The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-04
A CHEAP COTTON CROP
AND IT'S EFFCTs UPOS THE FARM
BABORER.
Free Trade the only Hope for HIS
when Will n Come ~ .
MeasuRe Of Relief
10 the Edi,ers of the Appeal

m the past the proceeds OF an or
linary cotton crop would support COM
iOrtably the party making II. As the
making and Harvesting Of it required
Inly nine months In the year, there
to the idly-disposed, say to
of the labOrers Of the
south, three months of leisure, which
were usually spent in rambling about
The country ON railroads and steam
boats, in the enjoyment Of picnics and
but mninly in refurbishing
Inc religious system, somewhat rusted
by neglect during The working season.
II certainly was
a PLEASANT lpYLItC PERIOD,
that permitted u mere laborer to pass
pne-fourlh OF his existence i'm fcstiyi-
ties but il seems now 10 have come to
nm end. A cotton crop will no longer,
Mt the prices prevailing and likely to
prevail in future furnish more than
bare subsistence to its maker, and II is
of u relief to notice that
laborers are now remaining ut home,
asking for work 10 bridge over the
three usually idle months, so that they
may keep the wolf from the door; but
unfortunately the very unremunora-
tive prices Of cotton and corn also de-
prive the landlords of any surplus
means with which they can supply
this demanded labor. The proceeds of
his crops are barely sufficient to pay
for their making, with sufficient sur
plus over TO furnish him with n narrow
support. II he desires to clear mo e
land, he has no money TO pay for the
work II he has II already cleared, he
has no money 10 pay for mules and
tools to work t.
If this was the end of the trouble
the rest of the world would do as
usual; that il, pity the poor agricul-
turist and 90 it's way; but this is
not the end Tho farmer necessarily
reduces his purchases of groceries and
the grocer suffers; he buys scantily of
dry goods, and the merchant suffers.
If he needs new machinery and tools
he must make up his mind to do with
out them, and the manufacturer suf-
icrs; and when merchants and manu-
iacturers suffer and their trade lessons,
rents, wages and salaries must go
down, and the owners of real estate
suffer with the rest. Doctors feel the
pressure, for poor people find il cheaper
to die and have done with il than to
pay physicians and apothecaries.
After a while newspapers will suffer,
for when man has relinquished his
toddy and other Injuries, hc will
finally dispense with his daily journal.
CURE SUGGESTED.
All these su1crings, like a row OF
falling bricks, come from the mis-
fortunes of single class, the agri-
cultural laborers, who are at the bot.
tom, Make them prosperous, and the
rest of the world will be prosperous
Starve them, and the great of the
earth will begin TO lose fat. Howis the
present ahiect condition of these un.
fortunate laborers to be improved
Perhaps there is no perfect panacea
but il would seem that one expert
ment might be tried--that of absolute
hee trade. Take OF every restriction
to commerce and permit free fight
allow the producer not onlyto dispos,
of what he raises or makes where he
can obtain the best price, but also e
buy his supplies where he can buy
the cheapest. II this fails, no one car
he blamed; il is kismet
why WE ovERrRoDUCE.
Under our protective system We hav,
built up enormous factories in man,
parts OF the country, and have at length
established a well-seated plutocracy il
the land. But except to those VIII,
have already salted down their barrel
of gold and stuffed their safety dcpoSi
cells with bonds, a dark cloud is loom
ing i'm the future, These factories ar
turning out mountains of goods o
every description, but buyers are be
coming scarcer every day We over
| produce, Why? Simply because tn
! people are robbed OF the power of pun
chasing, II il requires all man.
earnings to procure the mere nccesSi
ties OF life, the prices OF which are 81
enhanced by tauflimpoSts, how can h
aid manufactures by buying thei
wares? Without some surplusa farme
cannot purchase a reaper il the pric
was $40 a dozen. II a sewing machin
could be bought for - and a bedstea,
for so cents, what's the use, il the Ia
borer cannot raise the - OF the $
cents?
HorE IN THE FUTURE.
We see no hope for free trade in tn
immediate future. The opening OF al
iron mine or the blowing in OF roll
ing mill in q purely agricultural state
sets up q hullabaloo at once abou
protecting our infant industries. In
liant industries, quoths They may b
infants, but they are quite as gross a
any lady that appeared last month a
the Dime Museum. Capitalists stai
the cry and newspaper editors VIII
ought to know better, Jump into tn
swim and dcnounce free trade Thes
advocate a system which forces nine
tenths OF the people TO accept tn
lowest possible prices lor what the
| produce, and pay the highes
price for everything they buy
Some day, speed it Heaven, tn
voters, who are the sufferers, will ope
their ewes 10 this condition of Affairs
and then protection win he snowe
under forty feet OF ballots, and tn
world viii wonder chat il bore the tel
mble imposition for 80 many wear
wears. We arc encouraged to heliev
that there are many people bccomin
enlightened on this subject We fee
assured that many OF our best me
and most trusted leaders, while the
call themselves moderate protection
lists, and are supporting a tariff ia
revenue only, are really free trader
at heart they are moderate no.
both in words and acts. because pee
pie must he led slowly, even 20 the
own good. Some day they may b
, able 10 come out in their true colon
and bravely declare their taith an
their determination that the OK sha
moi he muaiiedwhich treadcth ont tn
corn D. n. C..