilst quite as frequently he has
reduced his means in supplying his necessary
wants. A system based upon such a policy and
producing such results must be radically wrong
and If nRrEiSfQ6 in will 1ao1 IN h0nH r,r ~ -
ruin. No people can ever become prosperous
who are not selfsustaining. Our fertile soil,
exhaustless mineral wealth, abundant wafer
power and general salubrious climate avail us
nothing, If annually we expend millions for
subsistence. IL Is generally conceded that home
grown bread is cheaper than purchased sup
plies, and the observation OF every planter is
that those southern farmers who live within
themselves are more Independent and less en-
cpmbered with debt than those who have relied
solely upon the cotton crop. Were IL otherwise
IT Is hazardous for any people to rely, upon
necessary for their daily consumption.
II then refers TO
II FAMINE.
which more than once has occurred in Indiana,
TO the efforts OF the people to grow cotton TO the
exclusion of bread stuffs and adds: During the
past year portions of Iowa, Minnesota and Da-
kotah have been invaded by g%rasshOpperS and
destroyed every vestige OF vegetation. Imagine
your condition should similar invasions become
general In the northwest. Couple with this idea
the total failure of a cotton crop either from the
worm, drought, or any other unavoidable cause.
improbable as such visitationSmay appear, have
we the power to prevent them, and is 1t wise to
subject ourselves to the possibility OF
becoming the victims of sad calamities? Our
wisest and safest policy is as far as
practicable to produce at home our necessary
supplies. Is there a farm in the south upon
which this can't be done, and at the same
time produce an ave rage cotton crop, as the net
result of the farmers annual labors? We believe
there is not annually four millions of bales OF
cotton produced upon southern soil, but what q
proportion of the vast amount is returned. To
indicate our prosperity, one-half of il is ex-
pended for necessary supplies, whilst the re-
mainder is divided between labor and taxes
Hence the cost of reproduction has exceeded the
value of the articles produced. Shall this policy
continue? Extensive cotton crops have evinced
our unity of purpose and entailed poverty upon
us. An equally uniform adhesion to mixed
Cotton is a necessity, and the extent
of the necessity can be calculated with ex.
actness. II three millions five hundred
thousand bales are grown, they will be
consumed before another crop can be gathered
and a remunerative market price will be sus-
tanned by the consequent demand. If 4,5O0,OD
bales are grown the large marginal excess will
control and depress the market. The alterna.
tives for success are numerous, but we need re-
ly upon the single one of cooperation in the
determination to Subsist at home, and with this
end attained, there is no reason why we should
not be the happiest, most independent, and
signed BIZ masters of state oranges of North and
South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida
Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, and Tennessee
and was not only heartily approved by the com.
mittee on reSOs utiOnS, but endorsed by every
member OF the national grange.