New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-19
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN,. SUNDAY. NOVEMBER 10; 1876

PUBLICAN, SUNDAY,
better fitted than they to fight LIES baths
under tho nsw dispensation. Moro than
once have We heard the wish expressed
by such that they could exchange places
with their former servants. The pride OF
birth and Of culture gave way before their
own utter helplessness and the stern
pressure of privation. Were they of the
once despised African race the pang OF
humiliation would be spared, and they
would be relieved of the necessity of
keeping up poor show of responsibility
As . sacrifice to their own ''previous con-
dition."
To persons of the class described. self
help, no matter how heroic, had to serve
an apprenticeship before it could prove
effective. Nor are tho days of that ap-
premiership yet completed. We are, how
ever, gradually approaching the self-sus-
tanning era, and it should be the delight
of q provident and far-reaching states
manship to hasten the time by providing
work for all who are willing to help them
selves, and especially for those who, if not
thus aided, might become charges on the
State. The ordinary avenues of employ
ment for cultivated women are too limited
in number to meet the exigences of the
case; it is necessary therefore that they
should be discreetly enlarged, even though
in 80 doing some encroachment be made
on the special preserves of the 'tstrong-
minded"
If we take for example the city of New
Orleans. it must be apparent that large
portion of our population can not now
obtain remunerative employment. Our
numbers are too great for the commercial
and factorage business we conduct, and
unless We resort to new descriptions of
productive industry, q considerable per-
centage of our people must seek relief
through removal or lapse into pauperism.
Now it would be well for the State and
corporate authorities to look wisely to
this matter. In the lighter forms of man
ufacturing industry female skill can be
effectively employed; but all industries,
no matter what the sex of the operatives,
should be encouraged, in order to furnish
new springs to our general prosperity. 1t
has been too much the tendency of this
community to tax manufacturing enter
prises out of existence; but strong con-
viction is now abroad that such policy
will no longer be tolerated. We must
foster and encourage what formerly it was
the fashion to hinder, well knowing that
"rhe richie. OF the commonwealth
Are ftse, stze,g bands sndhearts OF health.
And more to her than gold or gain
The cunning hand and cultured brain"
It is scarcely necessary to dwell in this
connection on what has so frequently been
insisted on in the REPUBLICAN,, to wit
the advantages of New Orleans as place
for the successful Inauguration and main
tenance Of cotton manufactures. The
raw material can always be had here on
most favorable terms, the climate is suita-
bic and operatives fitted by nature for the
business may be obtained at reasonable
rates Of wages, and in any number that
may be desi1ed. These facts are suscept-
bic of proof, and, with home market at
command. should speedily give to this
city as marked prominence in the manu-
facture of cotton fabrics as that she
already enjoys in the various articles pro-
duced from cotton seed.
It is quite as necessary for city or
State, = for an individual, to become self
reliant and develop the most available re-
sources at command. Hitherto the efforts
at self-help put forth by New Orleans have
for the most part turned into wrong direc-
tons or absolutely wasted. Alterations
of this kind must be corrected as far as
possible, and if we open up inviting trade
relations with Texas. Mexico and the
Spanish American States, to which we
have easy access through the tropical seas
which lie just beyond us, the past of our
city may become dwarfed by more glori-
GUS and prolific future.
We want an enlarged trade, to give us
The commercial importance our situation
should command, and enlarged manufac-
tories to afford profitable employment to
Dur surplus population. In this way only
IAN our real estate recover from the ex-
aaustive shrinkage to which of late years |
t has been subjected, and our general
be permanently re-established.
4 we wish to make great city of New
Orleans We must raise our aims beyond
he squabbles of municipal ofice-seekers,
md adopt the arts which Themistocles
,oasted as best calculated to bring great
less and renown to commercial COM
nunity. In this way only can the Cres-
ent City become the crowned queen of
he Mississippi valley.