The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-01-12
NEAR MONROE, La, Dec. Goth, 1876.

the country. It seems that our condition
is growing worse year after year. There is
certainly a cause for all this. A country
like that we posses should be in u prosper
Gus condition. We have here in the Qua
chita Valley a most beautiful and ter tile
country. The lands will, when properly
cultivated. produce all that we could de-
sire. Here: too, we have a decided advan-
tage over most other sections OF the coun-
try can produce a great variety of crops.
With proper drainage and cultivation we
are certain OF fair crops regardless of the sea-
son, whether wet or dry. We have here
all the advantages of cheap transportation.
n most beautiful river which, is navisable
almost the year round and u railroad load
ing from Monroe to the Mississippi. AS a
stock country this has scarcely AN equal
\ most excellent range for horses cattle and
ho%s.
Surrounded by all these natural advan-
tages, why should we not be in Il prosperous
condition? What now is the actual condi-
ton of the country? We fear that we are
unable to do justice to this subject, but will
make the effort.
In the first place, we are OF the opinion
that if the merchants who have credit and
capital were to refuse to furnish the plan
ters for six months that we(the planters and
the negroes i'll our employ would be reduced
almost to n starving condition, notwith-
standing we live in country where meat
and bread can be raised almost without eff
fort. The suicidal plan that we are now
pursuing win embarrass and eventually
ruin any country on earth, regardless Of the
natural advantage it may offer. In all cases
the crop land in some land and team) is
mortgaged for supplies ut the commence
ment ofthe year.
i..ls ri, Nj,
the food that is used by both white and
black is furnished by the merchant. The
planter strains his credit, uses his team
(Which is generally abused) land and farm
ing implements, is annoyed from the COM
inencement to the very close of the year.
rroducess cotton that probably costs him
him 10 Or II cents per pound. for which he
is compelled to take Or 8 cents. Both he
and his family have used the st rictest kind
Of economy during the whole year and have
denied themselyel every luxury, yet when
settlement day arrives balance il carried
over against him.
When cotton was worth 25 cents a pound
we could afford to do business on this plan
but that time has passed and we must
change our programme or 20 to ruin. 1t
seems to us that it would be to the inter-
est of the merchants to have more corn
and meat raised and they certainly have
the power to control this matter. On the
list day of january if the merchants would
say to the planter we have concluded to fur
niSh you meat this year and no longer in
twelve months the country would he stock
Cd with hogs. The negroes who are known
to be thieves wonld be driven from the
country for want of employment. 1t is
said that good government would regulate
this matter OF theory, but we are not of that
opinion. 1t is Il matter that the people
must take in hand. We abuse the Congress
on every hand as unprincipled scoundrels.
Who and what are they? They are gener-
ally men of some brains who are too lazy
to earn IL living in the North where they
belong and have come South to ride into
office on the back of the negro. 1t is true
that they have some dirty work to do in
order to gain favor with the negro, but all
that they want with him is to use him, to
make money ont of him.
Well, that is just what the people of this
country are doing, but instead of improy-
ing our condition financially we have
almost ruined ourselvis socially, polit-
ically and financially by bringing in
negroes and encouraging the rascals who
were already among in remaining.
Now, if We will all make proper effort,
we can in twelve months improve our con-
white labor all can and bring all the
honest white mon in we can, and let us re-
solve that we will not hire Il negro who
does not bear Il character for honesty and
industry. We will then very soon be able
to have plenty ofhog and hominy mt home,
and the terrible cry of no money and hard
times which we have II card for so long will
be huShed.
Some move must be made in this direc-
ton, andth:,t, too quickly. We the. whites
own the country yet and we must control
1t if we hope to have anything; lett for ou..
children By planting less cotton, and
turning our attention more TO corn and
stock we Will not require as muci, labor by
"nc-thir3 as we now require, and if one
third of the worst class oc the negroes we're
thrown out of employment and forced to
leave the country the carpet baggers would
follow and the final result would be peace
aud plenty for all. Respectfully,
Those using spectacles and eyeglasses if
in need of a pair, should go to Bryce Rills
He has just received over five hundred from
New York. The we'll know Lazarus &
Morris perfected giasses-all of the latest
patents.
Methodist l.. Church South, Rev. 7. II.
Moss, Pastor. Services every Sunday at II
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