The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-09-22
WHY FARMERS ARE POOR.
THE VERY PRACTICAL VIEWS OF A
PRACTICAL MAN.

rIui'or "aitace, oi sho No"porrt opser-
yer, Claims that tho Farmers arc Poor
Because they spend More than they
Make-The Sub Treasury Plan.
TO the Editor of The News and
Courier: A great many people follow
new ideas as they follow the fashions
blindly and without reason. 1t is hard
to get men to think. 1t Is constantly
repeated, "The people are beginning to
think" We have all heard that for
years and years--and it always comes
from the men who are leading the peo-
pie for the time being.
Whoever has watched the movements
of the people for any length OF time
must have been impressed with the
fact that they are often led away by
caprice and prejudice, more than by
reason. Notwithstanding this fact, the
mass of the people are honest in their
opinions and in the end they come out
right.
The people of this State are conserva-
tive-especially the farming class. The
history of the past eighteen months
and the present condition of unrest and
agitation would seem to contradict this,
but there are causes that fully explain
these seeming contradictions
We have been told time and again by
such publications as the Manufacturers
Record that the South Is eminently
prosperous. do not believe it. and l
am not pessimist either There are
prosperous sections in the South, wher-
ever mining or manufacturing has
been developed. And there is some
prosperity, more apparent than real,
however, in towns and cities-caused
not so much by business successes as
by the addition of so many citizens of
he country, who move to towns to get
better schools and church advantages
for their children. This increase in
population creates an increased demand
for lots and residences and sends up the
price of real estate. And since many
of those moving from country to town
are men who have prospered at farm
ing, their change reduces the proper
ton of prosperous farmers-never very
large-and contributes to the opinion
that farming does not pay. Then there
is opportu: 'ty for cooperation in
towns. The, .tizens can unite together
in establishing manufacturing enter
priseS and other industries, which add
to the prosperity of the community at
large. although they may not prove
profitable to those who put their money
III them.
These things are stated to offset the
impression that individual citizens of
the town are more prosperous than in
dividual farmers; for such is not the
case.
Appearances are often deceitful.
There is very little money in merchan-
dising or in other business. Large
dealers who have ample capital can
make money ut merchandising, by close
attention ta business; so can a large
planter at planting. But the small
farmer and the small merchant have
about an equally hard time to get along;
and. capital for capital, the latter would
often be very willing to exchange
places and get into a business where
there is much less worry and much
more independence.
Times are hard with all classes. All
classes feel 1t. More complaint is heard
from the farmers, not because they are
the worst off, but because on account
of their numbers they can make them
selves heard and felt. Who cares if a
few small merchants or town doctors
or mechanics complain of hard times !?
There are not enough OF them taken
altogether to organize cOrporals
guard at primary. So no one heeds
their cry. But let the farmers COM
plain, and at once hosts Of "friends"
spring up on every hand, who are ready
to get the farmers out of trouble If the
farmers will only put them into office.
The farmers, feeling that something
is wrong but not knowing what 1t is,
are not disposed to question too closely
their self-appointed champions, nor to
scrutinize too carefully their motives.
1t is natural to feel kindly towards one
who offers relief, though we may be
perfectly aware he cannot extend it,
and it is ungracious to reject sympathy,
no matter from what source 1t comes.
And it is mean to be suspicious. Hence
the farmers, in their vague sense of
wrong and their perplexity about the
cause and the remedy, become an easy
prey to the oily-tongued demagOgue
and plausible politicians.
In what say do not charge those
who side with the farmers in their
grieVanceS-real or imaglnary-With
being politicians or demagOgueS; but
have no hesitation in saying that men
who make political capital for them
selves by trying to pre- judice the farm
ers against other classes of citizens are
looking after their own selfish purposes,
and will prove it in the end by asking
for the loaves and fishes. No true
patriot wants to set the citizens of one
class against those of another. especial
ly in n State menaced as this is with an
ever present danger to civilization and
progress. But it is the duty of every
man who loves his State to discover as
far as he can the causes of the depres-
sion among the farmers and to help in
the solution OF their difficulties.
With this purpose in view propose
to offer some suggestions. These,
fear, may not touch the popular chord /;
they are not in the line of the stump
speeches of the day, and may. therefore,
seem insipid to palates accustomed to
rich and spicy discussions Perhaps
fome will stop light here and read no
surther when say that put very lit
tie confidence in any scheme that looks
TO governmental relief. There are sew
eral political reforms ! would like to
see brought about, which would prove
of very decided and lasting benefit to
the farmers. These will appear in the
further progress of this article; but
must be candid and say that have lit
tie hope of their realization during this
generation.
The people of the State. including tho
farmers, are not prosperous. To k op
within the scope and purpose of this
article speak more specifically and
say the farmers of this State are not
prosperous. Why?
The answer is, because they have not
enough money. That il vague, but
true. "Money answereth all things"
Whv Is there not money enough