The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-11-27
THE HOPE OF THE SOUTH.
Protect Agriculture and Manufactures
Alike.

lection. To its unjust exactions,
under the spirit of our institutions for
a season, at least, we are compelled to
submit, Notwithstanding it's fore-fnger
may point the way for thousands to
the poor house, and means universal
gloom and despair, especially to the
South. 1t becomes thinking citizens
to make the most Of it rather than
pine gloomily over the result. There
is hope in the Southland yet if we
possess the ability to make proper use
of that special gift of nature to US
our power to produce that kingly
staple, cotton. Cotton is still king if
it can be treated and dealt with fairly.
If the government would extend the
same ratio of protection to this the
greatest of all industries in the coun-
try, that it extends upon a general
average to the manufacturer, we would
feel that we we're dealt with justly,
and cotton culture would keep pace
with cotton manufacture in the march
of prosperity. Upon every conceiv-
able argument the culture of cotton is
entitled to the same protection as is it's
manufacturer. 1t gives employment
to more labor, creates a large home
market for western produce. Better
prices for cotton means better results
to the land owner, better prices for
land, better prices for farm labor, and
better prices for Western corn, wheat
and pork, and better prosperity to the
country generally.
| maintain as an economic prOpO-
sition that the government by extend
ing the same ratio of protection to the
cotton planter that it extends to the
manufacturer, that it can secure IA
cents per pound to the cotton planter.
| say IA cents because that is adding
about Al per cent. of protection to it's
present market price. To appreciate
my position, we must realize the rela-
ton proportion of the cotton crop Of
the Southern States to that of the
world, and to know from this that the
cotton mills Of this country
one-quarter of our crop, and that the
cotton mills Of Europe must have
three-quarters Of our cotton to keep
them running, and that the mills must
run on reasonable time to supply the
worlds increasing demands for cotton
goods. The total production of the
world is estimated at 81 millions bales,
of 400 pounds each. Of this the
Southern States produce seven mil
lions, or about three-quarters of the
entire cotton crop of the world. Of
this, about three-quarters is exported
to meet the demands of European
mills; o~ne-fourth retained at home t.
meet the demands of American mills.
Of this latter, only about 400: 600
bales are consumed in the South. 1t
looks reasonable that any government
whose people raise ~three-fourths of a
staple that is so important and neces-
sary to the world, that is essential to
clothe the human race, and that en-
ploys so much capital and labor, both
in it's culture and manufacture, ought
to receive some fostering care from
the government, So that its producers
may not become paupers while under
the wing of protection thrown over
manufacture, they, the manufacturers,
grow rich. If either is to be protected,
all the argument and feeling is on the
side of the planter, who through the
agencies of human labor and a soil
adapted by nature only can reate the
product, while steam is the great mo-
tive power Of manufacture, it seems
but reasonable that human power
should be protected in preference to
steam power. All [ contend for is
that the government shall throw
around cotton culture the same arm
of protective care that it gives to
manufacturers, and thereby assist the
cotton planter in making the manu-
facturer pay a reasonable price for his
product commensurate with his high
calling and labor, and relieve him
from his present dependent position of
being compelled to market his cotton
crop II Two months of the year at such
a price as the American and European
manufacturer shall dictate to him
twelve months in advance through the
agencies of New York and Liverpool
Cotton Exchanges. 1t is a rule of
trade acknowledged the world over
that the owner Of a majority of any
article of consumption whose produc-
ton is not above consumption can
regulate and control the price of the
whole. The manufacturer of three
quarters Of any given article with a
consumption demand of about the
whole can control and regulate the