New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-27
CAN TIE CULTURE OF SUGAR BE CON-
TINUED IN LOUISIANA.

Inc only appdIeAs A00eAooo
most blatant party journals have with the
| industries of this country is to make them
the theme Of agitation. Last week we
had the most sensational report OF the
WAR in Terrebonne," and the colored Ia
borers have been held up to the peculiar
| adherence of mankind. This was put
up for the Washington market, which re-
quires an article highly seasoned with
violence. Messrs. MARI and Ogden must
have found their hands nightly strength
| ened thereby. There was nothing strange
in the conflict, though any act of aggres-
| sion. by either capital or labor should
have been properly repressed by the State
government.
Throughout the Union and Throughout.
the world the same war goes on, yet not
one word Of censure is interposed by our
neighbor. The Cincinnati Commercial
publishes letter in which the strikers in
Paducah, kentucky. notify workman
who refuses to join then that If he con-
tinues to help ''the black sheep" Or en-
ployers. he had better remember that
"you have got frame house which would
illuminate the heavens beautifully on
dark night"
We see announced large meeting OF
miners at Wilkesbarre. Pennsylvania:
THE feeling unanimous in favor OF
strike Fourteen thousand men al
ready lying idle" This conflict is. then,
general. and Louisiana has presented. per-
haps, the most moderate exhibition o! a
common feeling.
The question. then. should not be
treated as political issue. for it is not OF
that character. 1t should not be regarded
as war of races. for the harmony be.
tween the races is nndisturbed. It must
be observed that the agricultural strike
has been confined to those employed in
the culture Of sugar. There must be,
then, something in the partition OF the
price of sugar between the planter and
laborer demanding examination. 1t may
be even suggested that the Legislature
itself might well appoint committee,
not merely to inquire into the legal cir
cumstances attending the labor disturb'
ance in Terrebonne. but to examine the
facts attending the culture Of a great and
peculiar staple. to determine whether
there can be any means devised to dimin.
ish the expenses attending sugar culture.
and to enable the planter. from his en-.
larged profits, to pay better wages to the
laborer. This subject may involve an
immense value of produc. and public
revenue.
Sugar culture differs from, that Of any
other agricultural staple in one grea.
quality. Its value as product is so great
as in the opinion of the planter to justify
him in combining the application Of
labor to the sugar crop alone. Hence. we
see a plantation devoted to this crop.
without crop of grain or stock OF
cattle. it neither raises a calf nor colt. an
OK or 8 mule. There is no more labor
employed in the culture Of vegetables and
fruit Or the care Of poultry and pigs than
will suffice the family Of the planter
Hence it results that the maintenance Of
the men and animals on Q sugar
estate is exceptionally expensive. From
the city the -four and pork, corn and hay
comes, burdened with commission of pur-
chase. The money with which these sup
plies are purchased mus! be repaid with
interest. and with commissions and
charges Of factorase.
The mode of hiring daily labor produces
the same effect upon the laborer here rs
in Europe. Uncertain whether he will re.
main beyond the year, be makes no effort
to plant vegetables or surround himself
with those comforts which alone enable a
labcrer to accumulate from his wages.
Separated from other employments. the
wife or child OF the laborer can add moth
in: TO the family resources. bat become a
charge Oh the only iciler of the family.
From necessity or ;mprudence the laborer
resorts to the country store for supplies
and comforts. The rate Of profit charged
him is compounded Of the laws Of gain.
the ignorance and necessity Of the Gus.
toner and the risk of loss. Zach reader
can judge Of this rate Tor himself. From.
this relation between the necessities Of the
employer and laborer it follows that the
maintenance of the men and animals upon
. sugar estate is attended with cost IN.
paralleied in the culture Of any other pro-
duet.
The competition Of slave grown sugars
reduces the market price Of the Louisiana
crop. and the proceeds Of sale arc no. suf-
ticient to compensate the planter and al
low to the laborar the rate Of wages neces-
sary to feed. ciothc. and preserve the
health of himself and family. The planter
is scarcely justified in taking this risk of o
crop, and the laborer i; disconnected be.
cause he sometimes finds the planter
unable to pay his labor bills: sometimes
prostitution Of the credit may leave the
iabcrer and animals absolutely without
food. for the credit Of the laborer at the
country store is dependent upon the abil-
;iy o! the planter. 1t las been :. common
practice to account for the depression 0:
tie sugar interest by laying the blame On
taxation. With the known and proved zeal
Of the REPUBLICAN for the reduction OF
taxation we will be acquitted Of any dis
position to excuse tn, responsibility OF
this cause. but the slightest considera-