The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-01-08
"LABOR I'm THE SOUTH.n
Hon. Job. e. StevensOn's' Address
to WOrkingmen.


conditions of labor in the South by Hon.
Job. L. Stevenson.
The platform of the labor party having
been read to the assembly by Mr.. L.. II.
sawyer, Mr.. Stevenson was introduced.
We give few brief extracts:
"The change in theicondition of the la
boring class has shown Itself in the i'm
provements which have been steadily
making in the South since the war. Man
ulacturing establishments have sprung
up with astonishing rapidity in all parts
of the country. Schools have increased
largely, both in number and patronage.
Railroads have begun to supersede the
old, dilatory system of travel and trans
portation which the Southern people ELL
dured. Skilled labor has risen to pre-
MUM, and the growth of the sciences
and the useful arts have been stimulated
TO an unexpected degree. The whole
fabric is moved by the social impulse
which is given only by tree labor.
"How this change has affected the
colored man is u question to he consid-
cred. Before the emancipation of the
slaves, it was very graVely doubted
whether the freedman could be induced
to labor without compulsion. Ii he
would work at all, it would be, thought
of his own needs supplied the place of a
masters command. The trial has shown
that the colored men work far better as
heemen than as slaves. The number
who seek employment in the field is
even greater than the number of the
slaves formerly employed as field hands.
While many have sought and found pc
sitions less laborious than those of farm
laborers, many Others who were former
ly employed on tritiing tasks about the
masters house or person have since
found work in the cotton field or the
| rice swamp.
"It is probably true that the freedman
does not work as well now as he once
did for the exclusive benefit of others,
but he certainly works better on his own
behalf, Members of his class now work
without control, managing small tracts
of land Tor thens elves, and they show
themselves capable of the task. Not a
lew own the land they till. Others
| lease upon such terms as they can get;
| but the greater number work the land,
and share the products with the owner.
| The State of Georgia contains about
eight millions acres OF cultivated land,
and the State of Louisiana ten mill
ions. The possession OF these vast tracts
has passed out OF the hands OF the arls-
| tocracy into those OF the democracy. 1t
ls found that the cultivation of cotton
is most profitable ION the Shores" as
the phrase is. Rice is the crop Of the
poor man, since it can be raised on the
waste and swampy land, which he can
| buy at small price. 1t Is the best re-
claimer of waste land that could be
thought Of. Sugar, because OF the cost,
which attends the processes of its man
| 70 af 10
cultivated mostly by hired labor. Yet
even here tenants are successful. The
machinery which is used in the manu-
lacture of sugar, is throughout a tri-
umph OF mechanical ingenuity.
| sslhe State OF Louisiana, is, doubtless,
the most important OF all the States
which bound the Gulf. The soil is Of un.
known depth and of eXhaustless fer
tility. In spite of the political trouble
which has agitated the Inhabitants since
the war, and in spite of the revolutions
ary excitement which has at times
| threatened the existence OF all govern
ment, yet the State has continued to
prosper. The results even in SO unto
| ward staLe of affairs have been
wonderful. Land has almost doubled in
value, and the crops reaize,an aggregate
of not less than $50,OOO,O
u
such state OF affairs, who could look
| back with regret upon time when less
favorable circumstances prevailed, re-
minded the speaker Of the crew of a
shin who had exhausted their supply OF
| fresh water, but had floated meanwhile
into the mouth of great river, the
| shores OF which were LOO far away on
either side to be seen. They had only
\ to dip from the fresh current and
drink, but they waited to hal
another ship before they even though
of the experiment. The people
| of Louisiana who would not accept the
proofs OF improvement under their very
ewes, were even more foolish Than tue
shipioad OF thirsty mariners. With vas
| fields OF cotton and cane, and groves o.
grange trees bending under their colder
rruil3ge, the care OF which was given tt
the inIurers, these found their reward
LIN the share which they received of thl
| rinened products. They have become
one way partners Of the wealthy land
owners.
mThe most reliable estimony is tina
| evan in those parishes where the col
ored men enjoy political supremacy b.
reason of their numbers, they gave th,
| whites no cause of discomfort. The,
do not forget their work on account o
interest i'll politics. But they are al
ways better pleased to work upon thei
own responsibility than to be employed
Ion wages. Hence they prefer the sys
tenn Of shares, which leaves them to dis
pose OF their time as they choose. In
case OF one old man was in point. ii
was assisted by his family in his WORK
and succeeded in clearing 5000 the frs
wear, Speaking afterward, the oil
man said that he had never eDjoye
Ire I'd ON until that year. Thus the righ
of man to labor for himself has bee
gradually established in the South, ant
1ne South is its best field. The laborer
with the ballot in his hand, possesses il
and has already shown himself worth
O, the bond conferred upon him. Ill
could certainly find no region more favol
able to him i'll working out his destiny
Beneath the inches OF soil in Louisiana
which have been stirred, there lie Ill
, known and fertile depths. The Missis
, sippi River at New Orleans is one hui
dred aud fifty feet deep, and the bottom
is alluyium. This should and can
made the garden OF tree Labor"
Sudden Death.