The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-28
CHANCES ON THE FARM,

NeseS " mentioned that some nt the Eng
! iah farmers who took n chance in Texas
lands hnyn felt themselves swIndled. and arc
new IN ronfe to the Northwest to make
another experiment. This may or may not
no true. though II does not argue that the
Texas lands aso Inferior to those OF Iowa.
Dakota on Kansas. On the contrary, tho
average IN TsXns Is far preferable. not only as
regards fertility of soil, but also In the matter
OF climate and healthfuIness The circum-
stance, however, goes 10 show that IL Ia Dos
sible to throw too much zeal into an enter
prise where fair dealing and good faith are
overlooked. Texas Will suffer for all this to
degree which she docs not really deserve,
and tho Northwest will be benefited to an
extent to which she Is not entitled on any
substantial score
But tho moral OF the Incident, so far as IL
affects Louisiana. Ia that we are doing moth
ing to draw to ourselves our proper share OF
inc tlde or immigration now setting this way
from SO many OF the old countries Not that
we wish to profit by any OF the mistakes OF
our Texas noighhora, but that we ought to be
taking stops to present aud advocate our own
legitimate claims In some organized and If
lsiana offers greater and more solid induces
ments to Industrious farmers than almost
any part OF tho inhabited globe, 1t does not
| follow that mankind know IL also. Because we,
among ourselves, and to tho narrow audiences
which we can command. are talking Of ILL.,
oral offers and favorable propositions, It does
not follow that the great, eager, longing
world beyond tho reach OF our voices will
hear. Suppose. for instance, tho starving
and edpeasantry of Ireland, or the dis
couraged and welI-nIgh ruined tenantry of
Eng land could know for q certainty that land
owners In tho very richest districts Of this
phenomenally fertile State were ready to
offer them comfortable homes and all the
land they could cultivate to furnish them
teams, Implements. tirewood-a complete
farming outfit and then to advance them
their food for the year, taking In return an
even half Of tho erop Suppose they could
be made ITO know the factor 1t
~ fact that tho best lands arc
open to them upon theso terms and for as
long time as they care to take them, and
that. In very few years. by industry and
thrift. they could accumulate the means Of
purchasing their own homes aud farms and
thus securing Independence and plenty for
themselves and families! Does anybody sup
pose, If these truths were properly dis
seminated, that the hundreds OF immigrants
who annually land at New Orleans would all
pass Louisiana by and seek further West for
less advantageous prospects,
Look at the facts man lands Ia New
Orleans without a cent In his pocket or roof
TO shelter him. OF course he can always |
get work, such as 1t is, IL he chooses to live
from hand TO mouth and to haunt the door
ways for II lodging. No one need ever starve |
In this country who Is willing and able to |
work. But suppose the Immigrant to be a |
person accustomed to agriculture, and anx-
lous to pursue that calling what are tho In
ducements offered him in Louisiana? Almost
any cotton planter In the State would be will
ng to start him at farming. He could
get comfortable house, as much land
rs he was able to cultivate, team, tools,
seed, ttrewood, his provisions for the year ad-
eanced; and with fruitful soil, a genial eli
nate and oven ordinary industry, what would
prevent his being one or two hundred dollars
ahead Of the world at the end OF the year?
Without one cont OF capital, without one cent
u risk, with everything furnished him free
II cost where, In the civilized world, can
Door man get the same chance as In Louisf-
ma? Nowhere, we solemnly believe Yet
hese are the terms which Louisiana planters
md land owners offer to the penniless aud
he industrious all the world over. These
lie the terms upon which we should be glad
o see five hundred thousand able-bodied,
rfvxr 10 f,{l E,l. |
'uild 1t up and share tn its prosperity
Why are not these things made
.nown? Why do not the land owners of Lou
siana take counsel together and adopt some
means Of advertising their wants and their
esources to the world? We have had enough
and too much-of pretentIous societies
which ended in a handsome office and d snowy
reclamation; of high-sounding corporations
7hich never went further than a subscrip-
lon list; of companies with great names and
reater emptiness, which seemed to have been
Drmed to provide clerkships and salaries for
espectable 1mbeci!es. OF all this we have had
nauseous and dispiriting surfet. But we
7ant an active, hard headed, practical, earn
st and intelligent cooperation of sensible
nd honest men, to make known our advan-
ages and our propositions and to provide for
hose who come our way a friendly greeting
nd conscientious treatment. We want not
My to publish what we are willing to do but
} see that everything which has been prom
led is done-in good faith and to the last
tter of the compact And, once the stream
turned hitherward and met In the proper
orit. it will flow, thenceforward, Of its own
nDetuS and In abundant volume, |
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