New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-06-11
PLAGUING THE INVENTORS.

| PROVIDED IOT sGio'iNy " VIZ
obligations Of the State. We cite III proof
of this assertion the exposure. wlshoU'
regard to past party alliance, OF those
who may have participated in all obnoz'
ious engagements and the enactment OF
the bribery law. with other measures
showing determined advocacy OF integ-
rity and reform.
But we are too modes: to CLAIM, for the
Republicans the invention OF al the de-
vices which have been resorted to for
enriching individuals at the expense OF
the State and city. On the contrary.
when the Republican party came into
| power it found: l. These practices in full
operation under Democratic government
of State and city. 2. The Democratic
politicians anxious to unite in any enact
ment that would give them half the loaf
they had Heretofore mouopo,ized.
Are we asked for proof? There was the
lease of the New canal. with various gifts
and grabs Of the same character made
by toe Legislature of 1865. There was
the contract Of public State printing
which seems now public crime-given
in monopoly to single party journal.
At the last ses sion this journal asked an
appropriation Of some $4,000 to make
good the depreciation of State credit. A
| depreciation which, contrary to the theory
| Of Mr.. Booth, Senator, was not produced
| during the six months Of Governor hel-
logg's administration. If the loss by dis
| count on the transaction of this public
printing was $50, 600, then the business
must have been large. But the printing was
given to partisan Journal. and bill for
its relief WAS passed at the solicitation OF
its Democratic owners through RepUb-
Ecan Legislature.
SO soon as the hold Of these Democratic
managers was broken, they went to work
to employ whatever OF ignorance and
venality could be found in the growing
party. One of the first efforts Of this
ring WAS to fix upon the State some seven
millions Of Confederate obligations. An
other was to give to company the ex-
elusive right to furnish butchers meat to
the city. Then there was the Levee Com
pany. composed III great par: Of men
claiming to be Democrats. There were
other similar applications for State bonds.
taxes and franchises. which do not need
enumeration. There were numerous acts.
both for the redemption o. funding OF the
State and city debts, Which were enacted
at the instance and chiefly for the benefit
OF brokers and money changers G: tn.
Democratic profession. l: i, true these
men, with one hand in TIE State or city
treasury, waved the other with ''hurrah
for the Democracy" These brokers. many
of whom would profess IsiaI.:s:I if in
Turkey. KEEP: up their popularity with the
Democrats and the:s profits GU: Of the
Republicans.
The practice Of swindiing this city
through gil: contracts and ofici.! bribery
seems immemorial. Shell. di;chinS and
lumber bills, paid Oh purchased certiti-
Gates Of survey, were Old tricks. The
sale Of the city interas! in the jackson
railroad occasioned imputatioDs upon the |
Democratic officials who consummated it.
We shall not expose ourselves to a ground
less action io- libe! by saying more than |
that the consideration paid for the State
ana city Interest, appears Insignificant.
and the sale Of the stock was not indis-
pensable to the maintenance Of the road.
In all this legislation wLic.. has charged |
the State so heavily. we challenge the |
Democratic accy.sers to point to one IL |
which majority vote Of their own city |
representatives has no: beef. cast for the !
measure: Such is the evidence furnished |
by pamphlet published last year fron.
tn. legislative record. 1. was from. the
pen o. NJ. Bragdon. then secretary Of the
Governor Of the State. The authenticity
of its statements has never been denied |
by the Democratic representatives Of the
city that we have seen.
It then appears. first, that the Republi-
cans did not introduce these occ.lt prac-
tises into Louisiana politics; second, that
a man may aid il getting money and fran
chises surrept;t;ously from the Legislature
without thereby impairiDg his standing
with the Democratic party. We might
perhaps add, that if he ''get. away" with
such spoils he is welcome to tina. party,
though not protesting itspolitical faith.
We are aware that the public printing is
an eyesore 10 the reformerS OF the press.
They once held and enjoyed ii. French
and English. without complaint Of any
wrong. Ii I. change Of administration
should restore it to them. does the public
believe tina: they would march TO the pub
lie altar and burn upon It the State and
city contrac: for composition, presswork,
paper and binding: So far from this, let
but one morsel OF th;s-abusa as they call
it-be thrown into their kennel. and such
a fight as would take Place ove. il:
such biting, barking and yelring:
such propositions 70. compromise. divi-
sion and sub-lettiug. Lave rarely been
imagined. We can pardon carpe.-bas-
gers of AZ edition more recent than any
from New EnSlaLi. aai. therefore. utterly
snorant Of the :a.:y ...:ory of Louisiana:
10: not knowing :!.ese :acts. So patent to
III who have lived re even since tie
var. Bu. the fats remain as we hay.
stated them. Bargain and corruption here
re as oil. as Louisiana. Sons. He,,,,h. |