New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-08-20
AN 1NcEEp1ARY PUBLICATION.

AN lNCENUlAEX fU6I4CA41ON'
The consequences Of exaggeratlng the
misfortunes of our State to secure polltl'
| cal intervention from abroad, have had q
very deplorable effect upon our interests.
Everything tending to prejudice our city
as market, and our State as residence,
was caught by our rivals in trade and in
immigration. The anti-Republican press
elsewhere cheerfully published the worst
things about US. 1t not only helped their
political plans, but also the commercial
| interests of their cities.
Louisiana was about to be sacrificed by
an insane determination to rule, or selfish
willingness to ruin. Our merchants and
mechanics took the alarm ; the landlords
were not content to see "six thousand
vacant houses in New Orleans advertised
by New York paper. They called a
parley with our city politicians. and told
them tina. this was destructive Of their
best business interests. The aid OF the
press was demanded, and it was so imper-
alive that the Picoyune and Times have
been compelled to abate their bitter hostil-
ity to everything and everybody that
belonged to another political party than
their own. For weeks past, therefore, all
our journals have been filed with glowing
descriptions OF our workshops, with en-
cravings of GU, public and private edifces;
visitors have been seized Unfortunately
by our omniverous reporters. at the
moment of their arrival, and made to
give their opinions Of what is the best
thing to be done for city that has lost
its appetite. with symptoms Of general
lsdecline.
These opinions are given with great sa-
gacity, heralded with head lines and inn
pressed with editorial Endorsement. 1t is
true that one Of these Thebans few days
since explained how people could make
living by selling here -four bought in st.
Louis at less than cost; it provoked some
incredulous comment, but there is no
doubt but that New Orleans is now better
advertised than it ever was.
But these encouraging pictures, drawn
by our active reporters. by no means suit
the politician sitting in the shades Of the
country. These reports show that New
Orleans is not ruined They show that
heavy as the debt and burdensome as the
taxes, industrious and economical men
grow rich in spite of them.
So party Of gentlemen residing not
far from Grant parish aye not contented
with the portentous calm. They fear
this lethargy Of strife proceeds the death
Of that unhappy political combination
which has done so much to distract Lou
isiana. They are determined to counter
act this calm, and set the pillows Of civil
strife once more rolling. So they thus
attempt to disprove the quiet and pros
perity which the New Orleans people and
press are endeavoring to establish.
We are fully aware of the fact that those
who have violently usurped the govern
ment Of this State have industriously Cir
culated false statements in relation to the
success of the existing usurpatiOE, and have
endeavOred to create the impression abroad
that the people are yielding a voluntary
obedience to the Kellogg government and
are giving it cCuntenance and support.
That such is not the case is well known to
every citizen Of the State.
To contradict this "false statement" of
peace and returning prosperity, these gen.
tbin1 - w. m siV,o, "a
some measures" which will show that our
people are not satisfied and our condition
is not prosperous. Thus:
But in view of the advantages which have
been afforded the usurpers to give cur
rency to these false statements, we believe
it necessary to inaugurate some measures
so as to give an expression of opinion as to
the real condition of affairs in Louisiana;
to show to the world the miserable failure
of the usurping governments; it's treachery,
tyranny and ruinous policy, being run ex-
clusively in the interest Of corrupt rings;
the general depression of trade and COM
merce and decentralization resulting solely
from misgovernment.
Not knowing what these measures shall
be precisely, they appeal for counsel to
Mr. McEnery, a private citizen understood
to have good deal Of leisure on hand and
nothing to combat except the mosqui-
toes. This gentleman addresses himself
with alacrity to the task of disproving our
prosperity and reviving our discomfort.
He does not apparently like this pruden-
tial course of our merchants for saving
the remnant of our commerce, and thus
intimates his inappeasable hostility to the
existing state Of things:
But any government, promising better
future, however irregularly instituted, is
preferable to one promising certain impov-
erishment and general bankruptcy. When
people find themselves surrounded as we
are by desperate and straitened circum-
commerce decaying, agriculture
capital with mercurial wings
in flight, real estate depressed and depre-
ciated fifty per cent since kellogg's rule.
and in fact all values on the decline-all
this in a State boundless of resources. and
simply and alone due to the fact of bad,
dishonest. illegitimate government, possess
ing neither the confidence Of the people at
home or abroad, it is natural that they will
accept relief from any hand that extends
it, and will not stop to inquire as to the
or irregularity Of the authority
exercised.
We will no. inquire what government
''however irregularly instituted is here
referred to. The submission to the man
dates of national authority" and the ap-
peal to that authority for Justice forbid
us to believe that any intrusive or revolu-
tionary government is intended. We do
not really understand what is meant by
the phrase. so we will not interpret it