The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-07-03

ty for believing, We are even justi6able in
fighting the devil with fire--most surely
we cannot he blamed for using similar
weapons to those employed against us
After long and most anxious reflection.
based on constant and sad experience, we
are most firmly Of the conviction, that by
the course indicated can We ever hope to
be again remnnerated by the cultivation
ofcotton. As for continuing the process
now so generally pursued, "a course no
doubt instigated by the high price the ar.
ticle commanded at the time Of the snrren-
der and for brief period afterwards, that
Of raising cotton to buy every article Of
consumption, even to our daily bread, it is
not only suicidal, but must end in total
ruin to all who attempt It. By the
sweat Of thy brow shalt thou earn thy
bread" is divine mandate, an utter dis
tortion Of which it is to say, we can raise
cotton to buy it. Amongst the many
channels Of profitable pursuit to which we
might direct our labor, in lieu of cotton,
(Which, ifever to become King" must
be crowned by ourselves,) want ofspace
in this number prevents allusicn but to
one, but there is scarcely another SO prom
inent, or that appeals more directly to the
common sense of all. If, as facts and fig
ures prove, Northerners have built up col
lossal fortunes by the manufacture Of cot
ton, ahich zoe grotu, which is first shipped to
them, and returned to us, in yarns OF
fabrics, with every expense and loss, aye,
every stealage during it's transit to them
and back to us Why can not we, with the
raw material at our doors, raised by our
own hands, make its manufacture equally
as profitable, indeed far moresos Our natu-
raj facilities are prominently superior to
theirs. Water power, we possess to unlim-
tied extent. wood, coal and all other min.
erals, clothe it's surface OF rest in the bosom
Of our soil, and are of easy access eli
mate so genial, seasons SO perennial, there
would be no Interference to labor from
either source, but the greatest facility by
both. The most skillful artisans Of the
world would flock to us--knowing they
would thereby SO materially enhance their
own fortunes. Every principle, both Of
pride and interest prompts, and should
urge us to adopt the system by which,
eventually at least, we might hope to re-
build our charred homesteads, our waste
and desolate fields where the brier and the
wild vine now grow-might be made to
bloom in beauty, to yield abundance.
But to elaborate this and many other
inducements that are easily aducable, why
we should change the suicidal policy hith-
erto pursued, and still attempted by any,
that ofsacri6cing everything to produce
cotton, would require q continuation Of the
discussion, far beyond the limits I can
claim at present; many, yes very many
facts can still be heaped up, to prove our
position, even to the very skeptical, of
whom it is feared there are many.
As cotton ON TIE brain has hitherto
operated SO seriously to our disadvantage,
we consider it susceptible Of easiest de-
monstration, that the same untoward
cause will work out our ruin, if persisted
in. The siren song must cease, the YAM
|pire, too long been permitted to pray upon
our yitals, to suck our hearts blood, must
be crushed, or woe to the future Of this
once prosperous land.
unr A NynSI,Y1