New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-19
PATAI. DTsSEESIONS.

the United States, and proposing to alloy
the right of ballot to the colored majorit
in this State, there is another sentimen
, equally hostile to those who oppose De
mocracy on that ground. There are
great many men who own houses IN TIL
> city. There are many more who rem
houses. Both these classes are more inter
ested in the reduction Of taxes and i'm
proved employment Of labor, than in tn
ease Of public salary or the profit OF
how FIVE small electoral votes can reverse
! the whole action of the federal government
but they can see how persistent opposi
tion to the cons ti.ution and oppression tc
the colored people may in a few years
convert the Crescent City into a city
waning to a mere outline Of her former
commercial proportions.
To these n en- the white war On colored
labor seems an insanity. With not one
arabic acre out of twenty under cultiva-
ton; with river whose periodical erup-
tons can only be restrained by the prompt
application of practiced labor; with a
levee whose wei ghts can only be handled
by an army of men Injured to the climate
and accustom ed to the toll; with estates
embarrassed with mortgages, these men
who have houses to rent, and who rent
| houses, can not see how their interests
will be promoted either by the extermina-
ton or exile of the coiored laborer. They
! foresee the following effects from the de-
struction or deportation Of the negroes:
l. A rapid dininution Of crop receipts
| and values at the port of New Orleans.
If the negroes be not all killed ont by the
League programme, they will flock into
Texas, Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee.
The cotton which they make will 60 to
St. Louis, Galveston, Memphis and Mo-
bile.
2. The wages of these laborers have
been heretofore expended among our mer-
chants, shopkeepers, lawyers, doctors, and
barrel houses. 1t has either remained in
or has been brought to New Orleans in
great part. The 400 plantation and
mental laborers of Louisiana certainly
expend on average $500 head. This
will amount to $50, 00OO 600. We do not
include the food that is purchased for
them or the mules which they use in
making our crops.
The landlords and renters ask if it be
good bargain to turn away this trade for
the sake of the few offices that the White
Leaguers have not already?
3. 1t may be responded that, as soon as
the dead negroes shall have been thrown
into the bayous, and the last picaninny
scoarged over the borders, their places
will be supplied by thronging thousands
coming from abroad in ships, or that the
corners of St. Charles and Bourbon
streets and the porches of the country
stores will be Immediately vacant, from
the rush to these just discovered mines of
agricultural wealth. We can not deny
what we can not disprove 1t may be, also,
that the best bred ladies may instantly
exchange into the washtub brigade, and
chant the Marsellaise Of freedom from
the arrogant colored cooks Ali things |
are possible to God, and we do |
not gainsay omnipotence.s But may
not the prudent Teuton and his wife, may
not even the impulsive Hibernian, Or the
mercurial Gaul, hesitate before commit
ting themselves to a country where all
the laborers have just been slain or ex-
PEELED by their employers? Will they be
fools enough to rush in where darkies
fear to tread? May not the representa-
tives of those landsellers of the Northwest
persuade these immigrants that this is
not a healthy place for foreigner, and
tina. he will have to incur the risk of a
febrile climate and shotgun epidemic
that carries off hundreds even more sud
denly than the fever?
But the men who live by their labor, or
the product of their capital have further
fear. 1t is that for some years, at least,
the deficiency of labor will make wages
very high 1t always has that effect in
countries where the supply of labor is
short. Some of these men were in Cali
'ornia in its flush times, and remember
when it would cost as much to dig Gel
ar as it would now to build house, and
when the gold washed out in day would
scarcely pay for the food and labor con-
'umed in its production.
This will depend on the loan Of capital,
lot prone to seek investment in country
If political distraction.
Suppose when the election is coming
N there be demand for division of
ederal troops, with headquarters in New
orleans and intrenched stations among the
White Leaguers. Suppose the gallant young
4eaguers, with "tassels on their boots
nd with the double-barrel across the
succeed in shooting down sufi-
lent number of colored voters to secure
II local majorities Is this to be the last
Il the Union? Is there no just indigna-
ion that the constitution and laws have
'een set at naught and despised? Are
here none who feel indignant that uni
ersal amnesty has been repaid by local
nsurrecton and federal rations employed
o destroy the sufferers whom the elements
,oro .,,,roI . Thora will ba q var1iot sc
he nation-of the world against such in