The Van Buren press., 1895-03-23
FARMER AND PLANTER
THE SOUTH.
A Section of Our Country Fast Becoming
the Most Desirable

A section Of Our Country Fast Becoming
the Most Desirable
The section of this country known
as the south is fast becoming, for
many reasons, the most desirable part
of the continent.
1t is gratifying to know, after these
many years Of Misrepresentation, some
Of it for political and moneyed inter-
ests, people abroad are beginning to
learn our true conditions. which they
seek to avail themselves OF their bene-
fits.
The people of this section have
borne, with becoming patience, the
evil things that have come to them
through the sources just named, and,
now that the south has shown her
worthiness in business, the progress
siveness Of her people as well as their
high standard of civilization, we are
beginning to take our place among
the most worthy sections for develop
ment and investment.
The business strength Of the south
can not be equaled by any other sec
tlOn. NOL " uiSCuso, III Wills SOAAAsS
tion, anything outside OF agriculture,
q moments thought will verify the
statement. The cotton planters at the
south have, within themselves, the
power to dictate terms for the pur-
chase OF the most important agricul-
tural product known to the civilized
world.
Suppose the cotton planters at the
south put Themselves in position to de-
termine and fix the price of cotton
this they could easily do-and no power
on earth could claim the mastery OF
such combination.
Suppose again, the business men at
the south should determine to manu-
facture, within the borders OF our own
section, every pound of the fiber grown
in our states-it would paralyze the
power OF foreign markets that have
dictated prices for the product OF our
sweat, while they pocketed, for them
selves, the just proceeds of their labor.
More than a century ago we believed
English domination and oppression,
and yet apparently, with our deliber-
ate consent, we have yielded ourselves
to her mastery in money and business,
SO that England has well nigh robbed
us OF our birthright in the best form of
our liberties.
The farmers at the south must put
themselves in position to control the
price of their product as well as
aid and encourage such conditions
as will secure the manufacture
of these products within our own
borders. To do less, is to con-
tinue to be burden-beare for more
enterprising people, while we accept,
without complaint, the dictation of
self-interested parties who control the
entire product of our labor.
Farmers are already casting about to
do their part-that is, put themselves
in position to control the price of the
product.
For many years they have foolishly
grown cotton to the practical exclu
sion of food crops The very low
price for cotton has about convinced
them Of their folly. and we are now
to see change that will enable
our farmers to fix for themselves prices
that have, heretofore, been dictated
by Liverpool, Manchester and Other
foreign markets.
| Manufacturers have observed the
signs Of the times, and they are be
ginning, already, to come to the fields
for the raw material.
II our farmers will now take ad
vantage Of the opportunities that are
coming our way, it will be but few
years before the south will easily hole
the position of commanding influence
among the states. .--SouthernC Cultivator