Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-18
efforts, to wisdom, justice, fraternity and
political purity OF our forefathers. lg .a .s..

Efforts to wisdom, Justice, fraternity and
political purity OF our forefathers. Hu,-. a3Fua.
A memorial to the Patrons of Hus-
bandry in cotton states was also pre-
scented and unanimously adopted. 1t
is an argument in favor of mixed hus-
bandry in the South, instead of ex-
pending the energies of the people in
raising a single crop. It says: arr
During the past seven years our cotton
fields have added to the wealth Of the world
~, 900, 000, O00 and caused prosperity to smile
upon every one who has handled our crops,
save those who struggled for it's production.
Annually the energy of the cotton planters
have been exhausted in attempting to pro-
duce maximum crop of a single staple,
whilst quite as frequently ne has reduced his
means IN supplying his necessary wants. A
system based upon such policy, and pro-
ducing such results, must be radically wrong,
and, if persisted in, will lead to bankruptcy,
and ruin. No people can ever become pros
porous who, are not self-sustaining. Our fer
tile soil, eXhaustlass mineral wealth. abundant
water power, and GENIAL, salubrious climate
avail us nothing 1t annually we eXpend mill
lions for subsistence. 1t is generally conceded
that home grown bread is cheaper than pur.
chased supplies, and the observation of every
planter Is that those Southern planters who
live within themselves are more Independent
and less lncumbered with debt than those
who have relied solely upon the cotton crop.
Were it otherwise, it is hazardous for any
pt ople to rely upon Others for those articles
which are necessary tor daily consumption.
It then refers to the famine which
more than once has occurred in India,
owing to the efforts of the people to
grow cotton, to the seclusion of bread
stuffs, and adds: ..... +. ......... go. .r...
During the past year sections OF Iowa,
Minnesota and Dakota have been invaded by
grasshoppers, which destroyed every vestige
OF vegetation. Imagine your condition
should similar invasion become general in
the Northwest. Couple with this idea the
total failure of a cotton crop, either from the
worm. from drought, or any other unavOida-
BILE cause. improbable as such vista
ton may appear, have we the power to
prevent them, and is it wise to subject our
selves 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 upon which this
cannot be done and at the same time produce
an average cotton crop =? Is this not the re-
suit of the farmers annual labors. We be-
lieve there is not annually 1000 0G0 900 bales
of cotton produced upon southern soil
but what proportion of this vast amount is
returned to indicate our prosperity One
halt OF 1t Is expended for necessary supplies,
whilst the remainder is divided between labor
and taxes. Hence the cost of produc-
ton has exceeded the value of the
article produced. Shall this policy
continue? Extensive cotton crops have
evinced our unity of purpose and entalled pow
erty upon us, and equally uniform adhesion TO
mixed husbandry would secure our recupera-
ton. Cotton is necessity, and the extent of
| that necessity can be calculated with exact
ness. If 100000 bales are grown they will
be consumed before another crop can be
gathered, and remunerative market price
will be sus tanned by the consequent demand.
If 4, 500, 900 bal are grown, the large mar
giRal excess will control and depress the mar.
ket. Alternatives for success are numerous :;
but we need rely upon the single one of CO.
operation IN the determination to subsist at
home. With this end attaiIed, there is no
reason why We should not be the happiest,
most independent and prosperous people on
earth. @ #Ft 70. $50 eH ID s*AT p.
The memorial is signed by the mas
tiers of the State Oranges of South and
North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi
Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia
and Tennessee, and asanot only hear
tily approved by the Committee. on
Resolutions, but endorsed by every
member of the National Grange.