New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-14
Written for the New Orleans Republican,
HOME TRUTHS FOR THIN AERs

|
Written for the New Orleans Republican,
HOME TRUTHS FOR THIN AERs.
There are three classes of people who do
not seem to comprehend that they really
live in world of progress. One of these
classes are constitutional doubters who find
it impossible to believe that anything can
be accomplished until it is consummated.
Another class are learned doctors until they
are sick, shrewd lawyers until they are in.
volved in lawsuit, and profound states
men until they are called upon to act. The
other class, the most despicable of all, are
forever kicking against the pricks and
mourn themselves to death because the sun
does not happen to shine for them alone. |
Luckily the empire of progress and human
advancement is not with them. 1t is in the !
hands of men who believe in progress, not |
because Aristotle taught it, but because
they see and recognize it on every side of
them.
A horde of writers and declaimers are
talking aud writing about "the social and
political problem of the South" Very few
of them really understand their subject,
simply because they do not take the pains
to penetrate to the vital principles that un-
derlie civilized and Christian society.
| The basis of civilization is labor and in
dustry. Labor is the worlds capital. In
vested in the arts and sciences, trade and
| commerce, it produces accumulations called
'wealth.n This wealth has for the most
part fallen into the hands of the few,
who straightwsy set up their claims to
superiority that does not belong to them.
Because of the claims Of this small proper
ton Of society, we have had not only slavery
but too much of general poverty and ignor
ance. The accumulations of labor for ages
have been expended by the rich and power
full for the sole purpose of securing them
selves in power at the expense of those
who create wealth. 1t is this oppression
that the thinkers of the United States who
sympathize with the masses aud the masses
themselves have worked for years to over.
{ throw. And it is this oppression that the
leaders of the rebellion sought to perpetuate.
Yet the problem is not solved. Labor is
free, but it is not independent. 1t must be
employed. 1t must shake hands with capital
and protect itself with the ballot. To COM
mence at the bottom of this question logi.
oally and practically we can do no better
than to state propositions.
We export three million bales of cotton
at twenty-five cents per pound. We buy it
back again manufactured at prices varying
from one dollar to three hundred dollars
per pound, and thus give to foreign labor
the employment that belongs legitimately
to our own laboring classes.
, Ten cotton looms will support one family
in industrious independence. One thousand
looms will support one hundred families,
One hundred families can support one
school from the accumulations of their in
dustry. From these schools may arise
, statesmen, scholars, mechanics, inventors
agricultursts, geniuses. clothed radiently
with the light Of centuries of experiences
!. for practical purpose; the solution of "thC
= social, political, and material problems 0
the country. This is the lever that mus
J raise the people of the South from povert,
Il and despair iGto the bread daylight ofsocial
material, aud political prosperity.
As labor is our only real wealth, So is edu
cation its grand multiplicatlve. Education
8 then is with the aboring classes of our cit.
and State, and Of the United States, an at
II aolute necessity, which has become a specie
of law, which to transgrcss amounts t
o crime.
The State Of New York pays annual
: about 81 coo to educate her children
.e In other words, she pays more for publ
schools alone than the whole tax levied il
many the States. This tax is paid by tn
u property holders, the owners of the accJ
mutations of labor. The owners, or yer
i many of the owners of the accumuiations Q
x labor in our city and State, are wonderful
displeased with the idea of being taxed t
educate other peoples children. They tel
= US that it is unjust. A greater portion q
j these gentlemen are no doubt very anxiou
} TO leave valuable estates to their children
g and are troubled to find practical nlodS,
operaadi that will secure this result. I
= these we say, educate your labor and yor
e will be successful. Commence at the found
'S alton of individual prosperity. Make you
o labor prosperous aud it will repay you al
9 hundred fold. You have the fairest climat
and the richest soil in the world. You hav
e an amount of labor which, if educated Vi
l to the true knowledge of the social and po
Q litical relations of men, will learn habits 0
s industry and economy become attached t
their sehoolhouses and churches, aud in
their growing demands upon the resources
0 Of their parish and State develop your soil.
s Stand in the way of this, the only practica
process of increasing the wealth of thu
8 State, or continue to allow your pride 0
" caste to stand between you and the educa
D tion Of the masses, and you, as well as they
; will pay the penalties in untold miseriee
D poverty, and degradation.
From poverty and ignorance arise shame
vice, crime. dens of misery, the prostitu
a tion Of virtue, and public as well as privat,
4 insanity. Schools, at no matter what cost
0 are ourneeessity. They will bud wealth
virtue, and general security, because thel
{ will teach labor the benefits Of industrious
habits, and the necessity of diversified EN-
o ployments. It is upon these principles O
d right and of human advancement thGt the
. Republican party has taken its stand, ant
I tits upon this line that it will fight 1t out
We propose to fght for public schools; fol
! the increase Of the productive power con
1 tained in human intelligences; for the estab
/. lishment of the cotton loom as well thu