The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-04-15
The Farmers Troubles.

Mr., EDITOR: The writer was asked
to become 8 candidate for The Legisla-
ture, with view of legislating 10 relieve
the farmers of their present depressions,
troubles and stagnation of their business
I positively refused to become candi.
date for this Office under any circum-
stances, for the reason that this relief
cannot be brought about by legislation.
I should heartily approve Of any move
ment or convention of the farmers which
is likely to advance their interests, but I
would never look to such a source for
relief or q revolution that will bring
about the necessary reform in our present
mode of farming in the country and
getting our rations in town )" or to show
us where the trouble lies, need one be a
candidate to tell US that the trouble is
not in the politicians, lawyers or doctors? !?
Nor is it necessary to send one of our
best farmers to the Legislature in Co.
lumbia to tell us that it is not because
cotton is not worth Is cents per pound,
or interest is ten per cent. If q farmer
cannot pay ten per cent. on money, how
can he pay from twenty to one hundred
per cent. at the stores for necessaries or
luxuries, the larger portion of which he
could raise at home or do withoute
No,gentlemen, the fault is not in the
politician, professional men, taxes, tariff,
or the prohibition movement. 1t is true
some Of the foregoing cause small leaks
or drains upon the farmers purse, but
they are diminutive spickets compared
to the reckless slashing going on at the
bung by the farmers themselves and
merchants. Here is the seat of the bulk
of all the depression and demcralized
condition of the farming interest to day.
Farmer John, by living beyond his
means, or buying in town what he could
raise at home, got behind few years
ago; so much so, that he had to give
lien on his crop, or an anaconda" mort
gage on his farm to his merchant or
boss) in order to secure the merchant for
supplies 10 ssrun" him another year, with
profit of3from twenty to one hundred
per cent. for the merchant.) This year
!, ends, and finds farmer Johns debt double
that Of the former year, and he now has
no provisions, for he has planted all his
crop in cotton in order to make one tire.
mendous effort to redeem his character
as an honest man and good farmer who
will pay his debts, or lift his farm out of
the jaws of the frightful s'aDaconda"
mortgage that is now about to swallow it
and his home. The next few years brings
matters to crisis. Farmer John, if he
be a tenant, now has neither provisions,
(for his merchant, perhaps, encouraged
hin. .sin planting more cotton that he
might turn the cotton into money more
readily, stock or credit; and if he owns
the farm he is in about the same fix. j.
IS Now, what becomes of farmer John 2
He either ''goes West orlis moping
around somewhere, demoralized and dis
seouraged, and is regardedas "no count"
Though 1he makes good crops he isre
gsrded as a poor manager. when in reality
d he has no chance to rise. Now, if a
good farmer, who owns his land, cannot
pay: ten per cent. interest, how can poor
farmer John, who has nothing, pay from.
twenty to one hundred per cent. for
supplies to run him.
Whose fault is it, then, that things are
in such q demoralized condition !? 1t is.
Just here: Farmer John has lived be-
lyond his means, and has shown bad
6nanciering by purchasing in town-on
time-whathe could have grown at home,
and the merchant has killed the goose
that laid the golden egg, land farmer
John is the gooss,) by charging too high
fol, his advances. What is the remedy?
The golden rule-kve and let Hue! A
sensible horse: will not tug at load
which he knows he cannot pull; neither
should we: expect a sensible man to work
withoutsome inducements. .i4
Ny word for it, if the present high
profits on supplies continues much longer,
the merchants and others will own a lot
ofl;wornout farmrs, with no one to work
them. It is better for the merchant to
sell fora smaller profit, and encourage
his customer to work, by giving
him living chance, and gethis pay,
than to use an extortion in his prices,
and find himself in "a dilemma in the
Fall over a loug list of unpaid accounts,
and an army of discouraged and demor
allied customers.
It is also better for the farmer to live
in his own house with frugality, wear
red.leather shoes and wool hats and
retain his credit, than live like prince
for few years and lose his home, credit
and stability.