Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-14
PUBLIC LEDGER.
ovrsTIoN OF LABOR.

Since the industrial laborers of theSonth
were transformed into lawmakers and
judicial officers, the country has been
plunged into sudden reversiop, which
no foresight could have avoided. With the
numerous progressive ideas that crowd
themselves upon the mind Of the public is
the question of labor. We are all aware
that the country cannot rest its future
prosperity upon the industry or energy
of the negro, who heretofore has per-
formed the work of culIivating the
fields of the South. The slave
owner, anterior to the act OF
setting the negro free, was well aware
of the natural Incidence and laziuess OF
the African race, and that if they were
left alone without the fear of punishment
then would they settle down into squslid
ignorance and inactivity. The North was
under the delusion that men who had
known nothing during their lives but the
art of handling the implements of indus
try-the hoe and plow-could at once, IS
by the magic of the occasion, be changed
into statesmen and politicians.
These great moral thinkers of New
England had little regard for the
country if they could but carry ont their
supposed humanity ideas in setting the
African free. The effect of their teach
ings have left the South without laborers,
and, in consequence, our industrial in.
,erests have been languishing since
the war. What we require now is that
some means of labor be introduced from
abroad, as we have not the elements Of
such iu our midst. The considera-
ton that has presented itself to the pso-
pie of the South is whether or not the
Chinese can be made available as labor
ers, and substituted instead of Cufy,
who, since his freedom, thinks it degrad-
ing for one of Lis political Importance to
perform the office Of lsborer in the
country.
The Chinese are tractsble people.
who subsist on the simplest and most fru-
gal diet. They will contract to work at
low wages, and coming from q tropical
country, they are already, it might be
said, acclimated to the country. These
heathens, as we have been informed, pre-
fer to retain their ancient Asiatic ems
toms, and never mix or associate inti-
mately with foreigners. And when
brought to this country they come with
the expectation Of returning again to the
Flowery Kingdom, where their bodies are
carried should they die before being able
TO reach again their land of affection.
One Of our exchanges, in considering the
importation of Cinnamon and Japanese
into the coaatry in large numbers, says
the question is whether or not onr own
civilization can stand the test of this
fresh character of population.
We cannot see how our social status
may be affected, as these people them
selves are preiudiced against foreigners,
and care not to amalgamate or become
mixed with others save their own race.
Still, we cannot now stop to consider
such question at this time, it being
matter Of life aud existence with the
South that SEINE class be brought into
the country that may, by their labor,
build up our wasted lands. The d.
rect and easy communication with
the Pacific coast via the Pacific
road, and thence with Asis, will
afford Us the facilities for transporting
large numbers Of Cinnamon and Japanese
in the shortest time to the cotton fields
of the South. The experiment with this
species Of labor has already been made
in Louisiana, and the result proved to
the satisfaction Of those who tried the
practical workings Of the system. The
subject cannot be ignored, and must of
necessity be considered by the entire
South, and that before many months.