Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-06-01
PLANTERS AND MERCHANTS.

SOuSiuciAiS, ho" ShOA' " 'A~ A
elapsed, since colored peOplc have
been allowed to do business under
the sanctions of law, it is surprising
that there is as much enterprise
among MS as there is. It is next to
impossible that colored and white
men, MS a rule, should meet upon
terms of commercial equality. The
white man has had the privileges of
commerce all his life, and the color
ed man has been kept upon a help
less level with his wares. 1t there
fore nearly always happens that the
self-confdence, which springs from
long experience in business, is more
than a match, even under honest
intentions on both sides, for the
timidity which is inseparable from
commercial inexperience. The col
ored man seldom buys, he nearly
always sells; and when one man
has money and another wants it, he
who is liz need rarely has the adj
vantage of any transaction. But
when there is added to this the fact
that the purchaser is used to bust
ness and the seller is not, it is not
surprising that the sellers candle
burns at both ends-he is first in
undated in the buying Of proyi-
sions, that he ray produce some
thing to sell; and then he is driven
bv his necessities to sell, under
pressure, that he may be able to
buy again. In fact it is the old
question between capital and labor
over again. The advantages OF
carital CONSIST, not SO much II the
value of mOner, as III tie power
and the opportunity TO use it.
It becomes, on this very account,
4 question Of great Importance, as
ITO how the poor man, or say the
producer, lie lie rich or poor. can
best realize tie value OF his pro-
! luc.s? Now ut first sight, 1t strikes
one that there is no help, but to 90
10 tie capitalist and get advances
upon apic.lgeof The crop. But hts
tbs worked well? Is it not ira.
that The superior footing OF the
CAPITALIST, OF which we have spoken
gives him an advantage in estimat-
ing the probable price OF cotton al
the time up to which he may hcll
it? Whereas if TIE planter would
send his crop to be sold alter it was
made, either subject to his order
when the slle should be made, OF
let it depend upon the knowledge
the presence upon the spot and The
calculations of his commission mcr
chant, it would be his cotton tina
was sold, and not himself.
We may be pardoned word o
advice on this subject, because w
have given it some attention, in thu
interests of our race, which has heel
thought, in these Southern States
) almost nothing else but agriculture
We have to say, in the first place
; look to your provisions. a maj
: with enough to eat during the veal
: whether he owns his plantation O
: rents it, is virtually an independen
' man, for the reason that this yer
, fact gives him a claim to the conf
dence of men who value forethought
and for the more important reaso
: that he viii not have to pay doubl
the value of provisions when me
!, find him under pressure.
{ Then again, mea sure your re
3 sources. When money comes int
Y your hands don't allow extravagar
: calculations as to what your GRO
may be worth, entice you from tn
: straight and even pathway of econc
: my. The females of your farnil
4 will sometimes speak of wearin
: worse clothes than when they vel
t slaves, or than those of the slave
) they once knew. Let them lear
# that they are worse than slave
n when they sacrifice independent
: for ribbon or piece of jewelr
y The man who keeps within IL
IS bounds of his income and makes q
/ his mind to have deposit in Il
J. bank before he gains a reputatio
of having fashionable family, {
e that of being great entertainer,
d OH the way to competency whie
(, Twill make it quite indifferent to hi
o what people think in regard to h