New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-07
I,oU1sIANA,s DIFFICULTIES.

structions in the pathway Of louisiana
prosperity are of personal nature rather
than political. They spring from an In
disposition on the part Of certain por-
ton of her citizens to comprehend either
their own condition or that of their coun-
try They will not fully realize the change
| the shareholders rebellion wrought, par
ticularly in the Southern States, and for
that reason persist in following life OF
idleness that makes it difficult for them to
| exist, and at the same time creates the
chief difficulties that embarrass the State.
| When these men owned slaves they not
only lived in idleness, contrary to that
divine Injunction which teaches that man
shall live by the sweat Of his brow, but
| they set themselves up, contrary to the
principles of republican government, as the
chosen few who were to rule not only the
State but the country, and for many years
they did rule and flourish to the special
injury Of the millions Of human beings
they held in bondage and the general
detriment of the country, through the
spread Of feelings and principles antagc-
nistic to the continuance of the American
Union. In grasping for extended and
perpetual rule our Southern shareholders,
like the dog in the fable, dropped the sub
stance to clutch the shadow; and, with an
amended constitution securing free
dom and civil and political equal
ity to all, they have the same rights
that are guaranteed to all citizens,
without distinction of color or previous
condition, and nothing more. And among
these rights is the right to labor. to in
crease their own wealth and thereby help
make the State and country prosperous.
Now Louisiana, unfortunately, has quite
large number of intelligent men who fail
to comprehend these things properly.
They have served seven years appren-
ticeship to idleness, forgetting in their
longings of fruitless political ambition
that idleness is defined to be servile,
weak and degenerate habit; that Of the
mind being worse than that Of the body.
They have to be reminded that wit, with
out useful employment, is a disease, the
rust and canker of the soul, a plague, a
hell itself; for, as in standing pool,
worms and nauseous creepers multiply, so
do vicious thoughts in an idle person.
They want to be told that an idle body,
knowing not how to properly employ it
self, contracts innumerable diseases; that
as the idle dog will grow NANCY, SO an
idle man will not escape gross humors Of
body, crudities, wind, with heavy, dull,
phlegmatic indispositions, and discon-
tents; for so long as he is idle, it is i'm
possible to receive pleasure, knowing not
when he is well, or whittier he would CO.
but tired out with everything, displeased
with all, and even often weary of life
itself, because he will not industriously
and properly dispose Of his time,
which, according to Franklin, should
be money. This is the condition
of portion of Louisiana's more intelli-
gent citizens to-day. They failed to learn
that as idleness is the rust and bane of all
human virtues, so, on the contrary, in
dustry and diligence in business are con-
querors Of all difficulties. The REPUB-
LICAN has frequently taken occasion to re-
mind them of this, and advised them to
follow Senator Carpenters advice when
on visit here, and quit politics for time
and take to some more profitable business.
We have pointed to our rich lands and
given many instances of men lettering
themselves and the State by becoming cul-
tivators Of the soil; have repeatedly d.
rected attention to the want of railroad
connection between this city and Texas
rs one of the most essential means Of re-
viving business in this city; have urged |
our people to unite in demanding from the |
government the construction of the Fort |
st. Philip canal; have shown the great |
benefits that would result to New Orleans |
from the construction of railroad to |
Shreveport; have, in fact, pointed out !
many ways through which our people |
could benefit themselves and the State if |
hey would take to them and for the time |
being let politics alone. But, we regret |
% say, this advice has not always been |
in the past, and, from present |
appearances, is not likely to be in the
immediate future, if Senator Schurz' |
opinion, lately expressed to Messrs.
5illings and Dibble, is to be regarded as
correct. The fact that the Senator is a
member of the Committee on Privileges
nd Elections Will necessarily invest his
opinion with considerable more impor-
ance than if otherwise given. He is re-
ported to have said, upon the occasion re-
erred to, that 'there would be twenty
peeches in the Senate before definite ac-
ion, and the hopes of either aspirant
would be long deferred" This reply was
,iven in answer, it is to be presumed, to
n inquiry as to the chances Of a speedy
ettlement of Louisianas difficulties by
he prompt admission Of Mr.. Pinchback
o his seat in the Senate. The chances
re, then, if Senator Schurz' Judgment in
he matter is good, that quite number Of
1ouisiana's citizens, who might be much
etter employed, will be induced to visit
this winter in the interest Of
he Fusion faction, and it is more than
robable that there will be an equal num-
er of the other party present who are in
crested in sustaining the will Of the ma
,rity in this State. ard who Will feel com |