New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-17
PARISH PROSPEROUS.

that adversely, 1rOm ono cHuDo nAu
another, has not been able to PROSTATE all
| portions of Louisiana; that neither flood
of water, politics. or even hungry poll
ticians of any kind have been sufficiently
powerful to shut off oil prosperity in our
State voice from Bossier in the per-
son of Judge Baker, who recently arrived
here gives most cheerful picture Of the
growing prosperity of that parish, and
that too, under Republican rule; pros
perity that owes its existence almost
| alone to the efforts of the freedmen of
| Bossier parish. 1t would appear from
| this that in Bossier the freedmen early &C.
copied the situation presented by the re-
suits of the late civil war, and by close
application to the cultivation OF the soil
have managed to become the possessors Of
large portion of the lands of that parish.
There is no good cause why white men,
with their superior intelligence should
not have taken hold and accomplished as
much, if not more. than the freedmen
have done since the conclusion of the
war; yet it is apparent that this has not
been the case in Bossier, nor indeed in
any other part OF. the State In proper
ton as the negro has striven to adj
vance under the rule of freedom and
equal rights in the South it would seem
the white man has been determined to re-
trograde, rather than submit to the new
order of things and earnestly labor for his
own prosperity, thereby adding to the
prosperity of the State. As this is some
thing that government can not control in
this land of freedom, it certainly should
not be held responsible. And yet govern
ment is blamed for the want of prosperity
in the South. The condition of Bossier
parish at this time clearly demonstrates
what can be done in every other parish of
the State-only much more efectually be-
cause upon much larger scale-if whites
and blacks would till the soil with de-
termination that is necessary to secure
prosperity. The black tillers of the soil
in Bossier have been growing wealthy in
lands, ETC., by labor, while the white in
habitants, those who once possessed all
the lands, have been growing poor. Now,
there is only one fair and reasonable way
to account for this condition of things in
Bossier-and the same exists throughout
most of the Southern States similarly
situated as Louisiana that is that
the whites have not industriously applied
themselves to the cultivation of the soil
which in most instances belonged to
them. If they had commenced to do this,
even on small scale, when the war was
over, they would have been in prosper
Gus condition now, far more prosperous
than the freedmen who had to commence
under many comparative disadvantages,
chiefly among which was the want of land
to cultivate. The freedman owned no land
at the close of the war that made HIM
free; and the prejudice was so strong
against him that for time it was impos-
sible for him to rent land. 1t took several
years to dispel this prejudice sufficiently
to allow the freedman to 60 to work on
his own account, and that time did not
arrive until the white landholder found
himself compelled to sell land to raise
the means to live upon. The landholders
of Bossier were among the first to break
through the prejudice that has worked SO
against the peace and prosperity
Of many portions of our State, and the
consequence is that to-day that parish is
in growing state of prosperity. Judge
Baker is authority for saying that the
rich lands in the southern portion of that
arge parish are almost entirely owned |
md cultivated by colored men, formerly
slaves. who have become wealthy within |
/ few years by raising cotton, the result !
If their own labor. And as they have
advanced the agricultural interest of their
parish by adding, through labor, to their
Individual wealth, they have been the
means of aiding in establishing mercan-
lie interest, on a sound basis, to meet |
he wants of themselves and neighbors.
They have supplied the money that has
established merchants now in the enjoy
nent of fourishing business, thus link
ng commerce with agriculture for the
eneit of their parish. This is business,
aade prosperous by honest labor, I'M
er Republican government: and what
) being accomplished in Bossier
an be done in every other parish in the
tate more effectively if whites and blacks
'ould go to work with an equal deter
llnation to became prosperous.
For many years, numbering from the
of civil war in this country.
ne white people Of the South have been
rowing poorer. Up to the close of the
ar this growing poverty was the effect of
ar. Since then it may be said to be
lore the effect of the want of industry
nd a sensible disposition to accep. prop
rly the results of the war than otherwise
here is no reason why this should not be
eversed if those who are most interested
} determine. A change from growing
overly to growing prosperity can be
fected whenever the people so determine
S it has been effected in Bossier, so it
lay be in every other parish in the State
nd with general prosperity will return
eace and happiness; for when men learn
lat wealth comes easier and with more
artainty by cultivating the soil or follow
lg some useful pursuit than by holding
flee, the desire for public place will