The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-18
AN IMPENDING STRUGGLE.

1t Is evident that there 10 to be q
miglty struggle over The cotton-crop
of 800. The surrounding con-
ditions render such course OF events
Logical and, indeed, inevitable. In
consequence of the disaster OF 1899,
the visible and invisible reserves
have been reduced TO the point OF
famine, and the governments re-
port LOT Yesterday foreshadoMs Q
repitition of last Years. experience. -
Even if consumption should be sensI-
bly, reduced for the ensuing twelve
month, crop of 100000 bales
would be needed. in order to keep
the spindles turning and restore the
reserves to normal proportions.
What, then, would be the effect on
price. il the production should again
fall seriously short of current needs!
The question is, of course, very
much easier TO ask than to answer,
for the prIce of commodity OF uni
versal use depends on an infinite va
riety of conditions. The issues OF
neace and war, no less than the mere
statistics If the day, must be taken
into the account. No human brain
is capable of fully grasping argu-
ments of such tremendous suDtiety
and scope. Time and again, have
bulls and bears seen their super
! structure of speculation riven by the
base. by some bolt from the blue.
History repeats itself in this de-
partment of human action, with
special regularity.
One fact stands out, with reason
able clearness. Every bale OF the
crop OF 1900 will be needed, unless q
miracle of nature shall be wrought.
IT does not. y however, follow THAI
commensurate price will be re-
allied by the producer. The obsta-
Giles in the way of such consumna-
ltion are great, and have, only too.
often, been found insuperable. One
difficulty consists in the fact that the
hulk of the crop must be moved
, within very brief period OF Tune.
The pressure Of supply on demand IS
thus. in many cases, sufficient to
countervail the realities, for the mo-
ment. In the financial sense, the
{, South is unusually well prepared for
the impending struggle; but there
a must be will, as well as way.
The crop OF 1899 was marketed with
unusual discretion, and the plans OF
the bears were thus brought to IN
; glorious failure. According to the
French proverb, good thing gains
: by being repeated; and it is perfect
ly plain that another victory along
the same lines would usher IN Pc
Rod of prosperity to which this part
\ of the country has too long been
81 stranger. 81
In our opinion, the Southern press
" should make particular point OF
LAYING the statistical data before their
:. constituency. 1T would be an I'M
- pertinence to obtrude advice upon
= the merchants and farmers who know
3. their own business very much better
~ than it can be known by the best IN
formed denizens of cities. One
word of caution may not however,
be amiss. The great battle OF lSoo
is not to be won in the future-mark.
cts. ANY effortsalong that line would
only be fruitful ia the knowledge
which was gained at Spion kop. Inc
temper in which thelaetual stuff shall
be handled will determine the ulti
mate result From this standwoint
the attitude Of the banking Interest,"
will assume an extreme importance
4 There is no reason to suppose tina
the financiers viii fail to afford tn
It. amplest facilities to men OF sub
stance, while demanding the viii
saal spectators to innocuous desuetude
aH Such policy is dictated by self-in
:. terest and common sense like.
f't' The campaign is on. 1t remain
g TO be seen whether the final will b
sn Austerlitz ora Waterloo. Naio
2 is a great thing, but is nothing NOR
a. than fine frenzy, ifthe principles
sound strategy be neglected. In u
instant case, good generalship is al
important, because the industrl
.. welfare OF millions is at stake.
& the South shall see fit to make a res
hte stand, the speculative contingel
( al will be quick to take the cue. IL
ers rut is deep, and Hercules must p
~. his shoulder to the wheel.