Natchitoches union. [volume] ([Natchitoches, La.]) 1859-1864, 1862-09-18
For the Union.



solved, but fact, substantially &C
| complshed True, many privations
must be endured, and many valua
bic lives be sacrificed, before the
Federal government will be convinced
Of what every wise statesman should
have known before the war began
that millions of men, determined to be
free, can never be subiugatcd. The war
may continue for years, but the result
is certain 1t is not too early, then, to
begin to shape out the public policy
J by winch our prosperity is most likely
to be ensured, and render us, for all
time to come, in TRUTH as well as in
name independent
Why is it that the whole South is
suffering for want Of most Of the es-
scntial articles of life? Why must
half OF the population 60 half clad
during tile coming winter? 1t is be-
cause we relied for our supplies of
nearly every article Of every day use
from States out Of the Confedcracy.
Wcraised cotton and sugar and depend
ed OH their sale to purchase everything
abroad. Now the war is upon us; we
are paying the penalty of our folly in
not Investing at least u part Of our
capital III the establishment of manu-
featuring establishment. Yet, for
years past, this war ought to have
been anticipated. Few were so blind
as not to see in the triumph of
scctionalism a dismcmberment Of
the old Union and who SO weak as
to expect dismembermcnt without
war? II, three years ago, liftieth
part OF the cost of one years war, had
been invested in factories. the people
would not now be forced to pay most
exhorbitant prices for every article Of
daily consumption. But it is to be
hoped the lesson will be u salutary
one. 1t is never too late to become
wise and amend our course of action.
Why then will not those who have the
means begin, and by joint action,
build up our manufactures of every
kind? In almost every family we now
hear the sound of the spindle and the
loom, but this kind Of industry cannot
long he relied to supply the general
wants. 1t can never compete with
ard as soon as the war is
over, will cease because foreign arti-
ticlcs can be .sold vastly cheaper than
than they can be then made.
In the war of 1912 between the Z.
). and Great Britain almost the same
state Of things existed as now exists
in the Confederacy-The country had
relied principally on foreign countries
-or all kinds of manufactured goods: {
necessity induced an investment of a t
large capital i'll manufacturing estab-
ishmcnts. They were greatly profita- t
Die, but as soon as peace was made, t
utter ruin threatened them all-their /
owners, i'll many instances, lost the d
capital invested. They were nearly i
broken up by a glut Of foreign goods
# every description. In this state Of
hlngs, Congress came to their relief !
" passing the protective tarifI'of 1876
This act saved them and induced new 8
Investments out of which has grown I
he gigantic manufacturing interest Of I
he North. When the present war Il
'roke out, the price Of goods had be-
ome cheaper than ever from compcti-
ion among manufacturers, Capitalists Il
n the South are afraid to invest their "
nnds i'll this business because they :
ave no assurance that they will be "
ustaned by the government when the E.
var shall have ended; should they not \, .
e, they would lose their capital. But y
his they need not fear for whatever :, Il
lncitul theories of free trade many of =
ur statesmen may have, we shall be = !,
Drced to lay heavy duties on importa- .
ons in order to support the govern "
lcnt and pay the interest or the war =
ebt, This must be done, or a system :
direct taxation be adopted too I,
rlcvous to be endured You may !, -
l1nk it idle at this time to indulge in y y
populations of this kind-and perhaps p"
icy may do little good-but it is the :.
art OF wisdom in the midst of evils q,
} look around for the means of allevia. Al
nG them and guarding against their Il
'currcnce. Probably at q future day al
ay enter upon q more detailed and IN
'gumentative view Of this subject. If nj
do no good, it can do no harm as en- ia
rlcs sometimes say when they admin IL
ter their noStrums, 6;
Yours, !,