Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1875-08-14
3: RAYyIILE La SATURDAY, AUGUST H. S75 WHOLE NO. 81

tue IcSuII vi circumstances over HHlcb
we had control. The solution of this
problem soon became Il leading idea
in the order. Subordinate oranges
and state oranges have given this
one point more thought and attention
than perhaps any other, and | am
happy TO know that satisfactory prog
ress has been madc-millions of dol
lars saved to the members OF the
order, and still the outlook is that we
are as yet only GA the threshold Of
this great work"
Thus spoke Worthy Master Adams
before the National Grange in 1874 !;
and this is a subject, my friends,
which should engage our most earnest
consideration. In fact, it is The great
subject which, above all others, must
be met, and the difficulties involved
in it must be overcome by persistent
cooperative effort Oh the part OF the
oranges.
The farmer is placed between the
upper and neither mill stone, and be-
tween the TWO, he is in imminent
danger Of being ground to powder
FIRST, through the operation of cor
rupt rings of spectators. organized
and constantly man@uvered against
his interests, he receives but poor
compensation for his toll and his care,
and secondly, he is compelled to pay
heavy profits upon what he buys, and
larger fees to those who act for him
in other ayocationS of life; and more
than all. enormous taxes are wrung
from him to support a set OF corrupt
officials, foisted upon him by a corrupt
government.
Let me ask of this intelligent audi
ence of farmers, how many Of you
have carefully computed your annual
net per cent. actual gain Make a
full and fair valuation Of your whole
inyestment-your land, your stock,
your implements. Then, from the net
proceeds Of your crop. including the
value of all you make and retain at
home, dednct every item Of expense
you are compelled to undergo, and
you will find that your net per cent
clear profit ou Your investment will
be small indeed.
But. my friends, you are yourselves
responsible, in 4 great measure, for
the heavy profits which YOU have to
pay for articles of merchandise. One
Of the leading principles of our order,
as laid down in the "Declaration Of
Principles" is 40 discountenance the
credit system, the mortgage system,
the fashion system, and every other
system tending to prodiSality and
bankruptcy" Have you done this?
Have you, by every means in your
power, discouutcnanced the credit
system? Have not some of you
acted like the traveller who, in his
eagerneSs to reach his point Of desti-
nation, leaves the plain, beaten and
safe highway. and turning into what
he cOnceiyes to be nearcr path, be-
comes involved in labyrinths from
which there are no means Of escape
Have you not, by endeav oring To raise
means by mortgaging your homestead,
sought nearer route 10 competency
than the safe and beaten road of in
dustry and close economy? 1 avail
myself Of my opportunity to-day to
urge you tn avoid any such means Of
escape from trouble. Iustead of a
means of pecuniary salvation, it will
most certainly prove a slough OF
despond," to engulf and destroy You
You are, nearly all Of you, in deb, to
your merchant now for goods bought
at high price, because you had to
buy on credit What would be
your condition if your homes were
mortgaged? No, fellow Patrons, and
farmers all Listen not to the siren
song of credit. Abolish the word
from your vocabularljes, and when Il
man mentions n,Ortgaye to any Of you,
do yOa tell him it is not in your die
tionary. Avoid debt as you would a
pestilence. You cannot afford to go
IN debit costs too much. Cum
mence the next year with the rigid
determination to go in debt for moth
ing. If you want anything and have
not the money to pay for it, go with
out it, Patch your old clothes, cob
BILE your old shoes. Plaut big gar
dens and truck patches. Make II
little meat go a long way. Nearly
all of YOU have cows, and with plen-
ty of milk and butter. you don't want
much meat. Don't let anything short
of actually impending starvation de-
lude you iuto the fatality of going
into debt; aud, above all things,
never, never, mortgage your home
s,eads! | tell you now, if you do it,
ten chances to one. as Cain was driven
forth by Almighty wrath, 50 will you
be driven forth by the merciless money
lenders, as fugitives and vagabonds
upon the face Of the earth.
As We have volunteered some ad-
vice upon the subject of credit, we
would like, just here, TO say some
thing upon the method IF farming
which, in our Judgment, is best adap-
ted to this locality. Bnt as every
farmer has his own pet ideas upon this
subject, for fear that We may weary
you, We pass on TO other matters.
Returning to the great burden OF
our enquiries, we would ask-Can
anything be done Ito secure to pro-
ductive industry its due reward 2"
We answer unhesitatingly, Yes.
There are two methods, by either ar
both of which it may be accomplished.
l, Enhance the price Of what We