The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-18


famine, and the sustenance of human
life is not the problem we are called on
to solve. IL this were the case, it would
be the part of wisdom to urge new di-
vision Of labor and the diversion of the
excess from the productive to
the productive industries. But there is
no trouble in this respect, and there can
be no substantial and lasting benefit in
diverting to an industry that Is already
productive to an extent very far in ex-
cess of all possible consumption the
surplus and unemployed labor of the
country. Surely the evil cannot be cor
rected by abandoning the countless in
dustries that now supply work and live
lihood to untold thousands of skilled
and unskilled artisans and laborers.
The only relief, 1t seems to us, is in
finding new markets for the produce of
their toll, new and larger demands for
their manufactures, and this is a matter
which may we'll provoke the serious
consideration of government with a
view to some early and practical action
in the interests Of the Frustrated indus
tries and commerce of the nation. As
a national question the government may
we'll consider the advantages to be
derived from liberal subsidy to
secure direct trade and mail service
with Central and South America
through the Southern ports. We have
but to glance at the facts to see the i'm
mense advantages that must accrue
therefrom. At the present time scarcely
forty per cent Of the actual imports
from these countries are even trans
ported in American ships. The estab-
lishment of regular lines Of steamers
from this port to these countries
would Immediately correct this evil.
But this Is the smallest, the
most trifiing consideration that Is in
volved. What is vastly more impor-
tant is the correct on Of our tariff sys-
tenn, which has had but one object, to
keep up values here at home, to make
q harvest for the middle men," and thus
make profitable Industries which should
find their sustenance and profit in ex-
portation and the extension of our COM
merce.
1t is not necessary to discuss the ad-
vantages which must give New Orleans
the control Of this trade. It is not our
wish to arouse competition between
Northern and Southern ports in the ex-
change of our surplus products for
those of these rich countries. But
why should we not compete successfully
with England, for example, which now
sells five dollars worth Of goods to
these countries where we sell one? We
certainly have a great advantage In
our proximity to these countries.
Take Rio, for instance, and we dis
cover that it is distant from London
$500 miles, while from New Orleans it is
only SOTO. Will our capitalist be con-
tent that England should continue to
control this trade and sell above US In
the proportion indicated, when cheap
and rapid transportation is all that Is
needed to place us on an equal footing?
Gan the government witness the distress
now prevalent all over the country with
out doing whatever it can to bring the
relief this trade will secure to it's toiling
and suffering millions?
We think not. Now, then, Ia the aus
picious moment, and let us all join to-
gether to induce the government to
establish the mail routes recommended
by the recent postal convention, and
trade ia sure to follow with all the pros
perity that 1t necessarily brings.