DeSoto times., 1890-01-16

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farmer demands of his help all he con
tracted to give; when this is not will
ingly and faithfully yielded, the man is
discharged, and another put in his
place. Firm discipline and positive
control of farm labor have done as
much to make the success of Western
farms, as high nanuring and in
tensive methods. If the evils OF our
labor are constitutional, we are without
hope for Improvement, unless we ex.
change negroes for white help. If they
are accidental or contingent, they can
be remedied and the sooner we set
about it the better it willie be for all par.
ties.
1t has been frequently said that the
South will never have any better farm
labor than negroes. If so, l am sorry
for the South, unless they are to be
greatly improved. Negroes arc thrift
less, not caring to accumulate for
| themselves and, of course indifferent
to the accumulation of their employ
ers. They are extremely idle, and,
therefore, can not be made profitable
without expensive supervision. They
are very destructive to property and
abusive to stock. In these evils they have
been indulged, until their character and
conduct have become uniform for evil.
The generation now passing out is car
rying with it the last best hope Of the
race. The one coming on seems reared
without control and restiye under au-
thority. Many of our farmers have
grown tired worrying with them.
They have abandoned their farms,
rented their lands to irresponsi-
BILE tenants and sought en-
ployment and business engagements un-
der more pleasant surroundings. II
these things continue, ruin is inevitable.
What is the remedy? We must come to
the practices of our ncighbors. There
must be authority on the farms. There |
must be 'boss" in fact as there Is in
name. His authority must be respected |
and his directions must be obeyed. Our |
methods are too loose and our discipline
too lax. Not simply by individuals, but
by communities and neighborhoods, we |
must change our management, pay for |
good work and insist upon getting it.
l have made thorough study of the |
hindrancCS to success on Georgia farm. |
have found them many and stubborn. |
With good, reliable industrious labor we
could make farming not only profitable
but pleasant and attractive.
insist that the improvement Of our
labor is the fundamental principle of |
our success. 1t is the first business to
occupy the efforts of organized farmers,
and, when fully accomplished, the best
work they will ever do.
This is by no means hopeless under
taking. There is much that is good in
the negro. He is not so much to be
censured for his short comings as those
who have had in hand his management.
The negro is naturally docile generous
and submissive. With these good quail
tiles prominent he can be easily taught
to be faithful and reliable. With suita-
BILE rewards and prompt and Just pay
ment he can be made Industrious.
In the exercise of his freedom, he has
made the mistake to believe that lib
erty meant idleness, and we have
~l1~,,.~1 Ll4.4 to 7,O 6fru9 auuU1Fuu, Iue
great mistake has been that we have
not taken the trouble to instruct and
control him. We have allowed him to
follow his crude ideas of life to his own
hurt and damage of the community
Humanity and religion, to say nothing
Of self-interest, should have prompted
us to improve and elevate his ideas OF
duty, faithfulness and moral obligation.
To do less is to damage ourselves, hurt
the community and impoverish the
State. This subject is too comprehen
sive for a newspaper article and too full
to be developed at one sitting. 1t is the
basis of our success and demands the
study of the farmers at The South.-W
j. Northen, in Southern Cultiyator.