New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-30
ciples throughout the Union, and place
none, but able aaa honess aaaans in THAR
exposition and defense.
THE MORALE OF SOUTHERN LABOR.


| THE MORALE OF SOUTHERN LABOR.
The recorded experiences Of Southern
planters since the war established the
character of the colored laborer for in.
dustry and faithful service on firm
foundation. In all the crop reports, the
one gratifying feature which appears
year after year, without exception. is the
complimentary tribute to labor. Some.
times II Is stated to be Every satisfactory,
q: others ''never better" and this yea,
! from Memphis comes the climax ':bet.e1
than ever" Truly the old libel. .'lazy
negroes bids fair to go GU: Of use in the
Southern States. For the race to which
i: has been maliciously. ignorantly and
contemptuously applied has fairly lived
It down. and compelled the spontaneous
praise and admiration Of their detractors.
The State that can boast such q magnif.
cen: body Of laborers as the coiored
| people Of the South have proved them
selves to be can be in NO danger Of decay.
Its creii: is unassa.iahle. its future pros.
perity assured.
Weare very glad to believe. 700. that these
good reports are not all limited to the col
ored people, though they necessarily come
N for the lions share in the cane. cotton,
corn. rice and tobacco fields OF the South.
fer the reason they fori. the more nune.-
cas class OF operatives. let there is no
do'sb: their good example exerts benef-
clal influence on the poor white people
who have nothing to depend upon b,.t the
work Of their own hands 20 provide for
themselves and children. There can be
no antagonism, for the reason tina: there
Is abundan: work for al. Practically
there is no limit to the demand! for any of
the great American agricultural products.
The capacity Of absorption liz the old
world is sufiicien: to take all we can pos
sibly raise. provided prices rule 50 low as
TO place them within the reach Of the
poorer hundred millions Long before
the war we were informed by sta.ists Of
undoubted intelligence and credi: that
when cotton goods reached . certain low
poin: in Liverpool. they ne: !: hitherto
unusual demand in Germany and North
esn Europe, for people too poor toindulge
IN the luxury OF cotton shirts. prints. etc..
at tie ordinary prices. The same rule is
applicable to sugar and breadstuf.. To-
bacco. G! all our products. is tu: little
affected by high prices. The consumers
OF the weed will have j: a: any sacrifice,
once they acquire the habit: And as the
chief reliance Of the United States, espe-
c!ally the South, is and mus: 70. years be
our agricultural products. those who do
the work must be regarded! IS tie NOS.
useful citizens.
The colored people shc,:id lie accorded |
the tall recognition in theory as in fac. Q:
the important position which they occupy.
l hey are III every sense Of the word a !
par: Of tie people. and constitute the |
n os: permanent elemen: n our popula- |
ton. To trea: them and those whom they |
regard as their friends a, :n.rrders, aliens,
or exccescences on the body polite is 3
political. heresy which car only have the
siec: finally to destroy the faction that
attempts it. The las: ten years has fully
indicated their character 70, industry,
'obriety. docility and good citizenship.
Give them half chance and ther will
improve in knowledge. and il sor3e Of
her presen: detractors do no: look well
o their own progeny. the next generation
VII witness the spectacle Of the children
:. whilom slaves outstripping the sons of
he proud men who once boosted Of their
upe.iority OF race. Now that the colored
eopie are Oh the full march 70 high pros
es!ty. We begin to feel a real anxiety for
ne young men Of our own race. They |
nay be saved by being laugh: to work, to
espec: the feelings Of others. and to look
poe every species Of dependence as dis
onorable.