American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1865-10-22
OUR PRESENT GREAT NEED.

There is a great influx Of people into
our city, and immense activity in many
lines of business, and vast preparation.
for still larger trade. There never was
perhaps, in any community so many new
} houses opened in the same period of time
Our advertising columns are crowded
with cards of new firms, or of the reviva
of old business houses. The professions
too, are swelling their rolls inordinately
and brokers, auctioneers and commission
merchants and grocers are spripging ur
in every direction as suddenly and as full
of life and promise as the progeny of the
Dragons teeth from the teeming soil o
Attica. The demand for houses to live
in, for Offices rnd warehouses, was never
SO great in the history Of the city. There
is life, activity, hope, perseverance and
confidence everywhere. Every body seems
disposed to make up for lost time. The
ravages Of war are nearly all forgotten
Peace. commerce and the arts of civilized
and Christian lie are clothed with ne W
charms and attractions. We have learned
to appreciate these blessings as we never
/ did before.
These various manifestations are en-.
couraging and hope-inspiring They
must produce good results, and facilitate
the reconstruction of our commerce and
society. Such an accumulation of enter
prise, intelligence and activity must work
out eventually the great problems forced
upon us by recent events. But, whilst
thus hopeful we should not be too conf
dent nor rely too far upon the present in
dications and means of resuscitaion We
must not be deluded by Appearances into
erroneous plans and the neglect of prac.
teal and obvious means for the restora-
ton of our prosperity We must not over
estimate present indications. We must
not take appearances for realities. We
must not be blind to the painful truth that
the present indications and preparations
for large business rest upon imaginary
and speculative rather than upon real and
substantial bases We must keep ever
before us the universal and invincble
fact. that all trade, commerce, business of
every sort all progress, prosperity and
wealth must rest upon and grow out Of
prodnction-'he successful application of
labor TO the Increase of wealth. We are
making immense preparations to supply
the demands for consumption, but what
if there be TO corresponding production to
supply the means of purchasing what is
thus being accumulated ?
How are our factors, commission mer.
chants. brokers. grocers and mechanics to
be supplied with custom and employment.
if the producers of the only real wealth, .
the tllers of the soil, are not equally ac
tive and successful in their line Of duty ?
What is the policy of filing stores and
warehouses with goods and groceries if
the fields are to be left uncullivated, and
the plantations abandoued. We confess
that the contrast between the country and
the city is most painful one, and begels
serious anxietes in cur minds We con
iess our apprehension that we have com,
the work Of reconciliation at the
wrong end. We have anticipated pro.
ducl;on which we ought to begin by as.
surng and providing for. Our arrange.
mens TO supply consumption are a great
way in advance OF our preparations to en-
sure producticn. Too much Of our capi.
tai, skill and labor have been directed in
TO this wrong channel. What we want
and first need are labor and capital to
save our lands from their present desola-
md GOT hl,s IA .,,xs;,,,lt,,.a
our Northern friends desire to aid us in
Ibis work, which interests them almost to
AS great degree as ourselves. let them
bring or send their capital 10 assist our
olanters or to cultivate our lands. Let
hem promote, encourage and stimulate
of laborers--a fair proper
ion OF the enormous emigralinn that is {
pouring into the States from Europe and i
Canada. We want these far more than 4
We want drygoods. groceries, and the
housand articles for consumption with $
which they are flooding the South. 1t
.an be easily shown that the cultivation
# sugar aud cotton is the most profitable 7
md lucrative investment which can be
made in this country. An acre OF good
and in the South can 5e easily made TO .
'roduce at the present rates, between 5
100 and 500 dollars, and our lands are
he cheapest in the world. Our future
,olicy will be that of small farms; there 3
ne mills enough 20 grind all The cane v
hat can be produced, and We see no rea- b
on Why satisfactory arrangement can.
10, be made between the owners Of those
Mills and the producers of the cane. such Il
: has always existed in regard to wheat P
nd corn. As to the negroes. we &C.
nowledge that they are at present great l'
bsIaeles TO agricultural revival; but they ,
iust be either got rid Of, showed aside. =
r made to work by the same laws and "