The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-05-09
OKANGEBURG, S. c., MAYO, 1879.
Orangeburg.

Ns'SSSssS
We asserted in our last issue that
the natural prerogativc of the farmer
was to control the commerce of the
land. So far rs this country is con-
cerned one half the speculation Of the
land is successful or unsuccessful rs
the price Of the Southern staple is
high or low. The price of cotton
regulates the commercial value Of
every other commodity, whether the
productions of The field, the factory
or stock; and it is to the interest of
all the speculators in these depart
ments to keep the first price Of that
commodity. which is. the basis of val
ue, as low as possible, because it
leaves n safe margin for the adjust
ment of other prices and because it
affords abundant opportunity for mid
die men to buy ut low and sell at
high rates. Thus between the price
paid tho producer of a commodity
and that paid by the consumer, arc
not only good livings made but huge
fortunes arc absolutely built up in
single season. The price received by
the producer, farmer, being the low
est, is never sufficiently rcmuncrative
10 afford more than a bare living
and that paid by the consumer, farm
cr, being the highest, is always so ex-
orbitant as to swallow up the profits,
If there be any, of his first sale. If
this argument be true, we believe it
10 be absolutely Impossible for Il
farmer to grow rich unless lie plays
the part Of speculator and prcys
upon his own calling. Under the
present condition of things, he must
be content TO remain Il hewcr Of wood
and drawer Of water for middle men.
Th!s conclusion has been rccog-
nizcd as fact for years, and many
devices have been employed to break
down this unreasonable influence, but
every one has failed of success and
will continue to fail until the margin
OF prices between the producer and
consumer is narrowed in such way
as to admit Of as few sales as posi-
ble. A cash basis, from the very ma
ture of things, cannot be adopted by
the average farmer nor, indeed, will
It prove of any considerable advan-
Lage TO one above the average so far
as accumulating wealth is concerned,
simply because of the difference III
the price he receives and that he
pays for commodity. Some other
device must be adopted before hard
times will cease or the circumstances
OF the farmer become easy. In what
we shall say upon the subject, we do
not claim to originate remedy but
simply to give expression to views,
we honestly believe, will result in the
desired end if acted upon by the citi-
zens of Orangeburg.
To enable the farmer To exercise
his just and natural prcrogatiye the
margin between the prices paid by
the producer and consumer must be
narrowed within reasonable and hon
est limits, which can Only be done by
uniting the three classes OF produc-
tions in which speculations are mostly
praeticed, the field, factory and stock,
into one depar! ment, and by the
farmers themselves becoming the
owners. This scheme combines two
or three of the essential advantages
of commerce and will enable the pro-
duccr to occupy one of the positions
heretofore occupied by middle men
and 10 reap the advantages Of that
position. First lie sells, if cotton
planter, his staple to the factory of
which he is, in part, an owner; Sec