The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1898-02-12
THE INCUBUS OF THE SOUTH

interesting Memphis Selmila'
deals ut length with the question
of southern agricultural economies
and the malign influence OF TO-
600 900 bale cotton crop using
the well known letter Of Latham
Alexander & Co., as its text Inc
oIpeubus." of course, is the ire
mendous cotton crop and Its ever
dwiudling value.
The editorial in question con
toins many incontroyertible as
sertions. and may possibly apply
with truth and justice to certain
portions of the cotton growing
country. 1t is in relation to the
Delta district that The lines feels
impelled to reply to some OF us
structures and correct some OF It's
too-sweeping allegations The
norton of the article which Is
especially calculated to awaken the
protests of the Delta planters Is as
follows:
"The southern farmers have put.
all their eggs in one basket, ana
placed themselves at the mercy OF
circumstances that should have
been under their control. A bad
season or IA low price for the
single staple has been sufficient to
plunge them up to their ears IN
and the proceeds Of succeed
~ 44 1.ye been required to
ret them straight again. Mean
while-and this is not the least OF
the evils of the system-they an'
their families have lived hard at
home, only to wind up the year
without either money or comforts
The average farmer in the cotton
region sits down day after day
10 a dinner that western farm
hand would turn up his nose at.
This family has no advantage and
few pleasures. The life, in fact,
is So barren OF comfort that the
ooys brought up on the farm who
have any taste or ambition fly to
towns and cities as soon as they
can get away, not so much to make
their fortunes as to escape the un-
relieved hardships of their lie II
the country"
The article concludes by men
tioting the exceptions to thecult
-raeu who conduct their affairs
siless principles, and are al
way prosperous, IN spite OF 10"
prices for cotton:-"May theH
tribe increase If 1t do not, VIZ
shall see the painful anomaly 0.
the most wretched people on eartl
where prosperity and happinea.
should rule"
We doubt much if this arraign
ment is true when applied to tn
small farming class of the uplan'
country of Mississippi. Unles
reports and country papers great
" err, they live at home in com
fort and content at least equal t
that of the same class Of farmer
in other portions of the Union
Wealth they seldom accumulate
but plenty is always theirs. Thel
desires are modest, and when full
filed they grasp for nothing be
vond. The State is dotted witt
schools and colleges, at which theI
children receive very good educa
tional advantages, and their homes
while not elegant or pretentious
arc abodes of comfort and create
ease than can be found among th
same class in other sections Of tn
country. This is the class 0
farmers who do their own work
with the occasional assistance o
hired help, and which correspond
to the great mass of the agricul
tural people of the middle ant
western states.
In the Delta country bushes
M ethods and social Characteristic
are so totally different that III
people may be classed as su
generis among agricultural com
munities. The Delta plntel
(farmer) is q man who deaf I
sums of money and oFe atl nj
which would appal elmer fhe
quarter section farmer Oh tao Lilli
Of Mississippi or the closehstec
and hardworking northwesterpet
In this county number OF "
stances may he cited of men who,
from the proceeds of theit planta-
ton alone and without the all Of
speculation, have realized during
the past year sums O. money which