Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-04-11
FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.
IMMIGRATION.

In almost every State in the South the attention of the farmer is being turned to the improvement of our labor system. Three years trial has well proven that nc- gro labor is at best improbable, and un- der the influence of politics for which the negro has strange liking, he is worthless as laborer. Because of this fact, the intelligent farmers of the South, and more properly the older and more advanced Southern States, have resolved upon trial of foreign labor, not to be confined to field operations, but to extend itself through every branch of trade. That this system may be more successfully put in operation, Aid Societies are being or ganised, aad inducements held out to for eiga labor and foreign capital. All this argues we'll and promises no small degree of success to those States where this sys- tenn is carried out. But we would inquire is Arkansas always to be behind, while other States, through their societies and agents are holding out inducements to foreigners of every class and trade-to settle in their midst. What is Arkansas doing? As we ask, we may answer noth- ing. Looking facts as they are in the face, we readily conclude, that it would be the part of wisdom to cease grumbling at "hard times" and "bad luck, and set ourselves to work to remedy this state of things. 4s our political system is changed, it is natur- al to conclude that our agricultural system will change or must change. Our heavy tracts of land, large farms and extensive plantations are, as they are, almost worth less--the man who cultivates five hundred acres makes less money than the man who eultivates forty; this teaches that our la bor system or mode of farming must be changed before we can expect prosperity. Let immigration be encouraged, and it can be encouraged at small expense, simply by letting the world know that We want them with us--that our large land holders want to sell, and that too in small tracts. Let this be we'll known, and immigration will flow in; for the advantage of soil in Ar kansas is as we'll known as her mineral wcalth. It is all nonsense to say that be- r~.~:e-- :.-.-.io,a,ivu Iid uv. ,enu Southward before the war, it will not do 90 now. Then natural causes held them back, now they are removed. Then it was we'll known that tho slave owning farmer did not wish to encourage the di- yiding system, now it is different Then the farmer was opposed to introducing white labor into his fields because of ne- gro prejudice and pcculiarity. Then for eigners, in large numbers, were opposed to slavery, now slavery does not exist. These causes are all removed, and now the broad fields of Arkansas arc inviting hands to till them. We repeat, we must look at things as they are; negro labor will involve us more and more every year; our pecuni- ary interests can only be promoted by healthy white population; let this be look ed to and political interests will regulate themselves. Foreign immigration will bring capital, capital will improve lands our population, by it increased; uncultivat- ed lands will be brought into use, neees-  sitating the building of towns, the employ ment of mechanics and the prosperity of the State.