Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-02-17
agricultural department.
[Original.1
THE CRISIS.

THE CRISIS.
To say that our country is in critical con-
dition, scarcely gives correct idea Of the
fact. 1t is on the confines of desperation.
We have no reference to the political condi-
ton of the country. That is bad enough ;
but the industrial interests of the country are
in far worse condition. In the North-the
manufacturing section of the country-a
reckless spirit of speculation has, for num-
Der of years, been practiced, and failure after
failure has been the legitimate result. These
failures in speculating and manufacturing
companies, have turned adrift multitudes OF
the laboring class. They have put stop to
the circulation of money and placed the
money Of the country in the hands Of few,
who, having lost all confidence in their fellow
men, refuse to let it out only on the most ex-
orbitant rates of interest. Many Of the Ia
borers-the producers of that section of the
country-are idle; and the money is locked
up in safes or out on rates of interest that in
dicate state of desperation.
The South is emphatically an agricultural
country. Unfortunately, her people have but
little manufacturing enterprise. She depends
upon her neighbors for the manufacturing OF
every thing, from baby's dress to coffin.
Whatever may be the cause Of the depressed
pecuniary condition of the South, or cotton
raising section Of the United States, it is not
attributable to the reckless manner in which
she has engaged in manufacturing enterprises.
The neglect of manufacturing facilities, no
doubt, is part of the cause for the depressed
state of things all over the South.
It will assist us very materially in tracing
the causes of the straitened condition Of the
South, and will also suggest the remedy for
the evil, to inquire what class of society it is
that is in the most embarrassed circumstances.
Evidently, the farmers are most heavily
pressed. The wave of embarrassment which
dashes against this class, has only spread until
all are struggling for existence. 1t would con-
vey a false notion of things were this general
statement not qualified. All Southern far
mers are not embarrassed in their business.
A respectable minority of this honorable class
of our country are in most prosperous con-
dition. In spite of high taxes and misrule,
there are quite number of farmers who are
growing permanently rich. Their incomes
are far greater than their expenses, and the
difference is wisely invested in real estate. As
fast as the nature of things will admit, the
property of the country is changing hands.
Many of those who, twenty years ago, were
rich, are growing poorer and poorer each
year, and soon they will having nothing
whilst many, who, at the close of the late civ
il war, were regarded as poor, will, in few
years, be the rich men of the country. These
are facts which admit of no contradiction.
It is clear that whilst some farmers are in a
prosperous condition, others, and the major
ity, are in very embarrassed condition.
Why is this the case? In a general way it
might be answered that those farmers who
are in most prosperous condition, have man
aged their business in proper way; whilst
those who are embarrassed have made many
and egregious mistakes. This, however, is
too vague an answer, and it may be asked
again, what is meant when it is said that some
farmers managed their business properly and
others did not.
In reply to this last inquiry, it may be said
that the portion of the farming class who are
struggling for bare existence, made this fatal
blunder. After the war, many of them were
involved in debt. In order to pay this debt
and retain all their property, they planted
large crops of cotton and no corn bought
vast quantities of commercial fertilizer and
made no manure on their farms; purchased
mules on time, hired hands and gave lien
OF their crops for supplies of corn and bacon.
At the end of each year the bill for supplies
absorbed the proceeds of the cotton sales. In
a fit of desperation, the same process was
tried again, and on each successive trial with
worse results. Finally, they are, to day, dis
heartened. Another portion of the unfoftu'
nate farmers, forgetful of the dogmas of do,
mestic economy, plunged headlong into use
less extravagances. The surroundings were
tempting. The seasons were good and the
price of cotton fanciful 1t was regarded Is
nothing to make any amount of money. Un.
fortunately, they forgot that the price Of eve
rything else, as we'll as that Of cotton, was
fanciful.
The prosperous portion of the farmers, at:
ter the war was over, took things just as they
were. They worked hard, lived at home
bought as little as possible, and sold all they
could. There are very few farmers in the
South, who have corn and bacon to sell, that
are the least embarrassed. No doubt some
farmers who always make their own supplies,
are embarrassed; but in all probability, they
have gone the security of some corn buyer.
Bad as the condition of things with many
farmers is, it is not too late to remedy the
evil. The recuperative powers of the South
are fabulous. The crop for eighteen hundred
and seventy-six is not yet planted nor is it
too late to change most Of the plans which
have been concerted respecting it. Let every
man who claims to he farmer, so arrange
his crop that he will make sufficient mount
of corn to meet his wants. The price of cot
ton will certainly 60 gradually down to what
it was before the war.N>Like water, it will
seek its level. No man can ever make money
or pay his debts who has to give lien on
his crop for supplies. Let those who are en-
barrassed work hard, clothe themselves with
coarse raiment, and live hard. Put up hog