The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-02-03
A NOVEL SCHEME.
The States { , Buy tho Cotton and pay th'
Producer in Bonds.

ITOuuCeE III bOuuS.
Mr.. EDIToR:-Edward Atki nson
once said "If New England could
grow the cotton plant without liut it
would make her richest crop, if she
held m monopoly of cotton lint and
seed, she would control the com
merce of the world"
Why is it that those Of our people
who grow cotton are SO abJectly
poor, while their crops if grown in
New England, would make them
richg
Is there not some remedy for our
poverty9 Is there not some way for
the cotton growing States to do, at
least part of what we are told, New
England would do with our advan-
tages?
l think there is.
If each of the cotton growing
States, through their State and coun-
ty governments, take the cotton pro-
duced by their citizens, at 8 cents
per pound, and issue in payment for
it bonds at per cent, interest pay
able after one year. The States
would then hold the cotton and could
fix the price at 10 cents per pound,
and would undoubtedly receive it..
After paying for the cotton and all
expenses for handling, there would
be 1!c per pound or more profit to 60
into the treasures of the different
, States and counties, and thereby re-
lieve the people Of the taxes that are
, now SO onerous.
have no doubt but what the Il
cents per pound on the cotton grown
, in North Carolina would be sufficien
, to pay the entire governmental eX
penses Of the State and cotton grow
ing counties.
:, The bonds, issued by the State ii
payment for the cotton, being fo
:, but so per cent. of its full value. ant
}, drawing an interest of 4 per cent
- would doubtless be as current a
q gold.
% It is high time that the South wa
,. fixing the price on her principle pro
% duct, and not let Liverpool and Ne'
= York do it any longer.
- This plan would bring into the col
3 ton growing States, from the Mort
a; and Europe, double the amount
money that we now receive for ou
30 - cotton crop; it would revive every II
70 70 dustry in the South, and emplo
- many idle men; it would brin
a back to the farmer the depart
- ed prosperity that he once enjoyed
~ and give to his lands, that are no
~ ~ considered worthless, a commerce
value.
:, But, the hypocrites will doubtle
H. H. carp at these suggestions, and sa
g :; this would be paternalism, al
~ therefore unconstitutional" "
=. - must have paternalism. The Sta
% must stretch out her strong arm
/. shield and protect her people fro
n the combines that are robblng the
=, of the fruits of their honest toll.
n,, There is precedent for this. ID
lis ring the late war, when the Nor
~ Carolina soldiers in the Confedera
y army were ragged, and their fam
- lies at home were in poverty and-s 81
o. o. fesing, that grand old hero a
90 statesman of immortal memory, e
"e Vance, then Governor Of North ca
10 olina, bought or chartered ships a
~ shipped cotton to Europe with viii
he bought clothing and other need
articles for the soldiers and citiz:
of the State.
Ihave no doubt, but what ea
ent and every Governor in the Sol
would take great pleasue in doing
ave in their power for the bettermeni
! iu T. hsseopdition Of our people.
to There IS sJMstH - = e aea3s-eaa
tutions-it is the preservation Of
ern homes and liberties, the prospe,
the and happiness of the people.
nth Poverty, privation and hards
ten are gradually, but surely destroy
rug the spirit and ambition Of our T
d a pie. A continuation Of present C
100, ditions for a few generations,
pa put an end tc the brave and patr
the ic yeomanry Of America, and Il
dis descendants will be reduced to q
less ell with the poems of Mexico, the
the lahins of Egypt, the serfs Of Ru
est. and the pariahs of India.
"Princess and Lords may flourish
mes, may fade,
,er's A breath can make them as br'
;ona hath made,
c;an c But bold yeomanry, their count
~ pride,
we'll snnnlied."
the CLoD HoPPI
Beaufort, n. G., Jan. 20, 1898.