The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-30

has been sold gives q strong denial to any
such assumption, and IL lie doubtful whether
one In twenty has more than squared his &C.
counts II we could feel assured that the
yield hereafter would be equal 10 that Of the
past year we might feel encouraged that even
at the present prices future was In store for
sugar property; but the counterpart Of this
exceptional year lives only In the memory Of
the oldest inhabitant and may not come again
for quarter Of a century.
Under the present labor dspensation IL costs
about the same each year to make crop Of
sugar, and whether the sugar be sold for or
7 cents, Il costs s75 TO cultivate without fer
tllzsrs, and manufacture into sugar one
acre Of cane. 1t seems incredible but the
closest managers cannot figure ID down any
lower. Meanwhile, we are starting out for
the current year on basis Of 1900 pounds of
sugar to the acre AZ an average. and the ex-
perienoe Of many planters will probably fall
short Of this average. The price " the pres
ent year, unless some untoward accident
should effect the beet crop Of Europe. will
most likely be that Of the next. The increase
Of the beet sugar crop, or the introduction
Tor consumption of foreign grocery grades Of
sugars. will undoubtedly lower the market
still more. The iortser Of these events Is be-
yond the control Of human agencies; the lat
ter mere question Of tariff and national pro-
lection.
| Under what tariff this industry Ia 10 obtain
the most protection we do not propose 10 dis
cusa, but we would earnestly advise thor
ough and exhaustive research into the ques-
tioR by those imned ately Interested before
| any definite step is taken to compromise the
future of 80 important an interest. SO much
| ls at stake for Louisiana that q move In the
dark may lead TO destruction We have able
and jealous workers In Washington, and it
behooves the planters of Louisiana to- see
that they are supported In their efforts to
grapple with the vigorous opposition made.
by the importers more than the refners, 10
the advancement Of our great industry. No
effect could be more disastrous to the whole
State than the annihlatIon Of our sugar
plantations As Il IL. the planter Of Louisiana.
at present prices, is working for his neigh
Dor the Western farmer and the freedmen
reaplng the benefit Of his years anxiety.
trouble and toll-and II no change for the bet.
ter Is In store II is but just that he be eneour-
aged In his phllanthropic work.
| A ceaseless activity, close, ever watchful
eye upon the outside world, q power ever
ready TO checkmate adverse moves will alone
save 10 Louisiana the benefits Of her great
struggling industry. No single planter can
hold of and trust to his neighbor 10 do II for
him, In the hope that the latter's interests
are go completely involved that he cannot
avoid exertipg himself Your neighbor may
be awaiting move on your part, and the
neglect and Indifference Of both may bring
disaster. Single efforts are as Ineffective as
O number Of detached scouts against we'll
Differed, well-disolplined regiment. We hailed
with delight the organization last year of an
association Of the sugar planters Of the State.
and gladly pay mpritorious tribute 10 such
as have united to work for the development
and protection Of the sugar industry
But when we consider the large number
occupied In this State In cutivatirg
cane and making sugar, and the army Of
followers, who In this city either make
livelihood or grow rich from It's manipula-
tion, and whose interests are identical with
those Of the gentlemen who are doing the
work and by whom whatever Of good has
been accomplished, and who fall TO rally
around 80 worthy an organization and lend
strength by their presence and counsel, we
must admit we are not surprised that the
well organized and disciplined unions Of the
North and West are more potent when the
| emergency for action arises. At rest or at
work the organization Ia always encouraged
and maintained and, when needed, the blow
Il heavy one and struck at n moments no.
tice. II IL idle to attempt to stem the current
sugars without a strong and determined or
ganization, and the sugar planter Of Lou
isiana must go down before the GOLD pha-
lanxes Of Northern and Western opposition
unless he Ia over ready and prompt to repel
any attack.
The planters have been fortunate this year
In having representa- ton In the Committee OF
Ways and Means, ably supported by the
Louisiana Sugar Planters Association, and
being able TO work ut the very heart OF the
opposition. but could they otherwise have
hoped for any countenanoe In the recent at
tempts at a modification Of the tariff
A show Of strength has often made the en-
emy keep ut a respectful distance, but over
watcbful, he is apt to take advantage Of the
first weakening Of tho confronting force. II
behooves, therefore, those especially inter-
ested to show by their deeds that they are
alive TO the danger In the future, and TO relax
none Of the vigilance with which our sugar
interests have been guarded for year past.
The curse Of the State has been the lack OF
union, In which alone there is strength. Let
the sugar planters see to 1t that a common
interest creates bond Of union strong enough
to ropel the gradual encroachment upon their
domain. This city and twenty eight parishes
have their financial lives at stake, and 1t Is
the duty of each and every one therein, con-
nected with the sugar crop, not to continue
laggards In the fight but TO come to the front
In support OF those who have borne the brunt
OF the contest for the past year.