The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-10

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The Northern cotton manufacturers pro-
pose to hold convention IN New York for
the purpose of organizing an association for
promoting the cultivation of cotton in the
United States. The projectors of this move
ment are liberal and considerate enough to
profess that it is based on the recognition
of identity of interests between the cotton
grower and the cotton manufacturer" There
is nothing new in such recognition. The
wolf, if he ever reflects on the conditions of
the prosperity of his race, must recognize
that, under rational regulation of his appe-
tite, his interests are identical with the inter-
ests of the sheep. For, supposing wolves to
derive nourishment from focks, it would be
simply suicidal in them 10 break up flocks by
excess of slaughter. They are enjoined by
the plainest dictates of economy, by the in
stinct of selfpreservation indeed, to foster
the growth of sheep and to stimulate this
useful branch of production up to the point
demanded to supply the lupine demand for
good and wholesome food. A like identity of
interest has been illustrated in the policy
heretofore sustained by the Northern cotton
manufacturers and the Southern cotton pro-
ducers. The former have usually been
shrewd and influential enough to induce the
federal government to perform the Office of
their shepherd over the meek and patient
bearers of the cotton feeces in the South.
But, in recent years. this league between
wolf and shepherd has not resulted to the
advantage Of either. The slaughter was ex-
cessive; the shearing has cut under both
fleece and skin. Between the protective
tariff, the cotton tax, the drawback in favor
of the cotton manufacturer, the systematic
Generalization of labor, political uncer-
tainties and social disquietudes, all Of
which have their sources in general
policy which the cotton manufacture
ing interest of the North has either
supported or not openly and decidedly OPP
posed. the cotton producing interest of the
South was rapidly approaching catastrophe
that would consign it to the category of the
glories of Babylon and the might OF Troy
gone in the wind. thing that was and is not,
and, perhaps, to be no more. Though such
result was not intended, and was threatened
in consequence of slight miscalculation as
to the amount of burdens under which South
ern cotton production could live, still the
Northern cotton manufacturing interest was
by no means inconsoIable at the prospect as
long as India promised to offer what was
needed to supply deficiency of production in
the United States. But it appears that this
source of consolation is fast drying up. The
Indian crop, in spite of the enormous stimu-
lation which it has received within the past
eight years, is fast relapsing into its former
state of chronic uncertainty and general short
ness. Not only that, but exhaustive expert
ments in adapting machinery to the spinning
of the fibre of the India cotton, so as to make
it serve the purpose of the long fibre of the
commonly admitted, in failure to accomplish
this object. In these two facts, doubtless,
much more than in the short crop in the
South last year, lie the explanation of the re-
markable rise in the price of cotton which
has taken place this year. If this be
true, it is scarcely to be unprecedented that
the price will again, under existing conditions
of Southern agriculture, go down to
what it was last fall. While Southern cot
ton is produced, to manufacturers in both
England and New England certain quantity
Of it viii be indispensable And herein, ques-
tionless, is the secret of the project referred
to for a convention in New York to organize
an association for increasing the product of
American cotton. Our agriculturists, how
ever, can not be too wary in regard to this
and all similar projects. If they have planted
in cotton the present year but one half the
breadth which they planted last year, they
will do well to adhere to that proportion.
With moderately favorable season, and with
more efficient if fewer laborers, they will make
crops almost if not quite equal to those of last
year. crops which will bring prices third
higher, and yield them a considerable net
profit Such result of the present years
planting operations would place in this city
twenty or thirty millions of dollars to be |
divided between planters, factors, bankers
and merchants. But the experience of last
year has shown that all these classes are LA
bleto adefcit of this amount, if cotton be Gull
tivated with inefficient labor at high wages to
the neglect of the home production of the |
necessaries of life. 1t appears likely that for
some time to come small supply of Southern
cotton will realize as much money as large
one; and as it costs less to produce the former
the present policy for our agriculturists with
reference to cotton is obvious.
1t remains to be seen what views are now
by Northern cotton manufacturers
identity of interests between them
selves and Southern cotton producers, and in
what practical forms they are prepared to ex-
emplify these views. Heretofore they have
construed this identity to mean for them the
kind of interest which the wolf has in en-
couraging the production of palatable mutton
and in opposing the utter extinction of sheep.
Meanwhile our agriculturists can afford to
wait; but they cannot afford to try any further
costly experiments with cotton.
NApOrroNvur ITrua-Tha pionaar If