The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-09-01
Coolie Labor and uaRoH,s Reziau-

we have very great respect for the opinions Of tire
editor Of DeBows Review, and have read with rene sea
interest the article Of the July number Upon Science
and the Mechanic Arts against Cooies.n Our space
will not permit to discuss the policy of Chinese i'm
migration in its social aspects We have already said
consider the question fit one for experiment and
we think the rate Of wages paid field aborers will
justify an effort to increase the of this labor
Nor have we the requisite information for the discus
sion of the purely economical view of the question.
We are not sufficiently informed to the capacity of
the coole for the culture of cotton for instance
of the probable number and costs of these immigrants
available for our use, the comparative value of
eoole wages here and coolie wages in India nor Of
the comparative value Of cooe productions in cotton,
here and there; nor further still, of the probable i'll
crease in quantity with u.s. and the effect of this in
prices 1t is obvious all of these censdera-
tons will enter the commercial view Of the question
We hope DeBow's Review will help us with the re-
| quired information. No man in the South is more
competent for this task than its accomplished editor
There is one branch of his argument, in the article
referred TO- that do not exactly understand ard to
which call the attention of the editor for crit
ica purposes but because should be glad to have
his explanation. We understand him to urge among
other objections, this, which relates to the political
aspect, that the introduction OF the Asiatc would
simply subject him to the especial political influences
that have DISTINGUISHED the white people of the South"
and given the control of affairs and its legislation to
the white adventnrer and the negro and would enable
those who control these influences use both the vote
and the bayonet of the coolie againstus. This
derstand, and the danger is not to be overlooked But
! in concluding the editor says:
1.-The South is to take latitude and de-
parture The world prefers that its staple shall be cu-
tivaed by hired labor We charge the world, there
FORE the cost of labor laid in by retail instead of
wholesale Let realise that it is profitable o
produce small quantity at high price than larger
quantity at a reduced price, If this involve subdi-
vision OF lands must accept the condition. since the
consumer prefers to have it So"
Now take it, there is no surer way Of accomplish
ing the prime object of this special political legislation
to-wit the equality of the races than this subdi-
vision Of lands. And it seems to us our duty not to
accept this condition because the consumer prefers it
so but to resist and defeat subdivision First because
it is agraran in its general Character second because
it looks to and facilitates just what ought to resist
equality OF the races and lastly, it is designed to de-
stroy and if successful will Destroy every distinctive
feature of old cvilisation which, in its conserva-
tism looked landed Estates without the privileges
of primogeEiture, to accomplish what this in theory
least, accomplshes in England sort of balance of
power to sustain capital. But. the point is this: How
does the editor reconcile his special political objection
to his willingness to subdivision of lands, because
consumers prefer hired labor? If he means as per-
haps he does, subdivision among skilled and well in
formed white immigrants we should probably not OBJ
ject because the obvious tendency of the times is to
destroy all the conservatism of our past, and if our
lands to be divided out nolens nolens, we should
prefer division to be made among white people, of
race to avoid the collisions that two races will
bring about. The editor can hardly be willing to
subdivision with the negroes, because consumers
(and Radical legislators) would have it so! We con-
slider the cooe problem the question Of the day for
planters, and hope to hear again from the able ed
ior Of DeBow whose information is varied and whose
patriotism is as vigant as it is always honorable.