The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-02-18
Andersp11 gatettigenser.
FARMERS COLUMN.
DSP Communications from our Farmers
on any matter pertaining to agriculture,
are respectfully solicited for this column.
Make the Farmers Self.Sustaining.

Make the Farmers Self.SuStAining.
MIR. EDITOR: In the INTEILIGENCER
of two weeks ago I'nnticed that you in
tend devoting one or more columns OF
your valuable paper to agriculture, and
invite communications. upon that subject.
Having been raised farmer boy, and
all my life engaged in agricultural pur-
suits, aud knowing it TO be the real basis
OF all other business and professions,
how can l help feeling an abiding inter-
est in it as we'll as all those who are en-
gagged in such just, and l may say,
holy calling.
The first inhabitants of earth we're its
drcssers, and lived upon its fruits, in
haling the sweet perfume of its flowers.
Then, there wrs nothing to mar their
enjoyment of its bounties or disappoint
their expectations, but the euil dag comes,
aud with it disappointed hopes, auxieties
and cares. The fields refusing to yield
their increase without the aid of seeding
and tillage. From henceforth labor was
enjoiued, and the edict came forth, THAT
in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat
bread till thou return unto the ground,
for out of it vast thou taken" Gen. 3rd,
10. From which we must see that the
cultivation of the soil is the God-ap.
pointed means of satisfying the wants of
our bodies. This being true, then we
have the sure promise of our great Ruler
that he who in obedience to this re-
quirement goes forth as laborer to this
end, is as sure of receiving a just reward
for his labor as that che who sows in
tears shall reap in JOY" AS sure as God
is true, just so sureis "the laborer worthy
of his hire" and jnst 80 sure will the
great Am "reward us according to our
work"
Let us turn now to the man side, our
own side, as the agricullurists of Ander-
son County, and what do re see? A
people "wholly given to work, to farm
work of the most laborious kinds" de-
voting time, talents, energy, strength,
yea, their all to iucessant, arduous toll.
| am almost sure that more industrious
and persevering people cannot be found
upon the face of the broad earth. A
people who under the most discouraging
circumstances have not swerved from
their purpose, but nobly, grandly, stand
to day in the very forefront, trying to re-
deem themselves from the tyrant debt
which has so long enslaved them. And
yet, sad to say, slaycs are we still.
Mortgages and liens, bare corn cribs
granaries, smoke houses, pastures, yes,
almost gaunt famine starving very many
of our best people in the face. And no
help for it. The farms must be sold from
us; the mule, the COW, the pig, must 60 !;
wife and children driven forth as wan
derers, in many cases, to beg or steal.
Oh, what sorrow how their cries are
ready almost to rend the very heavens
that they may come to their help. 1t is,
indeed, dark picture, but true to life.
And why is it7 Has it not been declared
that, "in the sweat of thy face shalt
thou eat bread"7 that "labor shall have
its sure reward"? Most assuredly. And
here lies the secret of our troubles and
disasters: Instead Of laboring for 6read,
for good honest living, for hog and
hominy, the cry that goes up from every
home and field is, not give me bread or
die, but it is money; yes, it is for money
our people are laboring for, money are
they wasting their strength and energies,
money is the God we worship, it is at his
shrine we bow. Bread is the creation of
God designed for our uses; for it if we
labor'we sha'' be satisfied as with plenty.
Money is the creation Of men, so far
below them as to be unworthy of their
affections, and cannot, never has and
never will satisfy the knawings of hun
rer, nor bring rest and refreshment to
the bodies of men. "The lore Of money
(saith the Lord is the root of all evil"
What, then, is the remedy? How can
the evils existing among US be overcome
and our people freed from their task
master? The answer is plain and sim
pie. Place ourselves in the channels
through which Gods blessings flow. Be
obedient to His requirement, working
for living instead of for money. And
then will our charms overflow with
plenty" and our "prcsses burst out with
new wine"-the wine Of joy, (which
maketh glad the hearts of men,"
To be plain and earnest, we must plant
and cultivate such crops as when gath
cred will satisfy our wants, and not de-
pend upon the merchants as our God for
the supplies we need. Instead of giving
liens to them, we must, as Christian
people, lean upon our God, and look to
Him for reward for our earnest toll.
In my next 1 will give some proof as
to the truth of the position here assumed.
M. MCGEE.