New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-12-15
nav oPTF4Ns REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY, DECEMBER l5 1872

making beneficial changes in the channels
of trade 1t has, at the same time, relieved
somewhat the lines running to New York
from the plethora blockade which other
wise have ensued, and enlarged the market
The Western trade built the canals and
railroads of New York, Pennsylvania,
OHIO. and vastly enriched those great lines
of communication, and the cities at their
termini AS the trade extended further
west, and the area OF production increased.
any attempted barricade of the Mississippi
was not only an impOssibility, but lines OF
railroad upon either bank were indicated
as necessity, as well as other new OutIets
to the Southeastern States OF the Cult.
Thus the Northwestern producers and the
Southern consumers have been brought into
direct communication, with a marked saw
ing of time cost of transportation, Insu-
rance and commission. This has brought
about healthy competition between the
eastern and western lines of transportation
which reach common points IN the South,
greatly blessing the latter, which is pre-
sented choice of markets, and enabled to
look to the Northeast for money for its cot
ton, and to the Northwest for food for its
money. Thus our country is dOubly blessed
by an equa lizatiOn of the supply of COM
mOdities on the same parallel OF latitude,
and by an exchange of the various pro-
ducts of the different lines of latitude
across the lines of longitude. No
other country on the globe presents to
mankind similar advantages. Thus the
blessings which Providence has bestowed
upon this nation fall like the dews of heaven
upon all the people in every part. One of
the happy effects of opening these new
lines of rapid transit is renewed life in the
principal cities and ports OF the gulf. There
is a growing commerce not only with Eu-
rope, but with the countries on the southern
borders of the gulf and with the West In
dies and South America. Through these
developments and the improved lines be
tween the East and West, and the laws of
Congress allowing bonded cars, the princi-
pal interior cities are becoming largely en-
gagged in direct foreign trade, thus break
ing up old mOn0pOhcs and lessening charges.
High tariffs aud harassing customhouse de
laws have offered rewards for improved de-
vices of trade.
Within the next few months, all Texas,
and Louisiana and Arkansas, and New Mex
leo, and the Indian Territories of the North
west and of the Southwest, hitherto mostly
isolated and undeveloped, will be brought
into the magic circle OF our commerce by
our OutreaGhing lines of railway, and short
", if we may include our Canadian neigh
Dor, not less than five lines will cross the
continent. The buffalo, the Indian and the
Mexican, and all the prejudices of illiberal
policy are becoming disturbed and uprOOted
in their ancient haunts, and the light of
civilization will shed it's benifcent beams
into regions hitherto in darkness, accom-
plishing the manifest destiny OF the repub-
lie, and subduing all to the conquering
forces of science, industry, commerce, hber-
ty and Christianity.
American commerce! How vast and
comprehensive! 1t courses through every
vein and artery, and gives life and strength
to every muscle Of the continent. 1t threads
its way among the ice foes of the Arctic; it
battles boldly with the traditional giants OF
the old world; it batters down the moss
covered walls of exclusion which hid the
mysteries of Japan and China, penetrates
the untold barbarism of Africa, and plants
its marketmaster, the consul, on the remote
islands of the sea. Its increase is SO pro-
digious and rapid that st&tistlclans try III
vain to state it, and the world wonders and
fails to comprehend it. Three thousand
millions invested in the appliances OF trans
portatiOn can keep pace with it, and five
hundred millions of annual changes made
in the attempt can not impede it.
We have reason, therefore, gentlemen, to
congratulate ourselves on the rapid progress
which has been made in every direction.
| All around us we behold welcome signs of
vigorous prosperity. Great disasters have
| fallen upon particular localities, local dis
| turbances have happened some OF odf SO
| oial, financial and political peculiarities are
acquiesced in ather than approved, but
the great re public is undoubtedly steadily
| going forward, and increasing IN all the
| elements of power, wealth and grandeur
Freedom of speech and the liberty of the
press, and the right Of peaceably assembling
in convention are III the fullness Of fru
ition, and if there be any wrong We
can not rectify, any error we can
not expose, any fallaci0us policy we
can overturn, or any necessity OF the coun-
try which we can not supply, it should not
be for want of full and free discussion
This, then, presume, is your mission, gen
| tlemen, and inasmuch as you are business
men of practical knowledge, and not
traders in politics, your presentation and
discussion Of topics connected with the bust
ness interests of the country can not bu
commend themselves to the notice of those
who bear the responsibilities of govern
ment IT, then, you can devise any plan
to ameii0rate the condition of commerce, OF
to make it's wheels revOlye more smooth,
or protitably, or as successfully remove i'm
pediments Of art as we have those of nature
/ am sure you will receive for your reward
not Only the approval of your own cou
sciences. but the benedictiOns of your coun
try. To this reward of your efforts you ar
cordially welcome and thrice welcome {
the hearts and homes of st. Louis.