Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1878-03-13

Auc AxOu. =. -. 11sess " ocOI y tds
made the following tsfse and point.
ell remarks 10 a speech delivered by
him, q short time ago, in that state.
He said:
l tell you TO day, ! care not what
SEASONS may come, what large crops
you may raise, still, under existing
conditions, YOU will ever grow poor.
er, who produce cotton, and they
will ever grow richer who handle 1t
AFTER it is produced. Without
great change, the southern states
arc destined to become 80 many
plantations, practically owned By
northern people, and southern people
30 many hireling slaves to work
them! And in this condition you
will reap scarcely tue wages and
not half the respect you accorded
your former slaves. And yet, the
very reverse Of this fate is in your
power. Under the present policy
the next generation of southern
people will become the poorest,
the most powerless and the most
contemplate of earth's inhabitants,
while under n wise policy, the next,
generation of southern people may
become the richest, the most pow.
erful and the most respected Of PEG.
pie. Which destiny will we choosei
But, you ask, how can this better
destiny be securedi | will tell you.
First make cotton your surplus
CROP In these FIVE words lie the
Samson locks Of your future power.
Make your own fertilizers by rest
ing, cropping, grassing and lnanur
ing your lands. Thus, you become
independent Of the guano merchant.
Your cheapest aud safest line of
transportation runs from your own
fields and hog pens to your own
barns aud meat houses With no
debts for your supplies, You will
neel no accommodation debts at
two per cent ler mouth. Thus you
become independent of brokers,
cotton factors and lien merchants.
You can then sell your cotton ut
your OVID time, to your chosen buy
crs and will get your own money.
None Of these things can a planter
do who plants Oh credit and borrows
money to buy his provisions.
But, You say, the western states
raise provisions SO much cheaper,
we can make more money by rails.
ing cotton and buying from them. |
This is the teaching of figures, and |
"a greater lie was never taught
Now, ! affirm it is cheaper for
yon to raise your own provisions
than to have them brought from the
west and given TO YOU at the near.
rst depot free Of charges. How is
thlsi In the first place, if we raise
:, 100000 bales of cotton we will get
no more money for them than we
would get for one half that number.
Then, ont Of the same amount reali.
.ed, YOU pay for raising the 5000.
NM Just double cost of production.
Half the labor and supplies employ.
1T in raising 5000, 900 bales of cot.
on could lie employed in raising
without reducing the value
VI the cotton crop one dollar. Bnt
,alf this labor would raise more
han you needed for supplies. You
'Ould employ much of it also in en-.
iching your lands and improving
our property in many ways. Then ,
Ou wOnld come to the end of the
ear with your crib full of corn, yonr
moke houses full of meat. your fami. ,
y full Of smiles, Yourself full of indie. !
and yonr pockets full of ,
money for investment. And how
would YOU invest III In cotton fac :
cries on the waterfalls which God p,
las sent all through your country to .
IN spindles. This would make YOU ,
independent Of Old and New Eng. :
and both. Then, also, you would ,
llne your own implements of hus.
landry which would make You in
epcndent Of Pennsylvania foundries
nj Massachusetts workshops. In
word, every improvement would
u built up in your own country.
nd all the profits of those improve.
lents would 60 into your own peck. {
Is {
10 on rs You are now going, max.
lg cotton your chief crop, and slav {
rs Is the doom of your children and '
our children's children forever. A
eople who depend on other PEG.
lie for food and clothing are and
aust be slaves.
A Disgrace to America.