The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1885-01-31
VOL. XXX.

As much as we have said in these col
,s in reference to the true and unvar-
a;sbed condition OF the people of this
and surrounding counties, the subject is
hv no means exhausted. A short crop
i cotton is always serious matter with
Dpople in the South, but when with that
re couple corn and other food supplies,
the subject at once becomes of serious
mnort. The credit system has become
= Incorporated in our business transac-
,ions that one break in the chain OF
.ouses shakes the whole system and falls
rn,n individuals with stunning effect.
The short crop is no longer matter OF
speculative enquiry, but is fact beyond
suv immediate remedy, and without the
aid of our merchants in thisand adjacent
towns we do not see how the land could
ha cultivated This is a fearful atlmis>
sion on the part OF the tillers of the soil,
but SO it is. Many country people lmag-
inc that because merchant has or can
Get large quantities Of goods that he isall
right. for these goods were bought to be
sod and must be. Abstractly, the prop
osition is true, but not otherwise when 1t
Is applied as u sale business transaction.
There is every reason now why the far
mer should consult the duty OF economy
ripdly, for he is not only the custodian
Of his own interests, but a trustee OF his
merchants honor and safety. The sys-
tenn of espionage now obtaining foothold
all through the country, established Tor
the protection of distant creditors, puts
the merchant on his guard to deal cau~
tously lest an avalanche Of attachments
may fall upon him as suddenly and as
hurtfully as an Alpine snow slide. Mer-
chants do not break us formerly with at
least the dim twilight falling upon them
by which they can safely arrange their
affairs upon basis OF equity and honor
orable dealing in the circuit OF the
country, after due proof Of law; but they
are blown up by legal dynamite in an
hours time, and left without any means
Of generous settlement, and under the
pressure with little will. A little error
or mishap brings upon the man OF trade
some watchman who has been waiting
his opportunity, and he hepounces down
on the house with an attachment with
the ravenous spirit OF a bird OF prey, and
then follow others in the same summary
method of disposing Of tho assets OF the
broken merchant as greedily as vultures
would deyour Il carcass. When it is re-
meml1ered that these attachment cred
itors must each swear that he has sutfi'
cient evidence that the debtor merchan
is about to make way with all the goods
and effects, whether they be few yard'
of silk, velvet that could be concealed
under the skirts of an over'oat, or Lake
big safe that twenty men could not NOV
on adead level the enormity and injustic
of these proceeding will be tonce seen
When We see some ignorant.felow sen
to the penitentiary for a term OF year
for swearing to lie that convlcts him
justly, and gentleman wearing broa'
cloth suit,guilty alike, we are impelled t
ask, is the Goddess OF Justice not onl
blind, but is she deaf?
These are some OF the dangers
which our merchants may be exposed
and when we remember that commerHl'
failures and broken banks have becom
almost an epidemic, our people who de'
with merchants, should not forget tha
caution is the parent Of safety. In mi
king purchases bring down your want
to an honest minimum of necessity, an
stand by your obligations with u tena'
ity that death only can sever. This i
one OF the years farmers that it will nc
do to make mistake. You are not onl
acting for your merchants and your
selves but the intelligent public, hav
an interest in your success or failure. w
can trust the seasons under a generou
Providence if you will act your part i
this eventful drama before you. Farm
ers, OF Grenada, both black and whit
grid up your loins like men and fac
every element with courage.