New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-21
AID THE RAILROADS.

AID THE RAILROADS.
We are surprised to see the least hesl-
tation on the part of Republican Con-
gress to give aid to railroad enterprises at
the South. The railroads of every other
section of the Union have received such
aid, and there can be no we'll grounded
objection to granting like encouragement
to us, and particularly to certain leading
enterprises, which, if successfully exc
cuted, must open up to settlement all that
fertile region lying between the Missls
sippi river and the Pacific coast and thus
confirm and strengthen the power OF the
government in the section where it is,
without doubt, the weakest. The day is
too far spent to justify the short-sighted
views of mere malignants, who manifest
an unwillingness to do anything for the
South for fear that rebels might thereby
be in some way benefited. In matters OF
this kind the government can not afford to
abandon its well settled policy because
particular obnoxious individuals may,
forsooth, participate in the blessings that
have always followed that policy. Untold
millions have been given to the railroads
of the Northwest, and if but a moity OF
what has been done for that section be
now done for the Southwest, it will be safe
to promise not only the grandest pecunlary
results, but also system of States in the
South and Southwest equally loyal to the
Union aud to the Republican party. We
have never doubted but that an enlarged
and liberal policy toward the South as
geographical section, was the true policy
of the Republican party. The liberality
we propose is not as to political IDEAS,
either past or present, but as to those
measures that are calculated to develop
the commercial and agricultural wealth
of our section. We hold that such policy
faithfully adhered to by the Republican
party, will, under existing cireum-
stances, more certainly secure Re-
publican victories than any method
of mere repression that might be resorted
to, rebel Acknowledgement not excepted.
Let there be no concessions to nor COM
promises with the once arrogant but now
effete pro-slavery theories of the South;
they must be trampled under foot when
ever and wherever they oppose our on
ward progress-but, at the same
time, rising superior to motives of re-
venge, we must demonstrate the sound
ness of our political theories, and approve
ourselves benefactors as well as con-
querors. Public sentiment at the South
in many particulars, remains rooted and
grounded in an ancient soil, but thank
God, the fertility of that soil for evil has
disappeared, and it only remains for Re-
publican craftsmanship to drive the car
of progress through the land to utterly
annihilate every pernicious growth. Give
US more railroads; let them sec!ionize
and bi-sectionize the whole country,
and there need be no fear
but the people will catch the
enthusiasm of popular emancipation which
has already discovered the philosophers
stone on every farm and in every work
shop at the North and caused that region,
which is comparatively sterile, to blooom
like garden. In nothing is the South
more deficient than in the use of quick and
easy methods so abundantly supplied by
the ingenious mechanic at the North. To
large extent, and certainly in politics,
they have plowed with crooked sticks, and
wasted their capacity for usefulness in
combating what they called the dangerous
innovations of Yankee ingenuity. We
once heard Democratic leader say that
the building of railroads would destroy the
Democratic party. That man was mani
testify wiser than his party, and wished to
maintain his superiority. But the Re-
publicans are the protested friends of
mprovements-of progress, and, as such,
we call upon them to do for us what they
have done SO magni6cently for the North
west-help US to build railroads, and. i'm
prove our harbors, lakes and great rivers.
Mere political reconstruction is already
accomplished, but the reconstruction that
will follow awakened industry
from the deadening influence of slavery
is yet to come, and will not only maintain
itself, bnt will also maintain the ascend
ancy of the Republican party.