Louisiana capitolian., 1881-11-12

'terest Id their own welfare, the build
ing up Of the city and its future pros
perity and greatness, and the best
way for them to succeed is to go
right into the newspapers and let
the people know it. A large land
owner, in this parish, told me only a
short time ago, that his estate was an
encumbrance to him, and he would
gladly sell it off into small tracts in
order to get rid of it and relieve him
self ofthe burthen ; yet do not see
his lands advertised in the papers, for
sale. Now, sir, what is applicable to
owners OF city antlotsis also appli-
cable to country vacant property.
Here is the trouble: There are
thousands of acres of rich lands for
sale, but who knows itg Your next
door neighbor may know that you
would like to have an industrious,
thrifty good citizen settle, but out
side of your neighborhood, parish Or
State, they may not know that any
such parcel or tract exists on the face
Of the earth.
There must be some organization
some unity Of action among the peo-
pie in each parish if they desire to
sell their lands, build up the country,
become prosperous and happy, grow
in greatness and keep pace with the
| march of civilization.
Louisiana has all that nature could
give, and more than any other State
| in the Union, to make it the most
powerful, in the future. Yet, as you
remarked in your last issue, to speak
of these things, fails ''to attract thith-
er the emigrants." 1t is something
like theorizing over the production OF
a crop of cotton, corn, rice or sweet
potatoes. A man may theorize him.
self to death and accomplish nothing.
Theory and practice must go togeth-
er. The learned professor who teach
es theory must have some one at his
elbow to put that theory into prac-
tice. ! apprehend it to be the pro-
vince of newspapers to certain ex-
tent to instruct or suggest to the peo-
pie what is for their good and if it il
conclusiyely shown chat the sugges.
tions offered are practical and expe.
dent, then it behOoves the people tc
accept them and make the effort tt
carry them into effect. You. doubt.
! less remember that a prominent mem
Der of the Press Convention at tht
| last meeting in your city, remarked
that we, the people, had no leaders
What we want in this immigration
business is leaders-men to make {
beginning, and, to use a vulga1
phrase, stake the bull by the hornI
and hold fast to him."
! You must not get discouraged il
4 this matter. Remember the origin o
the Capitolian! The grand old Stat
house, whose columns and towers ris
, high up, overlooking your entir
city and surrounding country stand
as monument to its efforts and thOs
of it's confreres. No great enterpris
, can succeed without energy and per
sistent labor. But for Wheelock
where would be your N. 0. Pacif
Railroad? But for the efforts G
!, James Robb and others like hin
6 would Mississippi and New Orlean
now have their Great Northern 1
jackson Railroad? You tell US tha
through the kindly works Of swet
and beautiful woman, daughter
{, Louisiana, twenty-five millions
: capital is being invested in the ono
desolated South. If individual 9,
forts will accomplish SO great thing
what may we not expect from unite
! action Of an intelligent and enterpri'
3ang peoples
( Let the newspapers throughout tt
q State keep this subject before tt
n eople-keep putting it to them-st
o them up and worry them with it III
til they will have to 90 to work
!, selt-defense. My remarks are il
"a tended particularly for men who ow
!. land--more land than they have al
: earthly use for, whose duty it is
=, place it in condition to become sc