Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1874-03-14

A1E' CULTURAL. EVILS AND HOW TO
REMEDY THEM

HEMEDl THEN.
ST Louis, Feb. ll.-The following
paper has been approved by the Ma
tional Grange and recommended t,
be published
The undersigned representatives o
the Cotton States in the National
Grange beg leave to present to the
Patrons Of liusbandry in the cotton
growing section Of the Union, the
following suggestions, which they be-
licvr to be justified by the present
condition of the South:
During the past seven wears our
cotton fields have added to the wealth
of The world 3 1000. coo. .0GO and caus-
cd prosperity to smile upon every one
who has handled our crop save those
who struggled for its production.
Annually the energies of the cotton
planter have been exhausted in at
tempting to produce IL maximum crop
of a single staple, while quite as frc-
qucnti ' he has reduced his means in
supplying his necessary wants. 4
system based upon such policy and
producing such results must he rad-
cally wrong, and il persisted in will
lead to bankruptcy and ruin. We
propose to inquire into the cause of
this evil, and if possible, present a
method Of removing it, Has it been
that the supply Of cotton has exceed
ed the demand Statistics DO not
show this fact. Is it that our labor
has been unreliable and expensive !?
The same labor Investment has no.
where yielded greater market value
of products Has Providence innict-
ed upon Us agricultural disaster. He
has often interposed for our benefit.
What. then. has averted our antici-
pated prosperity? Are not we re-
sponsihle for our drciul condition in
that we have neglected TOO much the
/, growth of brcadstuilis and substituted
'heretor almost eAh.ust;-elv the cul-
tivaiion of cotton.
! No people can become prosperous
who are not self sustaining. Our fer
tile soil, exhaustless mineral wealth
abundant water power, and genial,
salubri0us climate avail us nothing if
annually we eXpcnd millions for sub
sistence. 1t is generally conceded
that homegrown bread is cheapier
than purchased supplies, and the Oh
srrvatiOn of every planter is that
those Southern farmers who live with.
in themselves are more independent
and less incumbered with debt than
those who have relied solely upon the
cotton crop. Were it othcr wise, it is
hazardous for any people to rely upon
others !or a supply of tho, articles
which are necessary for their daily
consumption. The horrors of famine
which have more than once cursed
the people Of India in their efforts to
grow cotton to the exclusion of
breadstutfS would have been repeat
ed in onr midst but that we were able
to supply onr necessities from the
ieeming granaries Of the North West.
We shrink from the contemplation of
what would be our condition should
disaster deprive Us Of that resource.
During the past year certain por-
ions of Iowa, Minnesota, and
Dakota have been invaded by the
grasshopper, which has swept their
fields like fire aud destroyed every
vestlgc of vegetation.
Imagine your condition should
similar invasion become general in
the North West. Couple with this
idea the total failure of a cotton crop,
either from the worm, from drought,
or any other unavoidable cause. I'M
probable as such visitations may ap-
pear, we have not The power to pre-
vent them, and is it wise to subject
ourselves to the possibility &C bccom-
ing the victims of such caiamities !
DcpeDt upon it, our wiscst and safest
policy Is, as far as practicable, To pro-
duce at home our necessary supplies.
Is there a farm in the South upon
which this cannot he done, and at the
same time produce an average cotton
crop a. the ret result Of the farmers
annual labors? We believe there is
not, and You have only to practice
this policy FIR the year 1874, and har-
vest time will proclaim redemption TO
the South and return to wonted
prosperity.
As our Constitution exrcsscs it.
the prosperity of a nation is il pro
portion to the value Of its produc-
tions. Then how magnifrcniIy pros
porous should be the cotton States o.
this Union, Annually J,000 oOo of
bales of cotton are produced upon
Southern soils. But what proportion
of this vast amount Is returned 10 in-
dictate our prosperity? Onc-haif ri it
i, expended for necessary supplies,
while the rcmauer is divided between
labor and taxes. Hence the cost of
production has exceeded the value of
the article produced, Shall this poll !
cy continue.
Extensive cotton crops have evin- +
ced our unity of purpose and entalIed
poverty upon Us. An equally uni
form adhesion 20 mixed husbandrv
would secure our Iecuperation. Pat
rons of TIC South, do YOU appreciate
your privileges Reflect upon your
opportunity 20 exact tribute of the
world. Cotton is 4 necessity, and
the extent OF that necessity can be
calculated with cXacturs- II i