The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-01-08
WHAT OUR POLICY SHOULD BE.

The question is all the time anxiously
asked "What shall we do TO be saved!
What course of action on our part viii
soonest restore to this most distressed por-
ton of the Union something OF its former
prosperity" We as farmers may well dis
cuss this question most seriously, because
the State being wholly agricultural, 1t de-
wolves upou us to do it whenever 1t is done
at all. And first of all we ought to con-
slider if upon agriculture alone we can ever
hope to compete with those more fortu-
nate parts OF our common country mat
have never been devastated by war-whose
labor system has never been for moment
Observation-Disclosures property has ever stead
lily increased in value-and whose com
merce, manufactures and the mechanic
arts have from the first combined with the
soil to produce that surplus wealth now SO
vast it is forced to operate IN future dellv-
cries rather than remain idle. If we wish
to enter into this competition, II we desire
earnestly to make of this region, blessed IN
every way by Nature, and only man dev
| estates, the prosperous and happy country
| it is capable of becoming, it is clear we
| could not do better than initiate their eX-
ample, for the same causes that have pro-
| duced such Wsnderful results In the Mid
| die and Eastern States would sooner do as
much here, because we have all the mate
rial and population ready made TO hand,
wanting emily tile necessary capital and
| confidence to set about the work at once.
| | lay it down as a settled principle OF po-
| litical economy established by experience
and shown by history, that no people will
ever reach very high grade of success in
business whose energies are all directed to
one pursuit only. The growth of all mod
ern progress conclusively estaplishes this
and much more, that wherever labor has
been most. diversified, as for instance, in
| France, England, or the New England
States there has been by far the largest ac
emulation of wealth in the same length of
time. This being admitted does it not tell
us plainly what we have to do? Does it
not say IN SO many words you must no
longer rely upon the staple products ofyour
soil to make your State a rich one, but must
work up those products into fac cries
(Which I am proud to say is at last being
started all over the Cotton States) thus be-
coming manufacturing and consequently
a commercial people? Does it not say that
in this way in no long time your villages
will become towns, your towns cities, and
that large proportion of your non produ-
cling population would be set actively to
work in the mills. then to create a demand
for every vegetable and fruit as well as
every edible animal nOurished by the hand
of the farmer,
In talking of emigration our attention is
too much directed TO field hands-when
the fact is there are too MANY of them here
now-altogether out of proportion with
artizans AMI mechanics, We are dying OF
too much agriculture, and nothing to help
us digest it. This has always been true OF
the Cotton States. They have ever been
a one idea and one crop people, made so by
their old labor system and continued since
its overthrow, because they knew not what
else 10 do; nor do they see yet how or when
the tide can be turned in their favor, when
the necessary confidence can be secured to
invite fair proportion of the surplus cap
ital seeking investment, and labor longing
for warmer ciimeS to take up its abode with
them.
Upon this very essential point l have a
suggestion to make-and it seems a good
time to make it. since people having been
led to hope and believe that the remedy for
their troubles was to BIG fUund in political
change-the success of one party over
another, have by recent events been cured
of that idea-are now at sea as to what is
to be done next, and are much better pre-
pared to listen to reason and appeals to
their own interests than ever before. Now
is the time for determination, to hold an
experience meeting to inquire whether or
not it would have done us any good had
our hopes been realized, and to retrace our
steps even back to the close Of the war and
say at last what we ought to have said then
-to-wit, that hencefol tn we will offer no
factious opposition to the powers that be
no matter by whom personated-that we
| oh ~ to 10 he
Union sentiment of the whole country-we
propose to be law abiding-to live cheer
fully under the same code that applies to
all alike, and show by word and act hat
we cannot any more be led into any kind
| of antagOnism or rivalry with COnSeTva-
tive sentiment which having been success
full in saving the Union feels it ought to
direct affairs till alt is quiet along the line.
For what after all is the main object we
have in view? Is it not rather TO prosper
than to govern? Surprising our most ar
dent desires in politics accomplished would
not about all it would have amounted to
been to substitute one party for another
to be ruled by one set of politicians instead
of another-when neither promised TO be
of any use in effecting any practical bene-
fit to the masses of any section, North,
South, East or West? We must work out
our own salvation if it is ever done and
look no more to politicians for help, for all
experience shows to our sorrow especially
in this section, that thew are much more
ready and able o work THEFT. constituents
into troubie-than relieve them of it after
they get there.
We want capital, We say, to develop the
untold resources of our country; we want
emigration. we saw, to turn its welcome
head to this hungry latitude-how CAN'T be
expected to do so till we who hold in our
hands its future destiny shall show by word
and deed it shall be perfectly protected in
its legal rights when it does so? Notice has
all along been given that the South was in
too unsettled state for capital 10 seek an
; outlet in this direction-nor need any great
accession 10 its population be expected till
opinions were free and could be freely ex-
pressed. 1t must be admitted this is natu-
raj and essentially just. 1t seems a good
time now for the sake of our future prosper
ity to reconsider our course and make
whatever amendment experience seems to
demand. Instead of making politics too
much of business-the hour appears to
have arrived 20 make POLITICS subserve our
business. Having tried one experiment and
failed that is BY an alliance to political
party endeavoring to regain influence and
power through its success. Suppose we
now fry the one of no factious alliance at
all and cooperating with none except such
as advise the most national and couserva-
tive views and so to manage our internal
affairs as to be free of all Intolerance.
| am profoundly impressed with the
opinion that the day on which we adopt
H., L