The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1889-10-19

supply, we can the better appreciate
the importance Of maintaining whatever
vantage ground we possess. Our triumph
over English diplomacy and the persist
ency of European manufacturers, in their
effort to beat back American cotton, and
.et up q new goal in the cheaper lints OF
India is historical. But we must not lose
sight of our peculiar advantage, nor fail
to appreciate its value in determining the
result. 1t was not SO much, that we
could produce more cotton nor yet bet"
ter quality than other sources of supply,
but cheaper cotton. 1t was this one ele-
ment of cheapness more than all other
conditions that restored the American
staple to its position at the head OF the
worlds supply. But force the mills to
pav the price needful to make foreign
raised cotton profitable to the produ Ger,
and we break down the only barrier that
stands between us and the fioodstide that
overwhelmed American cotton in the
European market for many years follow
ing our civil war. That we have no
monopoly, as to quantity or quality, is
planv proven by statistics, easily access
ssib'e to any one who desires to know the
truth.
India planted to cotton in 1872, a.
600 900 acres, raising crop of 6.500,0O0
bales. The American crop, same year,
only reached 3930,OO0 bales. Other
countries have at different times appear
ed in the markets as exporters of raw>
cotton. The four years of war between
the States, resulting in the practica
abandonment of cotton culture in the
.outh, gave increased interest TO the
subject of cotton production, and the
entire cotton world turned its attention
to the matter of discovering new fields
of supply. The French in Algeria Italy
in Sicily and Calabria, Austria in Dama
tia, encouraged its growth by exemptions
from taxation, by comforting lemuneraN
tive prizes, and by liberal grant of land>
nd money to planters, foreign and do
nestle, who would engage in its culture
The Turk was not behind his Christian
| neighbors IN their persistent search after
new cotton zones. Immense quantities
of seed and machinery for its cultivation
and preparation for market, were i'm
ported without cost to the producers.
Greece planted it on the plains OF Mar
athon,-Spain on the shores OF the
Mediterranean, Portugal in Angola,
Guinea, Australia, the west c'ast OF
south America, South Africa, and all
inter.tropical regions Joined in the grand
assault upon the cotton industry IN the
limited States. Brazil commenced the
cultivation of cotton on aprofitabe scale,
almost as early as America, and in 1872
xported S66 900 bales, Cotton Is the
principal money crop of Peru, and along
Nth its guano, comprises the principal
export trade of that Republic. Three
| Sou h American States shipped to Eng
land in 1854, Sc 000,0 900 pounds in addi'
to their continental shipments.
Mexico, though practically non,eX-
porter to-day, shipped in 1865 to Eng
| land alone, 36,664,OO0 pounds. China
atterly buyer in all the markets, .oI
eleven years exported cotton to England
and the continent, selling one year II
Liverpool, S7,OOO,OO0 pounds. The Wes,
Indies is an exporter of cotton, $4,000
| bales being sold to Great Britain in 1888
| besides its trade with the continent. The
1Sapdwich and Fiji Islands are raising
cotton equal to the famed sea-island. lr
lKaffrsria and Natal good sea-islanc
cotton is raised. There is no evidence
of monopoly in the figures above
quoted II America were to abandon
cotton culture altogether, Africa and th'
Indies could supply the demand unalded.
AMERICAN AscENDENcY THE RESULT OF
7 ECONOMIC CONCLUSIONS.
It is true that American cotton ha
gradually driven the product of othe
fields before it. That it has increased
under the decline in prices, while othe
cotton have as rapidly fallen away
Many countries whose agriculture EN-
braced cotton during the period of h'g!
r prices. eliminated it when the profits iel
? below those realized from other stapl
3 products; such as jute, sugar, coffee, to
2 bacco, indigo, opium, mandioca and tn
various European cereals. And jus
here, in the enforcement of this simpl
rule of farm economy by our co-sgricul
turists on the other side, consists tn
great secret Of our success over othe
cotton producing centers. And our cor
troll ofthe market is conceded only S
long as we force the range of profit
= below that realized for other popula
! inter>tropical staples. Raise the price
u high enough to shift the premium froI
these staples to cotton, and we invite
: rivalry that must in the end drive us t
y our only sure and safe resort, that
cheaper cotton than our competitors ca
a grow. - ..-.;u
y GROWN cotton far below American
q yaIue and demand The idea seems
" obtain that our staples possess some CT
u sential merit growing out OF isotherms
u conditions peculiar to this country. Ii
u us see what the manufacturer says abor
VI that proposition.
/ Mr. W H. Thompson, mill ownt
u in Massachusetts, said twenty years ag'
IL before Surratt cotton had advanced
l. their present standard of excellence
e, compared to ourupland mlddling:--"Bt
[e th,s wear find to my surprise but lit
% objection in Europe to Surratt cotto
for GOODS of course and medium nun
3 hers" he Mr.. A. D. lockwood, a manufa
It turer in Maine, said in letter poblishe
~ in 1867 ain England found the
. sninning all numbers from siXteens up
=, sixtieths from clear surratts and produ
or inr entirely satisfactory quality OF wor