The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-07-15
What q White LabOrer Says
A Cry for Work.

Below We give fair sample Of some $50 let
tiers written by white men in answer to the
advertisement published for the Last week IN
the BULLETIN, requesting all white men de-
string employment to address r .. Box 473.
The gentleman wi1 inserted the advertise
ment informs us that he has now the names
Of 1869 white men who are all clalnorous for
work, for employment Of any kind SO that
they may be enabled to live, and supply those
dependent upon them with food and clothing.
They do not sickle for high wages. nor
do they specify the character Of labor they
would prefer; but their cry is ,oork Of any
kind, at almost any price, This is a cry which
must not be permitted to go up unheeded; it
is cry which, if it shall strike upon cold or
unsympathetic ears, may result in dire mis-
fortune to our city and State These men are
white, are honest and capable, and they are
in distress. Shall we permit them to call
upon us in vain, when there are thousands Of
negroes employed in lucrative situations, to
whom we are under no obligation what
ever, but to whom, on the contrary,
We may attribute most Of the ills which
afaict u.s. Merchants Of New Orleans, the ap
peal of these suffering men Of your own race
means something. It means that in hundreds
of homes in this city want, aye starvation,
is staring patient men and women, and pale,
sad-eyed little children in the face it means
that unless help is extended they must either
die, or gathering ur their scanty stores work
their way to other sections, where the negro
is neither SO numerous, nor SO favored above
white men.
The following letter will show the tone and
temper Of the workingInen:
NEW ORLEANS July IL, 1874.
NJ. -, Dear !Sir--Having noticed in the
BULLETIN Of last Sunday an article, headed
" Wauted-Able- bodied white men, and be-
ing DESTROYS Of obtaining employment in any
capacity -warehouseme porters, etc.-I have
for this purpose addressed you, with the hope
that 1 may be benefited thereby. The move
ment which you SO wisely and sensibly pro-
pc Sc to inaugurate, and which, in fact, you
have already started is one which should have
been brought about years ago. 1t will be
partly instrumental in restoring this State to
the control Of those to whom it rightly belongs
-,okite men and citizens, and none others.
Why our merchants will persist in hiring
negroes, when they know that in SO doing,
they are building up mountain which will
yet fall and crush them, if they do not speed
lily avert the danger, is question which has
often puzzled many q DOR, hardworking man.
Something mast be lone. Now, in the coming
campaign, our efforts must be to increase
rather than lower our maiorities, and to do SO,
the merchants OF this city must discharge
opponents, the negroes, and employ those
who will protect their interests. 1t is fact l
can personally vouch for that in the Third and
Fourth Wards. there are at the least calcula- |
ton about four hundred white men who are |
about to Join land, in fact, some two hundred |
at least have joined) the ranks of the enemy |
Now, this statement may possibly seem Il
little Overdrawn; yet / know of what speak. |
Now for the cause of this unnatural deser- |
ton: 1t is actually caused by starvation, |
want, and by the false and delusive idea that
they will all obtain work. This is true i'll
every particular. l am confident that if the
employing part of our community will act
together, in body, as men, as true Southern
men, this desertion can be checked.
am O white man, and one who is not
ashamed TO dos anything that will gain me
an honest living; but l must speak my mind
and tell you that if negroes are to be en-
ployed, fed and cared for and allowed to vote,
to 20 forth on election day and help to build
up the miserable and contemplate farce Of a
government which has been fosted upon too
people, when the merchants know
that they are starving their friends while they
feed their most bitter enemies, a curse will
fall upon our unhappy city which it will take
many long day to remove Hoping that the
White League may live and prosper, and that
may soon be favored with reply TO my APP
pication, l remain yours, Y.