The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-06
OUR SUGAR INTERESTS.

The organization of the Louisiana Sugar
Planters Association In this city week or
ten days ago, the objects Of which wer 9
clearly set forth In the circular letter Of the
officers printed in the Sunday DEMOCRAT,
was very proper step. The association
ought very soon to embrace every man in the
State Interested in the production Of sugar
The free trade system has worked out won
derful results wherever it has been judico1s-
ly tried, and we believe that it's adoption by
tho American government will give new
energy to our depressed trade and indus
tries. A revenue tariff derived from specific
duties would be beneficial movement in this
direction We agree, therefore, In the main
with the views expressed by Mr.. Hayes on this
subject as far MS they go. England has de-
rived almost incaleulable advantage by her
free trade policy, and yet that government
draws an immense revenue from specific du-
ties on tea, coffee and tobacco. Mr.. Hayes
proposes to impose specific duty of ten
| cents pound on tea. and two cents q pound
on coffee, which he says will produce rev.
enue of s12.0O0,00 There Is little doubt this
| suggestion will be accepted. and that other
changes will be made in the tariff.
The sugar planters of Louisiana are WISE
therefore, in taking steps to defend the i'm
tnense inter ests they represent. They should
present their case in all It's strength to
Congress-, thus compel that body to recog-
ntze the crushing injustice that has been
done them In the past, and insure more an
lightened treatment In the future.
The government has well nigh annihIated
tho sugar growing interests of this State.
The address OF the association shows that in |
1869 the State produced A per cent of all the
sugar consumed in the United States. while
that proportion is now reduced to IL per cent |
Tho hand Of tho government wrought this
decline in our great industry and the distress
and ruin which have resulted from It.. The
levees which protected our cane fields were
ruthlessly cut by the army; multitudes of
plantations were devastated, and the black
ene9 chilnneys Of sugar-ho,ises are seen
grlnly marking the fierce path of civil war
throughout the whole sugar region. Peace
brought to the desolated fields Of Louisiana
no healing on her wings. To us she came in
the guise Of the vulture devouring all that
war had left
OF course these were the consequences Of
war: we 60 not care If, for the argument, we I
ooHcVnO eiibt busy were tHe inevitable and ie-
ultimate consequences Of war. Still the fact :
remains. that 1t H. the policy of wise and pa !
trtotic statesmen and Legislators to do all that t
lies In their power to repair the ravages of
war. The government has not done this. It 8
seems very clear that Congress Is bound in !
common justice, to give the sugar growers all 9
he benefits Of d revenue tariff, based on the t
system suggested by the President. But the t
present tariff is, In truth, a discrimination c
against our sugar interest In favor of the t
sugar reflners of the North. There could he Il
10 groeser injustice. The government DESC G
ated our sugar regions, and turned them o
'ver, with the balance Of the State. for ten u
ears, to be pillaged, as was, and still Ia. G
llleged, in the interest of human freedom II
$ but reasonable and just, therefore. and in G
accordance with great principle which has o
zen established by years of war and rivers 0
4 tears and blood, for the government to fos- II
or our great sugar industry dependent upon Il
rec labor, against the sugar grown In other q
ountries by slave labor o