The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-02-21
All Cotton Means Starvation.


in II speech delivered by bin,
, short time ago, in that State, lie
| tell you to-day, l care not what
seasons may ZONE what large crops
you may raise, Sill, under existing
conditions, you will ever grow poorer,
who produce cotton, and they will cv
or grow richer who handle it after it is
produced, Without q great change,
The Southern States are destined 10
become so many plantations, practical
~ owned hy Nolthern people. and the
Southern people so many hireling
slaves to work for them! And 10 this
condition you will reap scarcely the
wages and not halt the respect you ac~
corded your former slaves. Aud 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 contcmpllb!c
Of earthly Inhabitants, while under Il
wise policy, the next generation OF
Southern people may become the
richest, the most powerful and the
most respected Of people Which
destiny will we choose?
But, you ask, how can this better
destiny he secured you. will tell
YOU:
First, make cotton you" surplus
crop. IN these five words lie the Sam
son locks of your future power. Make
your own fertilizers by resting, crop
ping, grassing, and manuring your
lands. Thus, you become independent
Of the provision merchants, Your
cheapest and safest line OF ,ran9porta-
ton runs from your " llrids ana
hoI pens to your barns and meat
house. With no debts for ,Our sup,
plies, YOU will need no accommodation
credits at two per cent. per m0nlN.
Thus 0 ltccomc independent OF bro
krrS, cotton factors and lien merchants.
YDu can then sell your cotton at your
own time, to your chosen IN erS, ana
will get your own money, None ol
,hroc things cau II planter do VIII"
plants on credit and borrow VS. money
t. buy his provisions,
Bat, YOU say, the Western States
raise provisions so much cheaper, we
can make more money 10y raising cot
ton AMI buying from them. This Is
the teaching o! figures, AMI II greater
lie was never taught.
No | affirm it is cheaper for you
10 raise your 81 provisions than to
have them brought from the West and
given to YOU at The nearest depot free
Of cost and charges, How is this1 III
the first place, if we RAISE 5,O00,OOO
bales OF cotton we will get no more
money for them than we co Ild get tor
onc,llall that number. Then, out Of
the same amount realized, you pay for
raising the 100000 just double cost
Of production. Hall the labor and
supplies employed in raising 100000
bales Of cotton could he employed in
raising supplies without reducing the
value Of the cotton crop one dollar
Bat half this labor would raise more
than You needed for supplies. You
could employ much Of it also in en-
riching your lands and improving
your property in many ways. Then
You would come to the end Of the year
with your crib full Of corn, your
smoke houses full of meat, your family
full Of smiles, yourselves full Of indie.
pcndeGce and your pockets full OF
money for investment. And how
would YOU invest it? In cotton faclo-
rics on the waterfalls which God has
sent, ali through your country to run
spiuhIcs. This woul,i make you indie
pendent ofO,l and New ENGLAND both,
Thcn, also. YOU would mine your own
implements Of h%usbandry which wouId
make you independent Of Pennsylvania
founGrics and Massachusetts, works
shops. In Il word. every improve
ncnt would be built up in your own
country, and all the profits OF those
improvements would go into your own
pockets.
Go on rs yon are now going, max
Ing cotton your chief crop. and Save
~ is the doom Of your children and
your chlldren's children forever. A
people who depend on other people
for food and clothing are and must be