The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-03-05

Ia
To the Editors Of Mornin $ar:
You would, no dot :, like to hear often
from your cOrresponRnts, but time, that
moves ever and alw3k at its own steady
pace, 0vertakes themS id hurries them on.
not unfrequently wit&incompleted tasks,
leaving many good Vhes and Intentions
stranded on the SHE. So it is with
me. Many things sedflat could be turned
to pleasing account b3the ready CORES
pondent, but too often&re the days work
is well half done,
Proclaims the speed winged day
1t seems but t'othefSay since a new
year dawned upon us, the measure Of
its duration tells us thatG il already one
sixth gone. How much fs been done in
the two months just paAed towards the
work of the coming seasokit is difficult to
estimate, though every onthas contributed
more or less to the huge ajpunt, and none
more than the planter, as fats embarrassing
circumstances would pernS. The result,
as far as the planting interSs is generally
concerned, is not, regret D say, as satis-
factory as one would desireL Labor is lack
ing in amount, and what Y have is not
only inefficient in most instnces, but in.
different also, giving the plaAer an amount
of annoyance not easily con4ived.
The cry is more labor to doshe neglected
work and at the same tim1 correct the
evils of our present dependents in carrying
on our agricultural pursuits. This, it has
occurredsto me, we have, ant the wonder
is that our intelligent planter do not Bee
it il. and ht turn it to account. Thf season we
out our country variously employed and
generally giving satisfaction4 Let our
planters look to these men FOR he help and
corrective they 80 loudly ask for, and they
will find what they need. These men
come here in the fall Of the yeaf, aud can
1,A koh = - 81
crop, after which they can be employed
in ditching, fencing, cleaning up and
chopping wood for the coming year. Many
can be employed to plough and to plant
the cane, which, in many instances, has to
lie in mat or winrOw while Cuffee and
Gumbo go frolicking about till all their
money is spent, be the time a week, a
month or a season. Political Intermediates
and social incendiaries. have led the negro
to think that he is the sole dependence of
the Southern planter, but few good white
men in each field and on each plantation,
doing the labor during the winter which he
generally does in the spring and early sum-
come lesson and help the platter far ovefa
big sea of trouble"
Another thing, too, must help, aud, to have
it do 30, it must be told over and often. Our
planters and farmers must give up their
high notions about raising none but staple
capacity of our lovely South for q variety
of production of most remunerative crops
can hardly be over-estimated, yet it is
Sugar and Standardization and Sugar."
With every advantage of climate for the
production of cereals of nearly every de-
scription, fruits and vegetables of nearly
every variety, and stock of the finest kinds,
we have but half supplies of either. The
surplus money made on the planta-
tation must go to buy the horse or mule
that might be raised upon it, yea, too often
to buy the bread and provender which
it's broad acres would yield at such little
cost
This, Messrs. Editors, have said before,
through the columns of the STAR; it has
been said over and over again, still it must
be repeated aud urged upon our people.
We should and we must produce at home
more of the necessaries of our different pur-
suits than we do. When our people set
about doing this they will have made a
long stride towards the attainment of that
independence they 30 dearly desire.
The planting prospects in this immed1-
ate vicinity, am pleased to say, are good,
and, think, more advanced than in many
portions of our State. Most of the cane
planting is done, but much still remains to
be done to get the fields in real good order.
The weather, upon the whole, has been
good, and is beautiful now: should
our planters will be we'll advanced with
their work, and may hope for fair crops,
though 30 many difficulties lie in their way
it is not easy to say what they can expect
in that regard.
The holy season of Lent has begun and
its exercises give our ministers increased
occupation. Oar good pastor here never
lacks work, for he tries to reach upon the
labor of two jealous priests, and that is no
easy task. Amidst the trials and troubles
which beset him he has, however, many
things to console. Recently 1t was his
pleasure to be the instrument in the con-
version of resident of this place and his
family, under circumstances little to be ex-
pected.
The man took sick, and, it was evident,
was soon to go through "the dark passage
Of the grave.n Father D'HemecOurt, being
an acquaintance, went to see him, and In
course of CONGREGATION the sick man
said he was of emo religion" q fact
we can readily conceive when We bring to
mind that he had been for many years a
Mason, to which the Rev. Father answered,
'' / am sorry for you," little thinking his
next visit would be to instruct and give
baptism to the father and to receive the
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