The Russellville Democrat., 1875-03-18
SHALL WE PROFIT BY
 PAST EXPERIENCE.

PAST EXPERT ENCE.
 Misfortunes, although they may be severe, and notwithstanding they may seem to be great afllic- tion and cause much hardship to those particular individuals or communities upon whom they may fall, can not unfrequently be turn ed to the advantage of mankind as mass. Important lessons are to be derived from almost every mis- fortune which befalls the race of mankind in his various relations and positions of life. If we will look at the misfortunes which happen to us in an intelligent way and study the lessons they teach, we will always find ourselves wiser by our afiiictions. To profit there by, however, we must inquire into
 
 the causes and notice the results of these disasters, commonly called misfortunes. True there are some times mishaps which we cannot by any vigilance of our own avert; but as general rule, if we will study the causes which have brought others before us to pover- ty and distress, we may in a great measure fortify ourselves against the results of like causes. Result follows cause, and like cause pro- duees like result. Knowing this, it would seem that mankind ought to become more competent to re- sist the ills that he is heir to, as the world grows older, and as. he has the benefit of the experience of others before him. And so we find he is. In every sphere of life the man is most successful, who studies the particular branch of bushes which he may follow, the most devotedly. These assertions are as true in regard to agrcul- ture as anything else. Last sea son was disastrous one to our farmers. AS a consequence we have unusually hard times, and want and poverty stares many a mans family in the face. We are not so bad off in this respect here in Pope county as they are in many other counties of this state Last years drouth could not be avoid ed, but much of the destitution of our people could have been averted if we had known in time that we were to have such season and planted our crops last season and made our arrangements accord ingly. When it is too late, we can see where our farmers missed it. Our people might all have had enough to eat, if they could not have pockets full of greenbacks. Commonly there is no excuse for our people, in country like we have, not having plenty for them selves and their stock to eat. But this seems to be hard lesson to learn. We grow cottony and work our lives ont to grow it, and get l2 cents pound for it. We take the money we get for our cotton and send 1t out of our country for corn, flour, meat and potatoes. If our cotton crop fails, we are at once on sutferance. When will our people learn to manage bet ter? When will they learn by the sad experience. of the past, to make their own bread and meat FIRST? Shall the suffering all oyer our land-the want and pov- erty of thls year, calling aloud for charity-be repeated next year? Will our people not open their ears to the voice of wisdom speaking to them through their present afiiictions? Planting sea son is now at hand and now is the time for these things to be con sidered. We want to urge it up. on our people to make more bread and meat. Plant more corn and wheat. Plant oats and grasses. Plant potatoes and tur- nips. Twenty bushels of turnips will do your cattle as much good as the corn you can buy with two hundred pounds of cotton. We cannot possibly grow cotton enough to save us from poverty unless we begin to be self sus- taining in bread and meat and feed for stock. The more cotton we grow the less price it will bring us, and the poorer we get If we make 6,000,000 bale crop this year it will be worth only |