The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1884-07-19
The Farm vs.. Wall Street.

The recent financial disasters which
have overtaken strong establishments
and individuals, particularly in the
East, but involving to some degree
Western interests also, must make the
reflective farmer more than ever salts.
fled with the modest but safe character
of his business. These banks and
brokers and spectators were all re-
puted to be making large profits, cor
pared with which the moderate returns
yielded by capital invested in the farm
seemed insignificant. But they had to
take large chances also, and nov where
are theyP Money gone. credit gone, in
many instances their good names gone,
and involved in debts and losses from
which nothing but commercial miracles
n ever enable any n Of them to
epergei There comes to the farmer no
grand and sudden fortune; but neither
does there come TO him those swift and
complete financial wrecks which seem
sooner or later to overtake nearly every
individual who embarks his fortunes
and energies in these deceptive and un-
certain kinds OF business. From the le-
Ultimate products of his labor, and
from the gradual increase Of his CAPT
tai, employed mainly In his own bust.
ness, the farmers fortune is built up
little by little, with a knowledge of the
value of every dollar and n conscious
conviction that II has been honestly
earned. 1t is employed as It is earned
In such q and invested in such
a way that no panics can sweep Il away.
No exposure Of '%'stupendous dishon.
esty," in any quarter, involves tho
safety of his capital. aud he loses no
sleep from fear Of broken banks, mis-
placed condolences, bankrupt corpora.
tons, or worthless or shrinking stocks
or bonds.
1t seems sometimes, perhaps. as Il
the moderate returns from agricultural
operations were too small but aftef all,
considering their security, there are no
investments that In the end yield 50
well, Merchants and manufacturers
may make money, for n time, faster than
the farmer, but sooner or later they are
caught too widely extended in some Pc
riod OF s~tagnation In trade or over. pro.
ductior. and old houscs-the pillars Of
the trade-sink into oblivion their
qulckly-acquired fortunes disappearing
even rapidly than they were accu.
INFLATED, and leaving behind nothing
beyond n harvest OF bitter memories
and blasted hopes. Tho capitalist seems
TO do better than the farmer, lending
his money Mt good rates Of interest and
taking his ease but ooner or later
there comes 10 him q time when he finds
his securities have lost much Of their
value, or that he has overstepped the
bounds Of safety and embarked in
something which turns his dollars into
ashes. On every side men are engaged
In ventures and enterprises which bring
them q world OF care and anxiety,
which excite high hopes and are for a
time seemingly prosperous but in turn
they all 60 to the wall. 1t seems only
q question Of time.
The farmer alone seems 10 have So
curity. His gains are small, but they
arc sure. The vioissitudes Of the sea.
sons aud the fluctuations Of the mar.
kcts. prosperous times aud poor times,
speculative periods and periods of dc.
preston, may come and GO. they can
only exert n temporary influence In In
~creasing or diminishing immediate
profits; but with prudence and economy
these things never attack or destroy the
capital which he has invested In his
|, land aud i,s equipment Times like
|, these should serve TO cure the discon.
, tent with which farmers sometimes re-
} gard their occupation. aud admon sh
them Of the advantage OF investing and
using the accommodating capital on their
/ own farms and In their W business.
instead Of interesting themselves In
outside operations, as many arc tempted
. to do. lending money. getting an inter.
est In trade OF one sort or another, or
, yielding 10 the delusiye promises of
speculation. he content with the farm
. and It's legitimate business. for there is
no other industry which will bring. and
4 deserve. 8 o much contentment aud hap.
4 piness, and nc other avenue In which
= the farmer or his sons can hope, In the
D long run. TO do 9 well. Broad acres
and god live stock are banks whose
|, shsres d~epreciate or fail 10 pay 4
|. dividend. Nobody's account Il over.
! drawn. and nobody's confidence /. mis-.
. placed or abused. The shareholder in
such q bank ran pass through life a.
: free from care a. falls 10 the lot Of any
} human being. aud. no matter who he
meets, rcd n~vrr have occasion Ia
4 pull down the rim Of his bat n conceal
The ecoci On his forehead -Bnseas,.
Gaseik.