The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-30
WILMINGTON. n. c.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1898.
WHAT MAKES A PROSPEROUS
LAND.


If conditions everywhere were as favor
able as protection organs report. The
south Is on a great boom and prosperity
abounds all around according to their
report. That some sections are doing
well in all the states in the south is no
doubt true. But with the low prices
for products Of the farm-specially the
Al cts per pound cotton average-for-
bids the idea that there is universal
prosperity. Many men in the south
are making money, and some of the
more favored are making "big money"
by investments. The rich few are pros
pering rather than the poor many. The
corn crop in spite of this fact is said
to be much reduced. Most of the man
ufacturing men prosper, but all Know
that the south Is dependent for it's
prosperity upon agriculture and not
part of the 1,75O, 900 inhabitants are
identified with manufactures. The
conditions are not as good a repre-
scented. If you ask the farmers you
will receive a different answer from
that given by manufacturing and high
protection organs.
Take an example. Take one of the
very best of the counties-one that
flourished not many years back, had
two hanEc an6 ronnoy uyoc cn ohrn1onf
among the farmers they did not know
literally what to do with it. How is
1t now. Last year this happened. A far
mel brought to town a load of good to-
bacco. 1t was sold at a warehouse,
and after paying the usual charges,
he received 25 cents for his load all
told. He had lost the tobacco, a days
work and the cost of hauling. Another
farmer sold and was left Is cents in
debt. The merciful w~arehousemen
gave him the debt. Take this, and it
is true-all in the same fine county. An
agent lent 81, 500 to a farmer taking a sec
ond mortgage on the farm, which was
then counted SO valuable as to easy COW
er both mortgages and more. This was
in the good Die prosperous days of ten
or fifteen years ago. The man having
the first mortgage has been waiting
having a use for his money. Finally,
and recently, he forced a sale of the
land and it only brought enough to
pay his debt leaving the second mort
gage out in the cold without a dol
lar. In other words the farm had de-
Perforated in value quite one-half or
more This is only n example. We
might find a thousand in the state that
would represent similar conditions
Farmers who used to be flushed borrow
now, and cannot pay withoutselling
their lands, and they have so fallen in
lenders would rather hold out getting
no interest than to sell with a certainty
of loss. Do not conclude that because
large industries flourish in centres or
new ones start up that all is prosperous
and lovely. If the south ever reaches
the point that it's vast farms are not
self-supporting or are deserted to a
great extent, and the prosperity de-
ponds on manufacturing then it will
be bad for the south. The greatest
benefit, to the greatest number is sound
political philanorophy. Goldsmith
wrote one hundred years ago or more,
Iii fares the land to fastening ills a
prey,
\, acre wealth accumulates and men de-
cay"
A country is indeed a goodly land and
prosperous in a high sense where there
is public virtue-where the people are
temperate, united, Industrious, frugal,
honest, and the public men have high
standards of political rectitude and per-
sonal integrity, where the laws are wise
just well executed; and where the Sab
bath Day is recognized as a holy day
to be duly observed and God is adored
and reverenced AND Jesus Christ is
sought as the redeemer and teacher and
sanctifier of men.
We notice that the Philadelphia
Manufacturer gives out a note of warn
ing to it's friends. 1t says: There is
some reasons to fear we are coming into
another period of abnormal business
prosperity" If fears as to its reality,
it's genuine views, it's solidity, its par
manence, and all on account of 1.-The
lar ambitious new corporations now
being organized" The Baltimore Sun
says:
Germany is suffering the reaction
from a boom Of industrial plants, trusts
ETC., and there is danger that we shall
prepare ourselves a like experience.