New Orleans Republican., 1871-03-05
wages which has been paid out belongs ut

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home. Except IN the matter of
sugar ard molasses all that we have
consumed at the table or on our backs
has come from other communities. Cur
entire resources were invested in pro-
ducing cotton. and our misfortune has
been that III raising this article with SO
much energy and purpose, we have con-
sented to pay other communities for our
meat, bread, coffee, implements, bagging,
rope, clothing. whisky, tobacco, NUM-
tions, fire-crackers, jim-cracks, and so
forth. The wages Of the laborers have
been invested III the productions of other
people. going out from among us as fast
as they were earned and paid. Where we
should have sixty millions of surplus cash
on hand, we are in debt # we had this
immense sun Of money left on deposit
with the people as a means of invest
ment either in improvements or OH i'll
terest, the entire face of the country
would now show different aspect. And
until We learn how to keep our money at
home we shall ever find ourselves at the
end of the var III the same dist1essful
condition.
If. instead of producing so much cot
ton, portion of the planters had culti-
vated potatoes and corn, the money which
has been paid to the West for these ar
ticles would have been expended at home,
and would have remained in the commu-
nifty. The mere presence of this money
in neigLborhood is of Itself a benefit,
for the holders most generally either use
it themselves or allow others to use it in
improving the farms or the buildings. 1t
is kept constantly in motion, helping Il
mechanic to-day and farmer tomorrow,
until the whole body of society comes ul-
timately to catch some benefit from it
during the course of the year.
Moreover, the devotion of the people to
cotton is drawback on the most inter
estins development Of an agricultural
people. The score Of varied resources
which the country is capable of unfolding
to advantage are neglected in the close
attention to one particular. We should
supply the North and West with early
fruit, melons, vegetables and field truck,
whereas we shall probably see the best
and earliest peaches introduced into our
market from Northern farms. Wines that
should be made. and cigars that should
be manufactured at our own doors almost,
come to us from thousands of miles away,
and are paid for with the cotton which
We ran in debt to raise.
1t is true the city does not feel this i'm
providence to the same extent that the
country does, for bale of cotton pays rs
many expenses in passing through New
Orlean, if It sells for sixty dollars as it
would if it brought one hundred and
twenty. But The country fails to progress,
and witko;it health and vitality n the
country among the farmers, the city must
ultimately fail. If the planters could
realize the profits which their energy. in
dustry and capital entitle them to-
thousands of dollars would be spent an
nually in the city. and ultimately the sue
cessful farmer would dispose of his place
to some new and younger man and re-
move into the city with his sons and
daughters, to give them better opportun-
tiles. The interest from his hard earned
fortune would De the support of the
family in its better days.
Our situation, therefore, cannot we'll be
said to be thrifty and auspicious until we
can report from the country that there is
surplus of ready money there after the
crop has been gathered and the debts
paid.