New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-24
AID FOR REPLANTING,

AID FOR REPLANTING.
The reports of the various committees
handed in at the last meeting of the relic
committee, show that there is urgent ne
cesslty for raising more supplies and ad
ditional funds. The funds and supplies
now at the command of the committee
will be exhausted in fifteen days. The
| United States government issues eight
thousand rations daily, but thirty-fve to
forty thousand barely suffice to supply
the most absolute wants.
The last report of the Signal Bureau
states that the river has fallen eleven feet
seven inches at Memphis, and correspond
ingly all the way down-the fall at New
Orleans being about three feet. This
would indicate that the river is at least
below danger level. But there are still two
large crevasses Enclosed, Hickey's and
Morganza. At these two points the food
PUSHES through with undated and unre-
strained fury. OF course, while this state
of things continues, the residents of those
sections will be daily more and more in
need Of relief The number requiring as
sistance will daily increase, as the stocks
of provisions possessed by some at the
beginning of the disaster will become ex-
hausted. The owners and lessons of
lands, from which the water has par
TALLY or even entirely receded, will
still require help until they can raise
breadstutfs, vegetables and produce
sufficient to place them independent of
government rations or private generosity.
1t is this latter class of suffering land
holders that we now appeal for most
particularly and earnestly. 1t is matter
OF paramount necessity that these farmers
and planters should be enabled to replant
at once, and without delay. To aid these
people in every possible way to again be-
come Independent producers, is duty
which the citizens and merchants of this
city owe, not only for the sake of human
lty, but as measure of protection and
from motives of self-interest Let so large
a number Of human beings be kept ut
terly destitute and left to starvation, and
there will not be found wanting those
who, rendered desperate by their hopeless
condition, will seek the devious course of
crime. They will flock to the large cities
and steal, rob and plumber the means of
sustaining life. Proof of this is al
ready afforded in the increased num-
Der Of larcenies and burglaries occurring
nightly and daily in the city. A large
of the burglaries are upon
grocery stores, and when private resi-
dences are broken into, the pantry is al
ways the first place visited. Of course,
they will not long continue to be SO easily
satisfied. Soon emboldened by success
and strengthened by accessions of men
like themselves, residence here
will be risk, and property and life itself
wofully unsafe. 1t is not in spirit of
alarm that this is written, nor is it intended
for sensational effect. Now, regarding the
matter of self-interest, is it not obvious to
the poorest capacity, that the more pro-
duce raised in this State, the better for
our commercial prosperity. Lift these
out Of their condition
Of semi-pauperism, and give them the
means of becoming independent and self
sustaining producers, and you at once pre-
vent crime, and promote industry and
honesty.
1t is the opinion of the relief committee
that a million dollars will barely suffice to
replant the inundated districts. Of
course the merchants and capitalists of
this city will do all in their power, by
means of advances, to aid such of their
constituents as they can afford tc assist.
But this will not begin to be enough.
The general government should be called
upon to increase the issue of rations up
to the full amount needed for daily re-
lief. The great cities with which we are
linked in commercial intercourse (except
noble Boston, for she has done even more
than her share), should be appealed to.
The citizens here should be unceasing in
their individual exertions. Every dollar
that in prosperous times would be de-
voted to amusement or travel should be
devoted to the furtherance of every
scheme for the permanent relief of the suf-
ferers by the overflow. Money expended
to enable these people to replant ceases
to be charity; it is an investment. We
have shown that self-interest should |
prompt, and that self-protection demands
it.
General Butler is again dan gerouslv ILL