The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-11-07

- murrler, as we'll as the wholesale
leealized swindling in bankruptcy and
judgments in favor of wives and chill
dren. together with every legal refuge
Of dishonesty, bearing the legitimate
nuit Of dependency, idleness and even
vretchedness ON the one hand, and dis
trust, stringency and a general want OF
confidence on the other.
II - folly to charge this, our condi-
ton. upon the government officials, the
decentralization of the war, Or anything
else. It Is enough to know our ruin,
and wisdom demands an effort mighty
to save. Our condition after the war
was to US dreadful; what is 1t to-day
What proportion of the cotton crop will
It take to pay for the supplies purchas-
ed on credit this year, now due? And
how much will it take of the next crop
to enable ma to make it with what re-
mains. II any remains, of this? After
the war, comparatively little meat was
shipped to this parish, and now is there
enough raised to feed the women and
children 2 / answer, No; after the war
we abounded in corn, and many raised
their own wheat, syrup, &C.; we did
not spend one-fifth for wearing apparel,
we then had no credit, tho white and
black man; Notwithstanding we had
poor crops we made some money, and
but for an occasional convulsion by a
Wall street strike, the merchant never
saw better time but this gave rise to
fast fortune - this terrible contagion
took hold upon every avocation. The
merchant at New York urged the
Southern merchant to enlarge his busl-
ness, they urged tho country merchant,
tho commission merchant was backed
up by the National banking institu-
tion. They fired up tho farmer to-
spread himself the man who was not
able to run more than two plows and
extensive farmer.
The negro who was never accustomed
to having moro than three suits and
two pair of shoes, hat and blanket, with
his two hundred pounds of bacon and
twelve bushels of meal, must be en-
Outraged to spend his money, and now
lives Mt tho tune of from three to seven
hundred dollars the negro whose mas
ter was denied credit at tho close of the
war for five dollars for n week, can now
buy on a credit five hundred dollars
worth; tho consequences are they arc
living on the interest of what they will
never pay, with judgments recorded
and clerks on the scout. The negro
being independent OF the planter, works
when he pleases aud the crop proves a
failure; tho planter finds that his OK
penscs overrun his profits, til" NOR
chant makes his fortune on paper, and
tho only money made is by the officers
in their costs, too often dearly earned.
Tho farmer doubles his energy, strikes
out again, and now he must furnish
supplies, stock and everything. He
II fHyrS, frnk
his land and stock out, is compelled to
record every contract and account,
watch day and night, and when he
strikes his balance finds all Of his crop
gobbled up and Il note bearing interest
overhanging him. The negro if not in
debt, without money or provisions
tho merchant complains that he has to
pay New Orleans prices for the cotton.
Wherefore all of this-want of rail- |
road? No, we need that-not on a |
forty years. credit, however none of |
that II wo can do better. 1t might cost |
less on shorter route. Because goods
and provisions are so high or the money
so bad? No; but so many bad debts
the prompt and the honest pay for the |
tardy and non-paying, just as we pay |
for the freight, house rent, clerk hire,
&c. All OF this, together with our OK
by this robbing credit system, has well
near ruined us as people, morally and
financially.
We have remarked that wisdom de-
mands an effort mighty to save; and
where should this effort originate with
a greater promise OF success than among
that class which forms the foundation
Of all other 0vocations, yes, even the
cornerstone of government-the agri- !
culturist OF the land? Politic,Ssparties |
fail to meet tho case, as n moral, social
and educational Institution. The Pat
rons OF Hus0andry stands with inviting
doors, profers her counsel and blessings,
and assuredly opens up way for gem
eral refor nation. 1t hopes to encounter
no conflict with any class, but seeks to
teach mutual dependence and recipro-
cal relationship, recognizing the laws
Of God and the necessity that man shall
labor. : 1t detests idleness and eXtrava-
gance, and respects industry and labor |