New Orleans Republican., 1873-08-30
AFTER THE ABSENTEES.

AFTER THE ABSENTEEs.
A Ne* Orleans correspondent Of The
Shreveport Southeastern Telegram refers
to an article that lately appeared in the
Louisville Ledger asserting that 'New Or.
leans has been under Radical rule fol
several years, and, among the blessings
conferred, it is said that the inscription
for sale OF for rent is posted on more
than siI thousand honses and stores in
the commercial metropolis of the South. "
The correspondent thinks that while the
corruption Of the State government during
the past few years may have had some.
thing to do with bringing about this alleged
state Of affairs, other and more serious
evils have conspired to damage the pros
poets Of this city. OF some Of these he
speaks as follows: :.
One among the many, has been indis.
criminate and reckless credit which has
made our planters and laborers plunge into
depth Of credit from which they have
not yet been able to extricate themselves
Another draw back has been the short.
sighted policy Of planting nearly all cotton
and cane and very little corn, buying corn
from the West at one dollar and fifty cents
to two dollars per bushel for the purpose of
feeding stock. when q better article can be
raised at home st twenty-five cents per
bushel, thereby causing so much money to
be sent to the West instead of being kept
and expended az home. But the greatest
evil OF all SO far as concerns New Orleans,
is the fatal cause of "Absenteelsm." the
cause Of Ireland. that which has reduced
the Emerald Isle to the lowest dregs Of de-
gradation and poverty.
There are large number Of personr own
ing property in New Orleans who for many
years have resided abroad, and whose only
interests in the Crescent City are the
prompt arrival Of the revenues Of their al
most princely estates. Theee people con-
tribute nothing toward the welfare of the
city Or aid in its prosperity; on the con-
trary, they refuse to allow their agents to
make tie necessary imprOveme OTIS and re-
pairs to keep their property in good order
This IS the class that Is causing perpet-
ual drain Of revenues which ought to re-
main land circulate at home, and is doing
US as much harm as the most corrupt gov
ernment that ever existed.
The REPUBLICAN has repeatedly pointed
out the evils above referred to, for the pur-
pose of having them corrected. The lin
discriminate and reckless credit" system
spoken of was a peculiar feature Of old
plantation life in Louisiana that has about
played itself out. When our people find
that the thorough cultivation of ten,
twenty, fifty or hundred acres of land
can be made much more profitable than
the indifferent and Uncertain culture
Of five hundred or a thousand acres,
they will adopt the "small farm instead
Of 1.-THE plantation system. and they
will then be Independent of credit. for
they will learn to produce almost every
thing that home requires. in addition to
fair proportion of cotton, sugar, rice. 20.
bacco. etc. They will grow their own
meat and bread, produce much Of their
and raise many things in the way
If fruit, vegetables. etc, that are now con-
'idered expensive Injuries. When this
state Of things predominates in Louisiana,
certain prosperity will pervade the State.
The value of the farmers surplus crop
will not then be spent before it is gath |
red, to furnish meat and bread and pav
hired help. II he raises but ten bales of |
,otton, be has it clear, and when be sends
{ to market the money goes into his own
pocket, instead of the pocket of the COM
mission merchant, as has been the custom |
With our planters.
"Absenteeism is certainly great curse |
o New Orleans. and its effects are more
: less felt throughout the State. This is
ne Of the relics that have been handed
own 10 us by the pioneers Of European
Utilization that has no sympathy with
.mefican ideas Of justice and ndprogress. i.
} kind Of civilization that has long
andered 20 the privileged classes OF Eu-
ope and KEEP: them successfully upon the
acks Of the laboring and producing
[asses. The people could tolerate high
sxation for a time if il would help to
ipe ou: the evil Of ''absenteeism" in our
tate; would help 20 place its landed prop
.ty in the hands OF those who reside here
i'd are endeavoring by pursuing an indus
ious life. to make it valuable. The peo-
e demand that taxes upon the property
absentees shall be promptly paid.
The correspondent. Of our Shreveport
is correc: when he says
a: our 'foreign property-holders are
using a perpetua! drain Of revenues
hich ough: to remain and circulate at ,
,me." They are the moths that are con-
ming much Of Louisiana's wealth: they .
ay be classed among her enemies and
e enemies Of republican government. If
gh taxation vii! help to wipe them all
t or change their conduct, its evil can t
endured for while longe. under the
ospect Of such a result.
TEE MARINE HOSPITAL.