St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-04-20
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE SOUTH.

the Most Desirable.
The section OF this country known
rs the south is fast becoming, fol
many reasons, the most desirable part
Of the continent
1t is gratifying to know, after these
many years of Misrepresentation, some
OF 1t for political and moneyed inter.
ests, people abroad are beginning To
learn our true conditions, which they
seek to avail themselves of their bcne.
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
slvcncss of her people rs well as their
high standard Of civilization, we are
beginning to take our place among
the most worthy sections for develop
nent and investment.
The business strength Of the south
can not be equaled by any other Sec
tion. Not to discuss, in this connec-
tion, anything outside of agriculture,
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 nj
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 q century ago we believed
that we had wrestled our liberties from
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 we'll 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 rs
aid and encourage such conditi.. Is
g In fsn<, tssh
of these products within our own
borders. To do less, is to con-
tinue to be burden-bearers for more
entcrprising people, while we accept.
without complaint, the dictation OF
self-intercsted 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 4 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 he
ginning, already, to come to the fields
for the raw material.
II our farmers will now take adj
of the opportunities that are
our way, it will he but few
years before the south will easily hold
the position of commanding influence