New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-07
PROFITABLE EMPLOYMENT.

have to work for whatever employers
please to give them, and are compelled to
pu. 10 twelve and fourteen h0urs-and
sometimes more-as a days woih. 1t IA
but short time since we saw it stated
that there were some ten Thousand sewing
girls out OF employment in Boston, and
upward of fifty thousand women and as
many men unemployed in the city of
New York. This is not only pow
erty to the individuals thus situated,
bat it is poverty to all who have to labor
10 an over-stocked marAet. Labor is like
every other commodity; when the supply
is greater than the demand, the article
ceases to command Temunera'ive prices in
most instances, and the dignity Of labor Is
destroyed. In this country there is no
necessity for this condition Of things so
long IS land is to be had cheap for the
toiling millions. Compared with Europe,
the North and East of the United States
present more encouraging prospects to the
laboring man and woman than older
| countries, whose lands are owned by the
titled few, not 10 be disposed Of But the
fswest of the many who are born poor in
Europe can ever hope to become land
owners, and therefore the chances for
profitable employment are most preca-
rious. Many persons Of this kind have
been compelled TO leave the old country,
and making their homes in the rugged
aud barren New England States, or the
States OF New York and Pennsylvania,
have, after years OF patient toll, become
wealthy land owners and prosperous
farmers. This, too, in country where
land-though it was to be had com
manded pretty good prices; and where
the climate is cold-severely so the most
Of the year. 1t is true, some have
settled in cities and amassed large
fortunes, but they are few con-
pared with the many thousands who have
been tempted to try 10 do the same thing,
and failed. As long as lands can be had
as rea Oily and as cheap IS at the present
time in thes outhern and southwestern por-
tons of the United States it is great
mistake for those who would seek profit
able employment to waste their time in
cities, especially when they have no en-
ployment and can not obtain it unless by
underwriting those who have. If the
chances have been favorable to some in
the North and East they are good to all
in the South at this time who would cul-
tiyate the soil, for land is much cheaper
here than there.
The labor question is now being agiia-
ted in many of the Northern States OF our
Union, and it is also exciting English
statesmen, who ere giving the subject
their attention as something that interests
government as well es individuals.
We hold it to be the duty Of government
to encourage and dignity labor by legisla-
particularly republican govern
ments. Every additional acre Of we'll
titled land must add to the wealth OF the
country-and, therefore, it would be well
TO, our government-which derives its
powers from the people-to look to their
interest. When we say people, we
mean the laboring classes, for
they are the bone and sinew
of the land, part OF its capital, and
deserve the protection OF government.
Without land and labor country would
be poor, indeed; but with them and the
proper incentives to inspire industry and
direct i. into profitable channels, it is rich |
beyond measure. We are blessed with |
lands the most productive, If cultivated,
in the world, and have great deal of
labor in our large cities that is unpro-
ductive from the fact that it is unem- |
ployed. Every hundred thousand in
dividuals and hundred thousand acres |
OF land Thus left unemployed is that |
much of loss in wealth to the coun-
try, from the fact that its capital |
10 that extent has been permitted to lie |
dormant. We already have laws encour-
aging immigration to this country, and |
bureaus of immigration intended to assist |
in the work We also want labor bureaus |
established in all of our large cities to
direct and assist those who are out of en-
ployment, on lands where they could be |
made useful to themselves and country
where they could make homes for them
selves and become independent.
If our statesmen would take hold of the |
labor question and by legislation do some
thing that would regulate it in such man
ner as to keep up healthy condition be-
tween labor and capital; laborers and |
mechanics wonld be relieved of the neces- |
sity of underwriting one another, and |
the country would receive accessions in !
the shape of tillers of the soil. AS long |
as this country has its millions upon mil |
lions of vacant lands there is no reason |,
why labor should 60 unrewarded; why it |
should be permitted to accumulate in |
cities until it is completely at the mercy
OF capital. We have the lands, and, in |
stead Of allowing them to 60 into the
hands of capitalists, encourage and, if !