New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-10
THE PREVALENT DESTITUTION.


! taxpayers from the many burdens tina
bore SO heavily upon them, it now de
wolves upon the Republican party to TAX
measures to ameliorate the condition Q
tie poor. By this term We mean thos,
who have no income except that derived
from daily labor or service. With few
exceptions, there are no mechanical pur
suits open to workmen in this city. Car
pentry and house building is confined tc
mere jobbing; painting is done once g
year, to limited extent; blacksmithine
means horseshoing and mending an occa-
sional bolt or wagon tire; tailors are linn
tied to few orders from special custom
ers, though ninety-nine one hundredths
of all the mems wearing apparel sold in
this city is made in the North, in Canada,
or Europe. And SO it is with all the
trades. 1t Is absolutely Questionable to
wear home made article, and our mechan-
les find no steady market for their wares
We believe our young fellows would, if it
were possible, send to New York or Paris
for their livery horses, juleps and cigars, if
they did not cost more than three times
what better article could be had for at
home. 1t Is correct 20 say, as general
rule, we make nothing whateves in this
city. The planters in the interior raise
cotton and sugar, but use the proceeds to
repair their plantations, buy stock, seed,
supplies, ETC.. and employ their hands.
Our factors, bankers and insurance COM
panles take profit from the staples as
they pass through che city, but either
remit the money TO those who furnished
the capital, or spend it at the Northern
watering places. or in voyage to Europe.
As there is little business done in the
State except what is necessary to yaise the
three staples, it will be seen that the
laboring classes who flock 20 the city have
no allotment in che general provision.
When they are wanted 70, temporary
service, they are employed. When they
are not they are neglected
We can not say that the poor people
ale altogether blameless We have seen
seasons OF the year when workmen Of all
kinds were in demand for few weeks.
This condition, which ought 30 have been
taken as q godsend, has too often been
made the occasion of strike for higher
wages, Men will insist upon receiving S.
day for work one-third of the time in pre-
ference to having steady work the year
round at So so. And yet all lose by such
an arrangement. Those who want nae
chanlcal work done seek cheaper markets.
and leave us to the luxuries of high prices
and an unemployed population, who think |
it genteel enough to beg, but disgraceful
to work for less than the very highest |
rates. About fifteen months ago there !
was strike on the ievee for higher rate
OF wages than steamboatmeu and shippers
could afford to pay. To-day there are
four or five thousand able-bodied men |
who usually work on the levee. but can
not obtain employment at any price,
This city will have to tone itself down
a little. or there will be q prolongation of
The suffering now upon us. If it were !
The fashion for every poor man and woman T
to 60 to work in earnest, and not stand
around ID ldleness to criticise those whom
hey think are working too cheap, there
would soon be more independence and
hrift than there is now. AZ all events. it
ought to be borne in mind that unless the !
people OF this city are able, by their own
wisdom and exertions, to relieve them
elves from their difficulties, no one will
10 il for them. The poor should have
and it is their duty to ac-
ept all that is offered at any price, be it
yer SO unpleasant, so long as it is honest.
instead of reaching out our hands in sup
'hcation to New York, Liverpool, Wash
ngton, and other places, we ought 70 so
eport ourselves that we shall be sought
Or the good we can offer to others. Car>
Fallsts do rot stand ready to help US, I'm,
ess we can give them guarantees that
heir investments will be safe, and the
ate OF interest satisfactory, This can {
ever be done by standing ON Canal and
t. Charles streets with hands in pocket
alling at the Radicals, nor talking 4
bout good old times which never ex-l
ted. Action! action! is the remedy.
olitics will not do it. Complaining of t
le carpet baggers will answer no better, S
nd making siclly grimaces at Butler, c
umner, Beecher, the Puritans, and Others r
HON high toned Southern community \
ave been taught to dispise, may injure s
lie objects aimed at seriously, but will t
ever help us. 1t is, in our Judgment, O
sneath the dignity Of true man to waste a
much of his time in discussing the acts v
ID motives of others thousand miles d
way when there is most serious business
be attended to at home. One starving o
mily affects us more nearly than does = =
'nator Shurz' position on the finance fl
IL; and yet we employ the telegraph to .
Ii US all about the one and make no 8
DIVISION to feed the latter. While we II
e admiring Mr. Simpkins new suit just p
Mt out from New York, We disregard the :,
treaties Of our local tailor's little daught-
for bread. Let US try and reform some ID
our mistakes, and see if we can not make
ore people happy. u
il
81
TEE JETTY RING. .,