Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-02-19
fraternity and political purity


was also presented and unani-
mously adopted. 1t is an ar
gument in favor Of mixed hus-
bandry i'll the South instead of
depending the energies of the
people in raising a single crop.
it 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 handled our
crops. Have those who strug-
gled for its production? Annu-
ally the energies Of the cotton
planters have been exhausted in
attempting to produce a maxi
mum crop Of a single staple,
while quite frequently he has
reduced his means IN supplying
his necessary wants. n sys-
TEN based upon such policy,
and producing such results,mus
be radically wrong, and if per-
sisted in will lead to bankruptcy
and ruin. No people can ever
become prosperous, who are not
self-sustaining. Our fertil c
soil, eXhaustless mineral wealth,
abundant water power, and gen
ial salubrious climate avails us
nothing if annually we cxpend
millions for subsistence. 1t is
generally conceded that home
grown bread is cheaper than
purchased supplies, and the OBJ
Iservation Of every planter is
that those Southern farmers who
live within themselves are more
independent and less incum-
bered with debt than those who
have relied solely upon the cot
ton crop. Were it otherwise,
it is hazardous for any people to
rely upon others for a support
of those articles which are nee
cssary for their daily consump-
ton"
1t then refers to the famine
which more than once has Oc-
cured in India, owing to the eff
forts Of the people to grow cot
ton to the exclusion Of bread
stuffs, and adds: During the
past year portions ofIOwa, Min
nesota and Dakota have been
invaded by grasshoppers, which
destroyed every vestige Of veg
citation. Imagine your condi-
ton should similar invasion
become general in the North
west. Couple with this idea the
total failure Of Il cotton crop,
either from the worm, from
drought, or any other unavoida-
bic cause. Improbable as such
visitations may appear, have we
the power to prevent them? is
it wise to subject ourselves to
the possibility Of becoming the
victims Of such calamities? Our
Wisest and safest policy is, as far
as practicable, TO produce at
home our necessary supplies.
Is there farm in the South up
on which this can not be done,
and at the same time produce an
average cotton crop as the net
result Of the farmers annual la
bors? We believe there is not.
Annually four million bales Of .
cotton are produced on South
ern soil; but what proportion
Of this vast amount is retained |
to indicate orr prosperity
One-half Of it is expended for
necessary supplies, 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 continue?-
Extensive cotton crops have
evinced our unity Of purpose
and entailed poverty upon us.
An equally uniform adhesion to
mixed husbandry would secure
our recuperation.
Cotton is a necessity, and the
extent of this necessity can be
calculated with eXactness. If |
3, 100000 bales are growing they
will be consumed before anOth-
er crop can be gathered, and a
remunerative market price will
be sustained by the consequent
demand. If 100000 bales are
grown the large marginal excess
will control and depress the
Alternatives for sue
cess are numerous. but We need
rely upon the single one of CO.
operation, in the determination
to subsist at home. With this
end attained there is no reason
why we should not be the hap
piest, most Independent and
people on earth.
ri ...o..nl l. rinrnnd hu