New Orleans Republican., 1873-08-06
THE JOINT LABOR MOVEMENT.


among the mechanics and laboring men
of this city and State has long been felt,
but never so seriously as now. The effects
of civil war and political dissensions have
been sadly experienced by all classes Of
our people. the rich and the poor. until
now all are forcibly reminded that some
thing has TO be done to stimulate indus
try and re-establish prosperity in our
midst. and it is really encouraging to OBJ
serve the efforts that are being made at
this time to revive all branches Of indus
try in Louisiana, and whenever the Re
PUBLICAN is satisfied that men are COM
bining intelligently. earnestly and hon
estly for this noble purpose. it will not
hesitate to do them justice in speaking OF
their efforts for the public good. and it
will fe1vently invoke the blessings OF God
in aid Of their exertions.
We are convinced that cooperative
movement is on foot looking to the intro
duction Of immigrants in oar State
skilled in agricultural labor. The gen.
tlemen connected with this enterprise
have already displayed sufficient energy
and Judgment to warrant the belief that it
will not be long before the State will be-
gin TO reap the benefit of their labors. Mr..
bennett, foremost in the work Of making
the great agricultural advantages Of our
State known TO the world, entertains no
doubt, indications which he thinks not
deceptive. that there are multitudes Of
men in the West and North, many Of
some means. most Of them hard working
farmers and mechanics. who Will move
South as soon as the land owners offer
reasonable inducements. Nh. bennett also
asserts that multitudes of European emil
grants can be attracted to Louisiana as
soon as our people make known the great
advantages Of soil. climate. ETC.. enjoyed
here. He thinks. and correctly, too, that
when the overgrovn populations Of the
States Of Europe and this country are
made acquainted with these facts they will
flock hither and make this portion Of the
Mississippi valley-where orange groves
are green the year round, and sugar, cot
ton and rice are the leading products
TEEN with wealth and greatness. But it
Is no longer necessary to contine our
State to the cultivation of what have
been her leading products In the
past. l. has been clearly demon
strated since the dawn of free labor
in our State that many articles can be
successfully raised here in the way Of
edible grains, fruits, vegetables, etc.. that
were previously thought unadapted to our
climate; and it is now thought that small
farms with diversified crops can be made
far more profitable to the farmer and advan-
tageous to the State than system which
mapped the State off into large planta-
tions and confined its products to sugar
and cotton. The prevailing idea now is
to have diversified crops and farms that
can be successfully cultivated with few
hands-say from three to five laborers on
each farm. This system has prevailed in
the North and West with great success,
where many of the States, like those Of
Europe are. as Mr.. bennett expresses
it, full of population. and like
full hives, they must swarm occasionally
Now, when the people Of Europe and the
old States of the American Union, from
crowded condition, find it necessary to |
swarm, we of Louisiana should be pre-
pared to hive at least portion Of 'the |
ousy bees" who are thus compelled to seek |
! new home. The cooperative movement,
ooking to the advancement Of our agri- !
cultural interest, is capable Of doing a
7ast amount Of good. It is evidently
headed by earnest and able workers in the
cause Of human progress in the industrial
.rts, commencing with the improvement
md cultivation Of our lands and contin-
ling in the advancement Of all kinds of
abor.
Next in Importance to the cooperative
movement to secure additional population
y our State for agricultural purposes will
,e the movement that can unite the me-
hanics and laboring men Of this city in
forts to build up its industrial interests,
he mechanic arts. manufactures, COM
nerce. etc.. and furnish work the year
round for all who are willing to work.
his is labor Of great magnitude and
Importance. and requires the most inteli-
ent cooperation with untiring persever-
nee to make it success. We are glad
, know that mechanics and working
,en's cooperative association has COM
leted its organization in Our city. and
ill watch its proceeding with interest.
he REPUBLICAN stands ready to defend
le interest of labor, and will continue in |
le future as it has in the past to do all it
IN to make labor both honorable and
HE POLITICIAN ABSENTEES-.-AN IN
DUSTRIAL REVOLT.
The professional politician has always
oandoned the city with the earliest symp-
ms of hot weather. II might be better.
erhaps. that some Of them remained to
:aduate for far higher temperature
ereafter. Those politicians who had