The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-03
The New south.
The Manufacturers Gazette.


Southern States, in respect to manu-
features and the mechanic arts, is open
lug up new field for skilled labor,
which bids fair to draw heavily upon
the resources Of both the old and new
world. 1t is a notorious fact that
many of the Southern cotton, wool and
iron factories, located in South Caro-
lima. Georgia Louisiana and Texas, now
have their agents at Castle Garden, III
New York city, watching the arrival of
every immigrant vessel and eagerl y pick
iugup and forwarding to their respective
establishments every skilled operative
who is open TO an engagement. Ow-
ing to this urgent Southern demand for
skilled labor, the current of European
immigration has in q measure been d.
verted from our northern cities, as
most Of the agricultural class on land
ing Immediately strike out for homes
in the West. Besides, the induce
ments held out to Southern immigrants
are much greater than were ever offered
before, there being immediate and per-
manent employment, in many cases at
niger wages than are paid in our
Northern manufacturing establish
ments.
There is another element of the situa-
ton which also enables the new South
to compete successfully in the labor
market, especially for that European
surplus which is constantly being
thrown upon our shores. And that is
the social tolerance and consideration
extended to skilled white labor in that
section, which were almost or wholly
wanting under the old slavery regime.
1t Is, indeed, fortunate for all concerned
that these old social distinctions grow
ing out Of the servile labor institution
are now fast dying ont and will soon
become entirely ohliterated. White
as well black labor has become a neces-
sity Of the new South in the career of
material progress and improvement
upon which she has entered, and that
necessity, which reaches even the fami-
lies of the old land aristocracy, has
made white labor respectable. In a
particular manner the trained mechanic
and factory operative have lately
grown to be factor of Southern pros
perity Of too much Importance to be
ignored or ostracised. Hence, they
are enabled, as consequence of this
great upheaval of its foundations, to
step forward and take a commanding
position in Southern society. In many
localities they are now treated with
greater consideration than the working
classes of our Northern population.
This great change which bids fair to
open up an almost boundIess field for
skilled labor enterprises in country
hitherto almost barren of them, will
not De without its effect in stimulating
the North to greater exertions and |
higher efforts in It's own industrial |
sphere of action. 1t must do this in |
order to hold its lead and retain its |
present advantages. Moreover, with |
Southern manufacturers competing for i
recruits III our own labor market. I
where the present supply of trained
mechanics and operatives is by no
means excessive, it will be well for us
to strengthen the bonds Of sympathy
and friendship between labor and capi-
tai here at the North by adopting
liberal and conciliatory policy upon all
occasions when there shall apper to be
danger af a conflict. Strikes and
block-outs have been the bane of both
labor and capital in many of the Euro
pean manufacturing centres, where ig-
norance aud obstinacy have served to
the difficulties of the situa.
tion. But the laboring classes here are
generally intelligent and well informed,
ard hence ara more easilv 3ealf vitl
oN III 81 ~ tbVH reason anc e2sa -
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