The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-12-21
THE TIMES ANp WHIT OF THEN.


sSSss have complained Of the times, often
yas!ly so, bptIoftener, perhaps, without
sSy tsoua4ssa::SSn- n fact. That class Of
society whom sone cause, most probably
ts!icir own lack of,ehrift and proper iudg-
ment, has destined them to remain al
way, III indigen. circumstances, are ever
complaining, and attribute their misfoy.
tune too frequently to some public ca
inmity, or oppression b. those who'rha
age the ship Of State: nut Yllen in times
like these the cry comes from every class
and from every quarter in the land, We
begin to conclude that there is more
truth than habit in it, and see that somr-
thing speedy and effective must be fesor-
ted to which will turn aside the dsas-
trous climax which is 80 imminent.
This bad state OF affairs is traceable
to some source, or is the result of various
causes combined The Sphynx in the
highways demands an answer to her rid
die, but it is hoped that every patriotic
adventurer who attempts the solution
may solve the mystery without being de-
Toured.
During the eight years of misgoyern-
ment under which we have struggled for
footing, gradual decline in all the
industries is evident, and few years
more Of tyrannical rule would end in
general bankruptcy and repudiation.
1t could not logically be otherwise. In
deed, this state of things has gone on
until general feeling of insecurity, both
of life and property. is felt everywhere.
But the people have wisely corrected
this evil of misgovernment by placing in
office men whose characters and love OF
country are a sure guarantee that the
public burden will be lightencd, and the
public veal promoted. Again, there is
IL wide field for reform in our domestic
or private concerns which is mainly np.
plitable to the farming community, fol
agriculture is the cornerstone, IA il
were, to the whole industrial fabric. l,
sary to the well-being Of each other, but
it cannot be denied that they nll have &
common dependence on the tilling of the
suil.
Exclusive cotton growing and its at,
tendant ills are prolific source of the
present straits of the farmer. At the
close Of the late war the impoverishcd
condition of things suggested immediate
recuperation, and the most reinunerativt
crop was the one to monopolize in sc
curing the end in view. Cotton at thai
time commanding an unprecedented higi
price, the farmers engaged ut once in the
growing of this staple, to the exclusion
almost Of all other crops but with the
decline in the value of cotton, and the
introduction of commercial fertilizers
our farmers should have ceased planting
all cotton, and given their attention t
diversified crops. When we consider tht
present value of cotton and the price O
the guanO necessary to grow il, we readi
ly see that there is no profit in it, wher
nearly half the crop is required to dis
charge the guano bill.
Again, it takes only the simplest rea
soning to convince one that to grow cot
ton exclusively, with the proceeds o
which to buy supplies. is dangerou
policy. If the cash system, which wa
so successfully established at the close o
the war, had been continued, the farmers
as well as the merchants, would be NOR
prosperous to-day. Some persons charg
the merchants, in q certain degree, re
sponsible for the tightness of the times
but this is q mistaken notion, for tn
exigencies of the times, as we'll as tn
wholesome effect of competition has mar
rowed merchandising down TO a science
short profits.
The times are hard indeed. The pros
pect for the incoming year is truly dis
piriting. Our people stand cncompasse,
by multitude of evils, for which in tn
main they themselves are responsible
Intemperance spreads its baleful effect
throughout the whole land, and hovers
like the demon nf death it is, over man
g once happr home. Personal homo
and moral courage are comparativel
unknown; and worst of all, holy religion
ebbs from out the hearts of many VIII
professed to enjoy its benign influence.
These melancholy facts arl appaliin
to all who love law, and order, and de
cency, and the Christian religion. Blu
with assurances Of radical reform i
politics, material bettering of the in
dustrial status, and divine interpositio
in behalf Of social interests, let us a
work faithfully for the speedy dawn q
better days. w. A. d.
1o1pnpiNe, S. C.