Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-06-27


A correspondent asks why it is that
such contradictory reports are publish
ed in reference to the prospects of the
tobacco crops Of this season. Weare
not among the initiated few, buthayean |
idea that it is repetition of the long
game of the speculator against
the producer. We would not willing
ly wrong any one, nor do we do so, in |
assigning reason-of universal ap-
plication such contradictory re-
ports. The buyers of tobacco are not
brought into the market by desire to,
simply, encourage its productions;
their object is profit and, to realize it,
they have recourse to strategy in order
to enhance the market value, of the
staple in which they deal, over the price
paid. To illustrate
Suppose a Spectator has purchased
FIVE hundred hogsheads of tobacco at
the ruling prices of the market in
which he purchased, and suppose an
other speculator is DESTROYS to invest
largely, provided he can see margin
sufficiently broad for satisfactory prof
fits-both are interested in creating
such margin, and will naturally CO.
operate for the accomplishment of
their common purpose. The how to
do it." is the problem to be solved.
The one wishing to buy concludes
that it is his true policy to create the
impression that the crop on hand, is to
be succeeded, in the fall, by the largest
crop ever produced. The necessary
tendency of this ruse-is to keep down
the price which ought to be paid to the
farmer, and when the crop on hand,
has passed into the possession of the
monopolizing spectators, they give
the lie to their first report of an
immense crop planted, by protesting
to have discovered that the protracteG
drought and destruction of plants have
converted the brightest prospects into
a disastrous failure Thus are tn,
farmers duped whilst spectators -four
isb, and they who toiled and sweate(
to produce the crop, receive Fraction
of its value = the full remuneration
falling to the share of non-producer
whose only labor was scheming for tn,
lions share of the labor of others.
But, it is argued that this is legiti
mate trading, and that the Spectator
are not to blame for the ignorance o
the farmers, which pakcs them tn
easy dupes of a ruse so easily detecte,
and exposed. But the argument ha
two sides to it, and it may be asked if
is legitimate to make wilful misrep
reservations for the sake of profit?-
the law allows it, but it finds no sane
ton in the moral code; nor is it
feather in any mans cap to take ad
vantage of ignorance and squeeze prot
it out of misfortune. This is tn
moral view of the question; but NOR
alizing will not help the farmer TO re
alize all that his labor is worth. III
must learn by experience, reading an
observation how to protect his own in
terests; he must patronlze papers tina
will not mislead by false reports-pa
pers that are independent of rings an
combinations papers that labor to ad
vance the general welfare by defyin
alike the frowns of capital and the il
Limitations of power, whether thu
power is centered in duly authorize
government, or in dangerous combini
tions for purposes of speculation upo
the productions of labor. The sol
of toll, no matter what may be the
specially, must all combine under I'll
head of Changers, who are already
power in the land for good - breakir
down monopolies, placing trade upC
the basis of mutual justice and fair r,
Enumeration, and striving to renew ii
glory of our original institutions, no
lying shattered under the iron heel
despotism.
To accomplish an undertaking, upO
the success of which depend the hone
of the government and the social, p'
lticdl and commercial welfare of ii
people, the Changers should bear
mind that education must be the chi
agency to be relied upon for ultima'
and complete success. We do n,
mean school education alone, whic
is bat a preparation for the a,
QUESTION of the useful and practici
knowledge to be derived from clio.
observation of the laws of nature an
of contact with mankind. And ;
none are too old to learn, or too your
10 be impressed by ever-recurring e.
ample, there can be no more fifth
place for this sort of education tina
the Grange room, the farm, and ii
homestead-th latter for that NOR
training which is indispensable to ST
cial and individual happiness; the tw
first. for experimental knowledge
farming and the close dependence
successful agriculture upon intel
gent observation of the uuerring ope
alton of natural laws. These femarl
may appear to be a wide Divergent
from our text, but the intelligent ia
mer will see in them a close cOnnectic
between the question propounded
the beginning, and Its legitimate solu
ton that the wrong done by falls,
crops reports, as well as all the wron.
inflicted by monOpolies and combini
tions, will remain uncorrected unit
ia ,mers are educated to knowles
of their rights aud interests and to q
understanding of the ways and meal
by which they can be asserted and d,
Tended. To know that they are beir
swindled, is the first lesson; by who
and how, should be the next, and TIE
will follow a comprehensive view
the whole controversy "a clear pei
ception Of means and ends, and ii