New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-05
n MEANS REPUDIATION.

have announced that they know Of no way
to govern the city Of New Orleans but by
repudiating its debts, dishonoring its
credit, discounting its engagements, and
defeating its laws. This is a grave charge,
but it is one that we propose to prove So
clearly that not even Mr.. Leeds himself
will care to contradict it.
Government is an institution created
by all the people for their mutual benefit
Each member pledges himself att forma-
ton to abide by the will of all, as ex-
pressed in the law Each depends upon
the government for all that he has, and
his honor and interest bind him to assist
with his body and pocket in unfolding
the organized force that guards his life
and goods. Does Mr.. Leeds fulfil his
duties as a member Of this society? Is he
loyal to his pledges, and is he entitled to
support or countenance from those toward
whom he stands in the attitude of de-
faulter? Byno means. He is high Of
fender, whose actions beft him more for
PUNISHMENT Glidu l6WdIu
Mr.. Charles J. Leeds resists the collec-
ton Of the taxes upon his wealth, con-
trary to his obligation as partner in the
evils and blessings of common govern
ment He does this, too, while enjoying
the benefits which the money of his part
ners has paid for, and which they had to
pay extrayagantly for, because Of his de-
linquency. He is lawless and rebellious,
because he defies the law which he con
stan+ly inyokes for his own protection. Is
this the man whose example we are to
parade before the community as worthy Of
our homage? Honesty and truth forbid
the abomination.
Admit that the debt of New Orleans is
an onerous burden, and that part of it
was contracted illegally and even wick
eddy, are we therefore to repudiate it with
out regard to its quality? Are We to dis
honor the good and bad alike, and not only
that, are we to cheat those who are even
trading with us as honest? Every man
whose wages is discounted, whose bills
are deprecated, whose accounts are left
unpaid for want Of money, is the victim Of
such men as Leeds, who first neglect their
duty as citizens and then refuse to be held
responsible for their own sins of omission.
He uses the gaslght Of the streets, de-
ponds upon the water Of the public by
drants, wears out the streets, wharves and
banquettes that the people have paid for,
calls upon the police, appeals to the courts,
counsels the government and looks to it
for assistance in every emergency, and
even he has the hardihood, while denying
his duty as citizen, to be intrusted with
the highest honors in the community
whose most binding obligation he sets at
naught 1t is a most marvellous affair.
MIR. Leeds makes no exception, as a
business man should, but blindly with
holds all his taxes, because, he says, GER
tain of them are of doubtful legality.
This is respectable and first class dishon-
esty. It is such trick as no legitimate
business man would dare to be guilty of.
Its effect is to degrade the credit of the
city, to defraud the servants Of the people,
10 enrich the brokers and to enhance the
burdens upon honest and faithful taxpay-
ers. Whenever the tax resisters effect a
depreciation in city paper the corporation
las to lose that discount, by being forced
% pay higher prices for what it purchases
1r consumes. Mr.. Leeds and his friends
nave strangled the credit Of New Orleans,
or tried to do so, until its paper is now
worth only sixty-two cents on the dollar,
which is not only robbery Of the laborer
md factor of the people, but it is robbery
If every man who has paid his taxes, and
esolved to elect men who will reduce
hem.
Mr.. Leeds and his reform tribe have
never been able to enlighten the people as
o single measure that they propose
Whereby the condition Of the city is to be
.meliorated. They mouth about reform
S the drunkard does who takes weekly
ath never to drink again. If these men
re reformers, they know what they intend
0 reform, and if they know they can tell
he public, unless they distrust it. We
ave heard the same promise made a
thousand times, and seen it broken just as
ften, and that, too by men who were not
ngaged in any such tricks as the Lyceum
Iall convention is engaged in. They did {
ot placard their dishonesty as their chief t
They did not hide be t
ind their wealth and consequence, as I
II. Leeds does, but they were fully as re- f
pectable and fully as capable Of forget d
ing after an election what they had en-
aged to do before
The Reform convention, therefore, rep
esents political trickery and public dis t
onesty in this, that it has no party, and {
yies for its success on bullying the Democ- I
ICY; and that it has no principle except S
lat vague and unsatisfactory promise y
do better, which is the refuge Of school |
oys, profigates, and all sorts Of weak Q
inded and designing people. It had +
me good men on its list Of delegates, Il
ID then again it had some very weak n
les, to use the mildest term within reach. v
le good were over-matched, and the re- b
1t is just what we have reported little IS
POLITICAL corner that clocks up voters c1