New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-08-01
REGENERATION OF LOUISIANA.

all her natural advantages, louisiana,
with almost decade of peace to the ma.
ton, finds herself Still suffering from the
effects of slavery. Her old citizens, in
many instances, still ind it difficult to
drop their old habits and Join heart and
hand with new citizens in building up
new Louisiana. This is. indeed. unfor-
tunate. not only to the State and nation,
but particularly unfortunate to the old
| citizens Of LOUISIANA, who own the most
Of her lands and are deeply interested in
their settlement and cultivation. Thus
fa- this class of citizens have done but
comparatively little to aid new Louisiana
in the work OF developing, through the
aid Of free labor, her material interests;
while. on the other hand, by combining
to deprive new citizens Of the enjoyment
Of equal political rights, they have done
much to prevent immigrants coming here
to settle and cultivate the sol! and engage
in other industrial pursuits that can be
made more profitable here than elsewhere
because OF the natural advantages that
abound in L Louisiana.
! Although slavery proved advantageous
to slave owners, but few will attempt to
| deny at this time that it was great draw
| back upon tae growth and general pros
| perity Of the State, even when cotton was
proclaimed to be king, and slavery was
called a divine Institution. This was
shown before the war by comparing the
growth of slave States with that Of free
States. AID since tie war, which
resulted in tie adjustment Of slav-
cry the fac. that it was a drawback to
the general growth and prosperity Of the
State has been made more apparent to
our own people thar it was to the people Of
free States before the war. Its blight is
still upon cur people, but in different
shape. Then the blight consisted in
actual slavery and system Of cultivating
large plantations that excluded freenen.
whites and blacks. in a great measure
from the soil. thus preventing the growth
and general prosperity Of the State. Now
the blight is to be seen in deserted planta-
tons. the property of men, in many
instances. who. still clinging to old habits.
refuse to work with the new corners for
the establishment Of a new order of
things; for the forming of free State
with myriads Of freemen to take possession
on liberal terms Of its vacant lands, and
make pleasant and prosperous homes for
themselves. This would give Louisiana
an improved civilization as well as i'm
proved lands; would bring to her skillful |
and industrious immigrants. not only |
from Europe, but from. the New England.
Middle and other States Of the Union,
where the lands are taken up and in a
state Of improvement that places them be-
You'd the reach of poor men. To d certain !
extent only did, land become valuable in
this State with slave labor: and this was
because their improvement was limited to
plantation life. With the abolshnen: OF |
slavery very naturally followed reduc.
ton il the value Of lands worked by slave |
labor. If tie planters could have
realized tlai. true condition when
the war Terminated, and had been
disposed to accept its results in good faith. |
the regeneration Of Louisiana by tLeir
assistance could have been greatly accel-
Grated. But they did no: seem to under
stand their true condition. or if they did
determined to follow course that has
proved detrime entail to themselves ard the
State. They have followed tie political
fortunes of the Democratic party to the
bitter end, and should now be able to see
tha: poli.ic, has been tueir greatest evil.
If they can d. this they will yet join
hands with al! WAC are willing to labor for
the prosperity and Improvement Of the
State. With this new departure of the
AND owners 0: this State from their ole
habits. preiudlces and political affiliations.
new Louisian. would feel mos: iaviSor-
ating influence. Instead Of new political
contests, Invoked through the aid of
Congress: contests that are calculated to
i!s:crb tie public mind and increase the
public deb. withou, possibility OF good
;he people would be !e.: to contest in in
lustrial pursuits where themselves and the
State could no: fail to be tie gamers. IN
contests Of th,S nature the peace and
good will Of the people are not ap: to be
while Oh Tia. other hand a
political contes: is almost certain to breed |
Il-feeling and disturbance among them. !
This has been the invariable result of
Elections il Louisiana for tie last few
ears. and for this reason our people
would prefer to have no more thar the
Constitution provide, for. They want
,eace IL order tia. new Louisiana may
prosper anu become wealthy and pow
.fui through I'll. aid Of immigrants:
nd new corners will he attracted here by
be advantage. 0: so. climate. ETC., when
hey can be satisfied that land can be
ad reasonably and tia: Cur people are
nlted i'll eA.e u3.ug the hand of welcome
) al. who come here to cultivate tie sol!
= engage liz other iuius.via! pursuits.
~. our planters. who are our principal
ND owners, a.ust expect to aid the regen-
ration Of the state IL more ways than
ne. They must be willing TO give their
.nis. or \ portion o: them. on terms
Ia: will induce immigrants 70 come Le-e.