The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-03-01
Population In the South.

:
Our city, like others Of commercial
character, is dependant for it's prosperity.
upon the population and productiveness Of
the country Of which IL is the metropolis.
Hence the intense interest felt among ma
upon the question whether the cotton statas
and Texas win not retrograde in both re-
spects under the influence Of the revolution
in labor recently effected. Anxiety on this
subject extends beyond the city to the large
landholders, who are, equally with mer.
chants, interested in. the issue, since the
value Of real estate and the availability IF
labor are dependent upon it.
This interest and it's accompanying un<~
easiness have taken shape occasionally in
eager efforts to induce immigration. Legis-
latures have created bureaus and appropri-
ated money in ffurtherance of this policy.
and conventions are now occupying them
selves with the subject.
In our ardor to effect this object, however.
we should mot forget that the peopling of
country can be like other developments,
natural or artificial. 1t may be stimulated
by extraneous inducements to assume pro-
portion not justified by natural dvantages;
and destined to disappear when unsustained
by arbitrary Influences. In order to-be-
healthful and permanent it ought to be ma
tural-created and directed by the wants,
capacities, and circumstances ofthe country.
Immigration has it's instinct and its laws.
It shows q natural inclination in the direc-
ton where there il wholesome demand for
it.. Like water, it forms q current while
seeking its proper level if uncontrolled, and
like water, it may be forced up hill with an
artificial current.. Of course, after being
put above its natural level it will not stay
there without constraint.
We have heard of instances where great
energy was successfully displayed in obtain
ing white European laborers, yet where the
financial result of the experiments was most
disastrous. Very probably the natural laws
Of immigration had been ignored In these
cases.
The development of these laws must be
the result of time and experience, and as
q general thing the population of country
ought to be built up gradually. plant to
be healthy must be of natural growth, not
forced nor perverted.
For instance, some of the wealthiest
planters might, at their own expense, i'm
port a large number Of white laborers, with
the intention of reviving the old style of
planting on large scale. Yet the impress
sion appears to gain ground that our large
planting system--was the least economical
and the least effective, for the numbers en-
gagged, that could be devised. Labor, to be
steady, must be performed under the eye
of the master, and the smaller the number
Of laborers he has to watch, the more faith
full will be the services obtained. Small,
independent farms, then, with limited hired
help, would be the most profitable and would
indicate one of the natural laws of popula-
ton. An effort to revive an obsolete sys-
tenn, regardless or through Ignorance of this =
law, would probably entail disappointment
and loss upon its authors.- -
Another law, to be construed by the light
Of experience, is the law of health The
selfshness or inexperienee of the importa-
ton system, would seek subjects i'm any
country, regardless of fitness for the climate
to be encountered, while the instinct of true
would bring those only whose
constitutions would be adapted to the field
Of operations. -
Thus, where an Italian mountaineer would
waste away with chills on a Red river plan
tation, another from the Pontine Marshes
would reyel in unwonted health. Where a
Swede "a Noryyepian xvoul6 faint ,,5.~ A.