The Kosciusko star. (Kosciusko, Miss.) 18??-1898, 1895-02-22

Clinton, La. Feb. Is, 1895.


To the Editor of the Times Democrat:
Nothing but commentator is
heard from anyone Of the two es-
says lately published by you en-
the subject The Condition of the
Country and the Causes. But
the one that did not get the prize
is generally, here, considered the
best. and on this account alone:
That it went nearer to the causes
of the trouble.
We are prone to look away off
t,r what ais us. 1t is generally
verv near. We are prone to give
too many reasons for our sickness.
Do YOU remember the man who
would give seventeen reasons why
he did lot ride? He was stopped
after he gave one reason, that ne
had no horse AMI no means OF get
ting a horse.
Article 32l7 of the Civil Code Of
Louisiana provides that debts due
for necessary supplies furnished to
any farm or plantation, and debts
due for money actually advanced
and used for the purchase Of ne
cessary supplies and the payment
of necessary expenses for any farm
or plantation, on the crops Of the
year and the proceeds thereof"
Shall bear and be secured by a
pri,ilege on all the crops OF that
year. An article on the Code
Practice makes this debt enIorcea
BILE by seizure on all the crops,
including evcrything--cotton, cot
ton seed, corn, fodder, hay, pota-
toes.
OF course, | cannot speak for
other sections Of thi; State, but
these laws have done more to de
slroy this section than all other
causes combined. Both in theory
and practice they are thoroughly
vicious. TO estimate the wisdom
or folly of a system of laws you
must consider the conditions I'M
der which it is regnant. Our con-
aition is: More Than one-half of
our people arc lately enfranchised
slaves, utterly ignorant of domes-
tic and commercial economy, Hit
crate, ignorant Of accounts and ac-
counting. The same may be said
Of u proportion of our white popu-
lation. All these people make
their living by agrlcu Iture. They
are without fortune, almost all
without property OF any consider
able value. When under intelll.
gent control, | do believe they con-
.titute the best class of labor on
earth as a class. b. nature, by
habit, by tradition, by circum-
stances, by choice, they are labor
ers. The laws cited above make
them landlords.
As a class, and under proper
conditions, they are not deficient
in the qualities that would make
them happy and prosperous. The
system Of laws cited above makes
them Il class Of paupers.
Any system Of laws that creates
for such population a fictitious
credit is n curse. They are not
entitled to it by any reason. Cred
1t Is { curse, except to the most
capable people. Credit should on
ly be predicated' upon honesty,
thrift, prudence, economy, ana
principally on property. The
largest part of our people are not
endowed with these extraordinary
qualities. The system Of getting
all supplies for the farm or planta.
tion from II merchant Is almost
universal. Such IL thing as a far
mer having his provisions or the
funds with which to supply his
farm at the beginning of the year
is almost unhearl of. But the
greatest curse results from giving
To poor, ignorant people credit
that makes them farmers, and not
laborers. Ii it was any profit to
them or anybody else, | would not
complain. 1t isn't legitimate