The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-05-24
From Texas.


to hearing something from the far-off
State of Texas, especially from one
with whom you have had SO many po-
litical encounters, but like the two
heroic Greeks, neither were able to
overcome the other, and | presume
that we were both equally at loss to
account for the strange phenomenon.
But since I have been in the South
five years, | have discovered that we
were both ignorant of the cause Of the
war, and of the curse that weighed
the South down land is yeti like a
huge mountain. Slavery, which you
contended was the monster, no longer
exists, and of course Abolitionism,
which [ believed to be the chief cause,
lies entombed in the same sepulchre;
but the curse is still here, and more
formidable than ever. Do you ask,
with surprise and amazement, what
can this gigantic hydra-headed mon
ster be? l answer without evasion or
equivocation, KING CoTToN. That
dastardly, boastful old tyrant, who,
like his venerable father, the Devil,
(who promised the Son of God all the
kingdoms of the world if he would
fall down and worship him) assured
his minions and vassals that if they
would rebel that all the nations of
Europe would only be too glad to do
him homage, for they could not possi-
bly, get along without him, as though
American cotton was the lever that
moved the civilized world; but as
nobody but few of his own simple
tons believed that ridiculous lie, he
has invented another equally as ab-
surd, viz: That there is no money in
anything but cotton. Well now let
US see. Take the average tenant,
white or black, and he has to labor
constantly from February till the
middle Of July to make crop of cot
ton, and little corn, and from August
till Christmas in gathering it, and his
daily food is cornbread, meal at 81 25
l.er bushel, (if he has it to buy, and
the majority of them do), strong fat
meat at 20 cts. per h., wild greens, if
he cannot afford time to raise tame,
coffee once day at 25 cts. per h., and
what few vegetables he may possibly
have.
Now take it for granted that the
tenant is a stout, able-bodied man, ac-
customed to raising cotton. The best
he can possibly do is to raise and
gather five bales Of cotton, and one
hundred bushels Of corn. A northern
man could not gather over three bales
of cotton. His board Of hoecake,
bacon, and greens, and. necessary
clothing for the ten months, would
cost him one hundred dollars. If he
is working on the halves las they call
| it), he would have two and half bales
Of cotton and fifty bushels of corn as
his share; his corn at fifty cents per
bushel (which is over the average
price, would bring twenty-five dollars,
assuming nine cents per lb. to be the
price of cotton, which also is over
average, his cotton would bring him
one hundred and twelve and half
dollars, the cotton seed probably five
dollars. Totals $142.5O. Deduct one
hundred dollars for food and neces-
sary clothing, and he has the stupen-
dous sum Of forty-two dollars and a
half with which to buy Sunday
clothes, pay his doctor bill, go to the
circus, treat his friends, etc. Assuredly
there is big money in cotton; for no
man that raises it ever got any out of
it. Cornmeal is now worth one dollar
per bushel, -four ten dollars per bbl.,
bacon Is cts. per lb molasses seventy
five cts. per gallon, sugar eleven cts.
per lb. Now cannot even asimpleton
see that the money is not all in cotton,
as Jackson township preacher used
to say, by hell of sight. If you Or
any of your readers desire description
of how cotton is raised and got ready
for market, I will cheerfully furnish
it, or any other information in regard
to the greatly over-estlmated State of
Texas.
l have Irish potatoes, green beans,
corn silking, and melon vines in
bloom. How is this for early? Dew
berries are about gone.
Now, Mr.. Editor, wishing you and
all my former friends and acquain-
tances every happiness, l for the pres
ent bid you good day.
EDWARD W. eating.
yry