New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-20
A DISEASE THAT BREEDS DISEASE.

The strike on the levee, in its Illegal
characteristics, only fulflls what has be-
come a sort Of custom in this community
Whenever the Oldest and best find that the
chronic neglect Of their political duties
has involved them in trouble, instead of
relying upon the remedies of the law to
rectify the evil, they at once Jump to the
conclusion that somebody ought to be
hung or driven out Of the State. They
can not so to work patiently and discretely,
to correct what can be corrected very
easily in legitimate and quiet way, but
they seek to suppress one wrong by over
coming it6n Wrongful way The Ievee
strikers initiate this custom in their VIC
| Ience toward. those who do not act with
them, which is merely an. imitation Of
the suggestions and actions that
have prevailed in New Orleans for
four years in regard to the government es-
tablished over the community by the peo-
pie It is a notorious fact, in proof Of
what we say, that but for the presence Of
the United States military in this city, and
the dread Of federal authority, we should
have had tU1nult upon tumult, and the
laws would have been set at nought at the
will of mobs in hundred instances. The
longshoTem6n simply act upon the ac-
copied custom Of those who consider them
selves the oldest and best citizens, and
their initiative propensity should certainly
exempt them from being too severely cen
sured by those who set them the example.
The first great lesson the people Of New
Orleans should learn Is to respect the Law.
The better the citizen, the higher his
standing, the greater his wealth, and the
more important his interests, the greater
the necessity Of his being law abiding
man. The way to abrogate obnoxious or
oppressive enactments is very plainly pro
vided for, and the people can always &C
complish their own relief without resort |
ing to violence But they must attend to
this duty as they attend to tie paying Of |
their debts, by devoting their attention to
it. The citizen who has a note IN bank |
prepares to meet it according to the strict |
requirements Of the statutes that govern |
the case, and avoids all confusion and |
clustering as injurious to his interests
This should be the rule adopted by the peo-
pie in treating their political evils, for when
responsible citizens set the example of
violence the irresponsible classes will in
prove upon the practice by righting their
wrongs or enforcing their suggestions in
the same reprehensibIe way. And every
act Of Iawlessness that is committed in
the community not only costs money TO
the taxpayer, but it breeds others and is
the author Of yiciousness that distresses
the entire body of society. The strikers
on the leyee are justified in demanding
they want, but they are not justi-
fed in forcing other laborers to join with
them, The law, however, regulates this
evil, as it regulates almost every
wrong that can be done to So
eiety; and now it is for the peo-
pie who are affected by the strike, toll
see that the longshoremen oonfne them
selves to their positive rights, not ly forci-
BY driving them into legal paths, bat by
them in the way set down lty
he lawitself This is the cheapest action
hat can be adopted; it is the safest, and
It's the most consistent with good govern
nent and with the interest Of all a little
patient attention to the prosecution Of all
Will have a wholesome effect
N the ssoldest and best as OF the
youngest and worst, for the latter have
Series Of examples before them that jasti-
les their conduct, ana these examples were
furnished by the former.