Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-09-11
IS &#.A- For the Journal
Foreign Labor, its Advantages and n,
advantage


wane, and intelligent and active farmer.
busy devising schemes for future proora"
I, as an humble spectator, did not dceno
effort inappropriate to call their attenbo'
to an overlooked fact. But first, what
the advantages of foreign labor? All bo,
L can see is that they are industrious mo-
pie, by report Their industry, econon,
and whole character, as working peonIo
cannot be fairly disputed, nor will Tss
that they will be national burden NJ
object is not to disapprove of or copdor.
the praise bestowed upon them heretofo.a
as a laboring class. That they perbon,
merit and it should be granted othem, Pr,
after we acknowledge their diligence or5
the fact that they will make the not;rs
stronger embarrassing the acAite population
all is conceded that they deserve for tbo
present. Their introduction into HI,
country is secondary consideration. The,
disadvantages in North Carolina, especial.
ly, are these. What to-day is the position
of the young men-Confederate soldier
of North Carolina ? and what that of tho
land owners their countrymen, their
friends, and in many instances their IA.
rents or relatives ? Many of the old farm.
ers are holding on to their lands and try.
ing to work them as they formerly did
trusting that, with few impudent and
worthless negroes, they can manage to pay
taxes and make some sort of q living until
a change in the political sentiment of the
country, or foreign labor, will allow them
to till the broad acres to which they are 50
much welded in the old "before-the-war"
style. In vain have our agricultural So
cieties asked them in the most plain and
conclusive terms to improve small lots of
land, combining their operations to so much
as they can make rich and productive
Their sons, young men of business qualif-
cations, hang around the old homestead as
unweaned children for the want of bet
ter chance-endorsing and supporting the
views of parent in whose judgment they
have unbounded confidence, and whose
opinions were moulded in times of slavery,
uniting them to certain degree for ap.
preciating the new order of things. Now,
ask, must the Confederate soldier remain
unemployed and wait tor foreign labor =
Nc, you will say, he should go to work.
That is true, but on whose land Must he
improve home to which another holds a
title He is not ashamed of work, but he
merits the remuneration which honest in
dustry deserves. He can farm with as much
grace as he could carry the standard of the
proudest people the world ever saw. You
may tell him of the dignity of labor"
which he gratefully appreciates, but he
wishes to rear his superstructure on
his own foundation. Then let those farm
ers who have large half-worked farms hush
the cry for foreign labor awhile, and try
those who are of our blood. Give the
Southerner the first and most liberal offer
In the end, think, they will find it best,
for they have aneighbor whose sympathes
are akin to their own. They will not, as
in the foreigners case, have to trouble
themselves about houses of worship for
them. Some landowners haveno children
to bestow their property on. What will
they do =? Nothing speaks of a change in
the future. If the industrious and enter
prising stranger comes here, who will be
more likely than him to 6myit Allow me
young men buy your surplus lands and pay
so much annually till the account is bal
anced. Many of our soldiers were poor
men, and if they have any land at all, it is
inferior to the unoccupied swamp lands Of
the former stakeholder. Now, what is to
become of him when the enterprising Ger
man begins his operations here, who will,
in few years, pay for the land he occu-
| i IS, and as much more as he wishes, be-
coming himself an established citizen,
while the Confederate soldier is hesitating?
Many will say there is room for both, and
the very men who utter the senti-
ment are refuting it by their actions. If
they think SO, why are no offers made to
the young men-native "Tar heels like
those they will have to make to the Ger
man I mean such as Mr.. Leiding, of
South Carolina, proposes, weekly Jour
nal, June 13th), whose proposition, l be-
lieve, many native white men would like
to accept. There are many of our best and
most energetic young men of the present
day seeking clerkships In every city, town
and village, afraid, tits said, of farm labor.
Too proud to till the soil-too delicate to
handle farming implements-too feminine
to compete with the athletic Irishman in
honest labor. Is that the praise to bestow
OIL Uu6 SOlu16Eb Vi hO6 anu Is
that compliment to the indomitable will
and heroic courage upon which the nation
gazed with wonder through four years OF
unequal strife ? No; it's misapplied cen
sure. They see only livelihood, if they
remain on another's farm. They have no
home of their own to beautify and adorn-
no farm to occupy their time, and to live
out dreary life of self-support in poor,
down trodden country is not congenial to
The gay and excitable American. He
seeks the city with it's varied amusements.
IF nothing belongs to him in the land he
fought for, and no nucleus is given or lib
orally sold to him around which to gather
ais earnings, what has he to remain for
say literally sold, because his purse is
With the "Lost Cause" Offer him
/ home and exact certain
amount annually, and the honest
soldier will become the honest farmer and
lebtor. Then let those who have large,
half worked farms settle, if they are gen
'rous enough to settle any one, those who
n times of trial were true. Look over
hem and put foreigners first, and you seal
he fate of the Southern young man.
In conclusion, young gentlemen, as one
# your number, ask you to give these
thoughts your calm consideration. Those