New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-15
.:vERg.
'G..ow higl. water mark Of 1874.
Folly of Southern Business Men.

Amid the mass OF gloomy evidence from
New Orleans it is pleasant to find one mar
who tries to take q cheerful view Of the
situation, and who does not ascribe all thu
evils OF humanity TO Republican rule. j. H
Oglesby testified that in his opinion the
tinancia; condition Of tho New Orleans
business men was better now than at any
time during five years, that the people are
more economical and do less business on
credit, that crops are raised more cheaply
than formerly, and that notable feature
OF the times is the increasing number OF
small planters. These are sensible views
and founded il reason. No one can visit
New Orleans without being struck with the
evidences Of fair business prosperity.
Men and women are well dressed, money is
spent freely, amusements are literally
patyOniZed, and there is no visible evidence
of the lrOstration and poverty Of which We
hear so much. Doubtless the trade of New
Orleans has fallen OFT very scnsibly from
the time when she Was the only cotton
market OF the Southwest and had virtual
monopoly Of the whole Mississippi valley
commerce.. Now she divides the cotton
trade with Mobile. vicksburg, Memphis
and other places, and her commercial ina.
portance as r. depo: of supplies for the
Mississippi valley is materially affected by
the various railroad lines which have been
opened during the last ten or fifteen years,
penetrating the South in different direc.
tons and opening up new lines Of commu-
nication with the seaboard and new chan.
nels of trade. Thus there has ensued a
permanent diminution of the vast business
formerly transacted in New Orleans, and
of the enormous profits OF her cotton factors
and importers. To these causes must be
added the up.urling OF society by the war
and the complete revelation in the planting
business and other trade interests. The
number Of large and wealthy planters is
much less, that Of small ones much greater.
there Is more economy in planting and less
prOdigality in the marketing OF crops and
squandering Of tho proceeds. In short. New
Orleans is 30 longer and never will beagain
the undisputed mistress OF the Southern
trade, the sole entrepOt and depot for the
Mississippi valley commerce.
But does it follow that New Orleans has
lost all Lel business OF commercial advan-
tages! By no means. Her geographical
advantages are unques tionably very great,
and while business " i'll never come to her
as easily hereafter a. formerly, there is no
reason why the city should not have very
large and profitable trade. All that is
needed ~ enterprise and sagaeity on the
part OF her people. Willingness 70 adapt
themselves TO the new order OF things and
to utilize such advantages as nature and
circumstances haze placed within their
reach. ii her business men were to use q
tenth part of the energy and enterprise
practiced IN Northern cities the trade 81
the city could be enormously increased.
The trouble is they spend all their tame in
calling on Jupiter 20 help them. without
once putting their own shoulders TO the
wheel. They have not made the slightest
etior: to adapt themselves to the new stu.
atrcn. 30 master i. commercial bearings. to
understand the effects 0f the substitution
OF free labor tor siave. OF small!
farmers for wealthy planters, Of economy
and close management for prodig atty and
waste. Instead of recognising these great
changes. and the shifting OF the channels of
trade by the opening Of new railroads. and
wisely adapting themselves to the new order
OF things. they prefer to spend their time
moaning. groanlng and curslng the govern.
ment. Because wealth does Lot flow in
upon them in steady stream. as formerly.
they talk abou: the utter prOstratiou OF
business, and eternaliy damn the Repub-
lican party for causing their ruin. The
business of New Orleans is not utterly pros.
trated. nor are her business men ruined.
In spite Of their utter lack of enterprise
and sullen refusal TO accept the situation,
the city is in fairly prosperous condition,
and its business might be UNNECESSARILY in.
creased by the use OF intelligence, sagacity
and enterprise. But it SCENE idle to look
for these qualities, or in fact for anything
among Southern business men.
Journal.
Victor Hugo wan.e to wr.:e lie Q! John
Brown.