The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-08-22
tine LABOR QUESTION.

MONROE. Lac AUGUST 90 Ao'o'
the LABOR QUESTION.
Facts are stubborn things and when
they stand in opposition to our inter-
csts they have nothing in them pleas
ing or gratifying.
Cotton is the chief product, tho rev.
enue, the stock in trade, and the source
of wealth In the ss9outhcrn belt" For
its profitable production tho labor must
be skilled and educated. Although
that labor has been raised in our
midst and is peculiarly if not specially
adapted to It (; Is moro kindly treated
and cared for than its class In any
other section or country aud its wages
better and more certain; It Is dfscon-
tented, unsatisfied and hopeful Of bet.
ter times where the climate Is forbid
ding and the system and occupation, OF
tilling the soil entirely different.
Large colonies from nearly every
Southern State have emigrated, the
most doleful accounts of their suffer-
ings have been sent back AZ warnings
to those who happily did not have
means TO pay their transportation. But
to no purpose. Every one will want
to see for himself-it is human nature,
and sooner or later he will realize his
hope, or die In blissful anticipation.
The Kansas fever is upon them, and,
like all other such things, it must run
it's course. ..s
1t Is idle to wish that something in
the course of nature or of political rea-
son may intervene for our protection.
ssGod helps those who help themselves
and the agricultural interest must be-
stir itself to obtain substitute. Admit
that the substitute s'will not supply
the place of what is lacking" yet all
political economy teaches that any
kind of labor, be it never so inferior,
is better than idle fields.
Besides white labor has never boon
fairly tried. 1t has always been at no
difficulty In getting other employment
more lucrative If not moro congenial to
its t,.stes. A general demand for 1t
would soon MI up outside branches Of
industry and compel the remainder,
even against their wishes, to Till the
soil. Once engaged, the time required
to prepare the ground, pitch the crops
and gather them for market, is a
pledge of fidelity and makes advanc-
ing comparatively safe.
From all accounts the laboring classes
in the North are not happy and arc MS
much inclined to try something new
as the negroes are with as. The time
seems to be favorable and but little
effort might BIO required to start Thorn
this way. ,........,..
The greatest obstacle is large Planta-
tons. Every white man will want a
farm of his own or tho expectancy of
it as soon rs he can pay for it. Tho
breakup is inevitable now, and the
only wonder is that it did not come
years ago. Improvements are seldom
made without advantage, and customs
that retard rather than develop the
prosperity of the country cannot be
too quickly rclinquished. To our landed
prOprietors we have to say that If they
expect their possessions to be worth
anything they must offer inducements
to some kind Of labor that will take a
pride and interest in its improvement
and become permanent and industri-
Gus occupants-whow will make good
ncighbors and good citizens, and be an
honor az we'll as an ornament to the
State.
THE PROPOSED JUDICIARY SYSTEM.