New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-21
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY APRIL q 1875

OAN0112Axyt0 1012a
other innocent implement. The tax col
lector instantly arrests this poor toile,
What ofense has he committed? He ha
gone to work. That tax on industry
that premium ON idleness must be paid
or keeper will be put into that garre
, whose daily paE.win be perhaps as grea
as the earning Of the poor captive. w
know a case in which sagacious citize,
sent son to Europe for practical ant
mechanical education. After an expensiv,
course of instruction, he returned
! and commenced business in tn,
trade which be had chosen fol
his future employment. No sooner hat
he opened his shop than he was salutei
by an officer with demand for two hun
dred and fifty dollars to be paid the city
tor the privilege Of applying the knowl
edge he had been at SO much expense tc
acquire, and at the heels of the first off.
Ger came another who insisted on the paw.
ment of another hundred dollars to the
State for the consummation Of this priv
lege OF labor: We might be content to
contend with the old prejudice that me-
ctanical labor was not reputable pur-
suit, but when idleness is an honorable
privilege and industry is punished with a
penalty, how can Louisiana possibly ex-
pect to relieve herself from her depend
ence on distant countries for SO much that
she consumess
1t we could succeed in exempting in
dustry from the license and other taxes.
our poor people might be free to attempt
the establishment of manufactures. There
can be no reason these industries should
not prosper. England and New England
prosper on manufactures. Our population
are OF the same race and language with
the English. France and Germany have
been enriched by mechanical labor We
have large population of both these
nationahties Why, then, can not our
people do that which their ancestors and
relations have done? There can be no
reason assigned why it should not be
attempted. We certainly have elements
OF industrial success among us. The yery
poverty OF our people has prepared them
tor the experiment. Thousands of people
who some years ago might have spurned
mechanical employment would now be
willing to obtain it. We bear of manu-
facturer engaged in preparing for market
some products Of the country, who gives
employment to nearly twenty persons,
widows dependent upon their own indus
try. Who shall say that this man is not
doing more for the city than the angry |
and intolerant partisan who thinks the
embarrassments Of the people may be
relieved by violence?
The direct and indirect taxes on indus
try are driving many mechanics away, or
compelling them to demand such rates for
their labor as compels the employment of
foreigners. We have recently seen COM
plant against our citizens because they
buy articles made abroad, while their own
neighbor mechanics are starving at home.
It can not be otherwise with the burdens
on industry to which we have adverted.
Let us give an instance of the effect to
which these burdens contribute. Two
principal buildings are going up on Canal
street. At the corner Of St. Charles and
II Burgundy respectively, out of perhaps
hirty bricklayers there is not one white
nan There appears one whito man on
me Of the buildings who carries hod to
upply the colored workmen. Why, with
he published prejudice against colored
abor should a contractor employ none
theirs? Only, we presume, because it is
heaper than white labor. Why may that
e the fact
!. Because the social standard of the
'hlte man make him consumer and payer :
indirect taxes to a larger extent than
le average colored man. The indirect tax
n rent goods and groceries, the indirect =
TX on food, water, gas and other articles
cid IN practical monopoly. .
=. The colored man is simple in his
ablts and expen SEES; the members of his
mily are self-supporting. Tt follows that
le colored mechanic in the line Of work 8.
terred to can underworld his white COM u
etltor. This very capacity to live on lit Ia
e; this very simplicity Of habits, gives g
class Of labor that as operatives can, c,
the extent Of their skill, furnish Louis Sc
ma material to aid in organizing the ex-
'rlment OF which We speak. But for the y
allied mechanical industries of our CITY. :.
may and must be done. Take 4
or abate the tax on the license to labor; - -
peal or refuse the monoplies which fat ii
n on the blood of industry until like a,
me gorged and bloated vampire they If
op off satiated with the substance N
aich has depleted and destroyed their 81
HAPPY victims. tv
tr
PAY OF CITY EMPLOYEES. &c