Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-08-03
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

gress of countries are measured by
its unerring standard, and it is fatal
mistake for individuals or commune
ties to suppose that they can keep
pace with the demands of civilization
and progress by "letting things take
their COURSE" without putting forth
every effort in their power to give
shape to that course. The marvel
GUS advancement which has charac-
terized the history of the West, is
significant criterion by which to judge
of the influences and advantages
attending well devised and steadily
pursued system of internal improve
ments. 4 resolute good faith in the
power and capacity of human efforts
to grapple with and overcome natu-
raj obstacles has worked out results
in comparatively short space OF
time which have scattered pre-existent
theories Of impossibilities to the winds
and astonished the world. The ami
hilation of distance between remotest
points and in every direction, by
means of iron networks, and the con-
sequent building up of cities, villages,
farms and manufactures, may be
cited as the great artificial main
spring in this relation of cause and
effect, whereby the genius, might
and resources of the West have been
so abundantly developed.
I Could the bitter cup of war have
been averted, the South might have
achieved in the past four years, more
than she had ever done before in
schemes of internal improvement;
for at the time the rebellion broke
out, she had reached the great turn
ing point which was opening to view
an era of prosperity more brilliant
than any hitherto known to her peo-
pie. Already had Georgia become
traversed in nearly every direction
by railroads, and manufactures had
sprung up enabling her to compete
successfully with Northern rivals.
The spirit of enterprise had obtained
fast hold upon her people, and
aided by the vast outpourings OF her
agricultural and mineral wealth, they
had acquired for her the proud dis
tinction of Empire State of the
South" In Louisiana we had much
to justify the hope, that in the not
far distant future. we should realize
here too, the unfolding of brighter
destiny in the march of enterprise
than ever; but the messenger of war
came and with it came retardation,
retrogression and desolation. 1t be-
hooves our people now once more to
apply themselves with renewed vigor
and energy to the task of recupera-
ton. Forgetting the past, in so far
as its painful remembrances may tend
to paralyze their efforts, and looking
steadily and encouragingly to the
future, let us take fresh start on
the great highway Of progress, keep
ing in mind the good old French
proverb-'taide TOT ct Dieu t'didera."
In the general work of restoration
in our State, considerations of private
and public interest, 60 hand in hand.
The one ought not to be detached
from the other, for whatever conduces
"the greatest good of the greatest
number" conduces also to individual
benefit. A single individual, pos
sessing expansive energies is capable
of efecting more for the general vel
fare, than the thousands of others
with whom self-aggrandizement is
the leading principle and motive.
The times imperatively demand, that
in our own community as well as
elsewhere in our State, that selfish,
narrow-minded policy, which has so
materially retarded advancement in
matters of State and local prosperity,
should be made to give way before a
more liberal and enlightened policy,
and we believe the day to be not
varv far off when this will be the