The patron of husbandry., 1879-09-13
AGRIcULTURAL LIEN LAW.

all over the State tnat pubic sentiment
continues to set strong in favor of the re-
peal of this Law, which has worked So
much of evil: and we hope that Legisla
ture win be elected that viii wipe it from
the statute book. We mean the law which
permits the mortgage of a crop not made
to person having no interest in the land
on which it is made.
Those who oppose the repeal of the law,
take superficial view of the subject. If
they would look at it in all its bearings, if
they would sound its depths instead of
scanning its surface, their opinions would
change.
1t is the root of the credit system in
Mississippi. But for this law, we would
long since have adapted ourselves to a
cash system, hard as the task might have
been.
1t is evident that the burdens which are
crushing agriculturists-and in this term
we include landowners and laborers-are
the results of the credit system-that they
consist mainly in the interest they pay on
their debts and the enhanced cost of all
they buy on time. They sell their pro
ducts at cash prizes, and buy 7ohattAey
consume at credit prices. The difference
is what swallows up all the surplus pro-
ducts of agriculture, and stands gaping
for more.
Compare the difference between cash
and credit prices in our retail stores, re-
membering that Mississippi farmers and
laborers buy SO large part of all they
consume, and we can see why these are
poor, moneyless, in debt.
1t is the agricultural lien law that sup
ports this vicious credit system-that
swells to enormous proportions the differ
ence between cash and credit prices which
is sucking the life blood of agriculture.
Abolish the law, and we get clear of the
ruinous system. Farmers and laborers will
be forced to buy for cash, only those of
known probity, thrift, and industry being
able to obtain credit. The enormous
profits marked up on goods sold to mort
gage debtors to compensate for the enor-
nous risks run will be done away. We
say enormous risks, for not only do retail
merchants under the mortgage system ex-
tend indiscriminate credit without regard
to the character of the debtor, but they
must make their money, if ever, out of the
crops raised during the current year.
There will be no chance to make it, even
by execution, out of the crops of subse-
quent years, for these will be mortgaged
to others.
AS briefly as we can for want of space,
we will mention some of the evils Incl
dent to the system which springs from
this law.
1t has created throughout the State
class of guerilla dealers, lacking in skill,
knowledge, experience, probity, and all
the qualities which go to make up the
chant While a few shrewd men among
these have grown too suddenly rich, the
majority have lost their labor, sunk their
capital and become bankrupt.
1t Injuries the business of men of all 9th
er trades and Observation-Disclosures
lawyers, physicians, teachers, &C., the
customers ofthese having mortgaged their
crops before they are made.
Itencourages idleness and extravaganza
on the part of age-debtors, and their
families.
1t demoralizes socity by abolishing the
line of distinction which all who extend
credit should draw between the industri-
Gus and the idle, the thrifty and the un-
thrifty, the honest and the dishonest, the
punctual man and the man loose in his
promises.
1t prevents the free circulation of mon
ey.
1t stands in the way of the diversified
ton ofcrops SO essential to our prosperity.
1t absorbs capital that ought to be en-
ployed in useful and diversified industries
1t operates against the adoption of the
wages system of labor, which would
prove so beneficial to employers. laborers,
and the whole community.
1t is an obstacle in the way of that full
control which every landowner should
have of his own premises. Behold our
exhausted dilapidated plantations le-
gitimate fruits of the wretched system
which has its root in this evil law.
Let it be obliterated from the statute
book Ia
Mr.. Whitehead, in his admirable ad
dress which will be found elsewhere, says
that the Grange has done more to do away
with the credit system than any other or