New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-02-22
Communicated
A Plea for Immigrants Already Here.

EDITOR REPUBLICAN,:
While perusing the other day an article
IN the REPUBLICAN in regard to the "Im-
migration and Homestead Society,"" the
question suggested itself to me, Twill it
succeed" No one denies that Louisiana
needs population to develop her resources,
and with her fertile soil. splendid climate
and eligible situation on the Mississippi and
other large rivers. must, with an increase
of population, in a short time become one
OF the wealthest States in the Union. But
TO become such there is great RESPONSE
bility resting upon the Louisiana Of to day,
and from which she can no. escape If she
wishes to succeed. Without impugning
the motives Of any of the gentlemen cone
nected with the mOvement-but rather !
concede them the highest and most patri-
etc intentiOns-yet the most casual OBJ.
server must see that it is an attempt at not
exactly political. but social movement,
aside from it's speculative character. The
immigration TO be introduced here is to be
from Europe and the Northern States, and
mostly Of class Of immigrants who shall
be agricultural in occupation. VIII any
one deny that this is intended to crowd out
the negro from the soil OF Louisiana And
by doing so. is it not a war upon that
race: ] stated above that do not ac.
cuse those gentlemen who have started
the enterprise as guilty of such design, but
the result will nevertheless be the same.
Now. Mr.. Editor. | hold that one citizen is
as much entitled TO the benefits of the State
as another. no matter what his complexion.
and that one person already in the State
and used to its customs, language and pur.
suits, rightly encouraged, without pre- judice
or violence. is of greater benefit to the State
than three new arrivals, considering the ex.
pense and trouble entailed. aside from the
influences of change of climate and mode
Of living. There is another fact which may
in future perple1 this enterprise; it is this.
that for five dollars any one can become a
stakeholder. You will see at once that this
will be an inducement for dishonest and de
signing men soon to outnumber the origin
ators and take the control out Of their
hands and soon turn the whole thing into
pOIIllCfil ouG tDCIC 10
a way to get over the difficulty, and Louis
lana may be made prosperous without doing
injustice to any class OF her citizens. The
State of Louisiana owns large quantity of
lands which are now producing nothing,
and hardly sufficient is sold to defray the
expenses of the land Office. | can not
conceive why the State should not do
what company attempts to do;
let the State abolish her land Office and sub
stitute therefor homestead bureau, with q
branch in every parish, and let the public
lands be divided into small lots suitable to
the capacity of the settler. Let this bureau
be endowed with the right TO buy and sell
real estate, and have credit from the State
of an amount large enough to buy such
lands as come in the market under public
sales. All such lands sold by the State to
be on a twenty years credit, with annual
payments by ipstallments, and no taxes for
five years. Let the State invite upon such
liberal terms immigration and Louisiana
will soon have an influx of settlers from all
parts of the United States and Europe. Let
these immigrants be received in friendly
spirit aud treated with kindness, and Louis
lana will soon rise to greatness and pros
perity. | have only given a rough outline
of what should be done; let others improve
the system OF what is lacking to make it a
succ ess. THEODORE LIPSlIUVS.