The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-03-03
What to Do.

h The increase of non producers has been great
Fer in the United States, during the decade, than
has been the case at any time since the wars OF
Napoleon. The growth of luxury and of indi-
vidual wealth at the North has been unprece-
dented, converting large number of producers
into consumers. The general increase of aff3u
ence in that section, resultant from the high
prices induced by war, has converted large
number of constant and efficient laborers into ir-
regular and inefficient ones.
In the South we have lost the whole popula-
ton of the blacks from the class of constant la
borers AS general rule, this race now does
less work in week than it formerly did in day;
and the fact applies to an average, embracing the
entire negro race Of the Southern white race.
the casualties of war took off a vast number, al
though this loss of labor has been compensated
in some degree by the superior energy of most of
those who have survived.
Although the term non-producers applies di-
rectly to but few others than tillers of the soil
it in effect embraces all engaged in those me-
chanic arts which facilitate the operations of ag-
ricuture, either by supplying improved imple-
ments to increase the productive power of labor
or by supplying clothing and other protection to
the laborers Of the field.
The Distress in various FORMS which the coun-
try is now suffering, all results directly Or indi
rectly from this loss of labor There is too much
non-production and too little production. The
evil which Nautilus SO much deprecated, of the
tendency of population to press unduly upon the
means of subsistence, is now realized even by
our fruitful country in many distressing forms;
and investments have ceased in everything ex-
cept in food and other means of subsistence, and
in the agencies necessary for producing them.
Though federal and State bonds are distrusted,
CATTLE sheep. swine, horses and mules not.
Though all debentures emanating from political
sources are Stunned, real estate and railroad Sc
curities are growing in favor
But the evil apprehended by Nautilus is re-
versed 1t is not an undue increase of consumers,
which gives trouble, so much as the undue de-
crease of producers. In one point Of view the
discharge of large number of factory operatives
IN the Northern manufacturing districts, is an
encouraging phenomenon. These laborers will
have to dig their support out of the ground.
These periodical cmptynes of those Northern
factory hives are thus always followed by impor-
tant migratons into regions where land is cheap,
and where the soil returns generous reward for
ltbor. The factory system is pernicious to the
social health of any people; and these discharges
of operatives are always to the discharged and to
society blessing in disguise. The South has
ceased to be market for Northern manufacturers
with that voracious appetite which for so long a
tlae could not be glutted. Our capacity to employ
factory operatives in New England has therefore
ceased. But we have one thing to offer these
people as a substitute. We have lands which
they can come and till. They will thus become
more useful members of society than if they had
remained operatives. They will live life of in
dependence and responsibility, rather than life
Of the most abject, anxious and debasing SER
Witty.
But it is to the white people of the South that
even these dark times present one bright light Of
encouragement. Agricultural labor is now the
great dsideratum of the nation. The production
of agricultural supplies and staples is the great
demand of the times. 1t is not lawyers, nor doc
tors nor any Of the learned professions nor mer-
chants that are at present in requisltlon. To
make bread, to raise meat, to provide food for
man and beast-this is the business promising
most profit at the present time. Land, muscle
and industry-the man who has these, and prac-
tical or scientific intelligence to apply these to
the business of production, belongs now to the
most fortunate and prosperous class. These form
the single basis of hope in the desert of despair
in which we of the South are wandering.
There is work enough for every to do in
agriculture aciih has o1cn hands, and we have
soil and climate better for the purpose than are
vouehsafed to most of the human race. Let our
old men encourage their sons to turn their at
tention to the soil and eschew the pursuits Of
traffic and avoid the learned professionalism
to}E J0uFn0t.