Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-14
THE "ALL.Co rTOx" PROBLEM,

| The " ALL-CO tTON" PROBLEM.
| Under the title of "Cotton or Corn" we
| publish this morning a communication from
respected and intelligent correspondent
| that deserves attention. Our correspondent
controverts the position of those who argue
| against the custom of growing call cotton, ~
but he must excuse US if it appears TO US
that mis- own explanations, carefully an
alyzed, fail to show that the "all-cotton''
system is good one. The facts he details
certainly show that there are difficulties in
departing from system that long use has
endowed with kind of authority. There
are two ways in which the subject of corn
growing may be considered, aud it will be
understood that by corn" thus spoken OF, is
meant other articles of household consump-
ton that can be proftsbiy grown about
farm. "Ail cotton" may be abandoned for
all corn" Such a change would not, in our
opinion, if generally adopted, prove sdvan-
Isgeous. The West las too much in its favor,
in competition with the SJuth as a corn
grover, TO give the latter even chance in
the worlds markets. The other way is for
the Southern farmer 10 grow such ordinary
articles of household consumption as farmers
everywhere have been in the habit of pro-
ducing Tor themselves. The farmers who
make stock raising or wool growing their
specific Business do not, as a rule, buy their
corn, or oats, or hay, but grow them an
Incidental part of their main occupation.
The farmer who attends mainly to the pro-
duction of breadstuffs or feed" also rears
MS own cows and other necessary animals.
We think Arkansas" shows by his own
admissions that this is true priuciple of
farm economy. If the cotton planter cult
waited these things incidentally, that portion
of his labor would be performed by constant
neip engaged fom year to year mainly 10
attend 10 that portion of his business. That
10 buy corn, meat, oats and hay pays better
than to grow them, is certainly contrary to
the experience of farmers in all countries
aud ages. 1t must be remem bered that these
things cost not only the direct price paid,
but the price of carriage, the delay and ex-
pense OF hauling from the place where the
boat or the railway car delivers them, and
other expenses. inconvenience and loss of
time. Usually the corn that farmer grows
costs him much less on the spot where he re-
quires it for consumption than the corn he
buys when it is laid down at the same spot.
Il is also more plentiful when grown at
home; it is fed out less grudgingly, and the
farm animals are consequently kept in better
condition for work. There are difficulties in
the way OF changing from what both EN-
ploye and employer have been always accus-
toned to; so there are difficulties in adopt
lug new implements and machinery, and in
abandoning the old, but when the new is more
profitable than the old everything else has
to give way, and does give way, and so it
must and will be in cotton growing. There
are circumstances that cannot be opposed
successfully and must be conformed TO. The
unsettled position OF labor in the South,
necessary consequence of breaking up long
established system and having no other
ready made to put into its place, is a serious
difficulty and one that only time can settle.
The want of honest principle among the la
borers is still more serious evil and one less
easy TO remedy, especially when religion is
SO extensively divorced among both employ |
SAo eiiN CAP'OJCu, liOm duu Qc- l
graded from its office of forming character |
to a mere matter OF devotion and of arousing |
emotion instead of building up sound NOR |
atty. Jesus said he came to save people from |
heir Sins, but the common teaching now is |
hat he came TO save them from hell. Be- |
tween desire 10 be saved from doing wrong,
and desire to be saved from enduring TIE |
ralt Lii al, = e
and the emotional nature of The
negro, unfortunately, exposes him peculiarly |
o become victim to the wrong side of the
Inference. But spite of all existing difficult |
les the South has sent to the North this sea-
ION an amount of berries, apples, potatoes,
omatoes, onions, and other vegetables and |
ruits, far beyond what it shipped in any one
rear since the white man dwelt upon it. This
hows that there is Improvement and pro-
,ress; that enterprise, perseverance, energy
md skill are removing and lessening the
mass of difficulties, and that q new order of
hings is taking the place OF what events and
ime have rendered obsolete. Our corre-
pondent's communication proves that the
southern farmer bias hard tack to &C.
omplish, and all sensible men will sympa-
hize with him in his difficulties, and make
ue al owance for The force of distractions
hat at times b. fife all that intelligence and
ffort can do; but that the old plan of "all
otton" must go is clearly demonstrated, and
q the face Of obstinate custom and stubborn
nd evil dispositions. Every man who would
e prosperous must labor to conform TO the
Inevitable; to oppose or delay will only be
D lay up trouble.