The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-14
ARE WE A DOOMED PEOPLE?

| The Washington correspondent OF the Ne"
York Herald Of the 9th inst. says: 1.-THE
government of Kellogg has been at work
absorbing everything all the time, and hence
now presents, in its acts, for the time being
something to commend it to the people
Just at this time the above remarks OF thu
Washington correspondent could not nave
been more infelicitOns OF inopportune.
That the Kellogg Government has been al
work absorbing everything, all the time, we
are free to confess. There has nothing been
left undone, both by the Legislative and
Executive departments, to plumber and ruin
the people, and to disgrace the State. But
wherein single commendable service has
been rendered the people, we are at loss to
discover. Such exposes as are being daily
made of the corruption, venality and imbe-
cilty that characterize this present so-called
State Government, are not such as to lead
the intelligent reader to believe that there
is any virtue in Kellogg or his official
attaches.
The wrongs and grievances of Louisiana
are fast becoming unbearable. A long suffer
ing and patient people, when every peaceable
effort has failed to secure them redress.
will finally resort to other methods, which
if not as consistent with the well known
character of our citizens for peace and order,
will certainly effect some change and bring
about more healthy condition of political
affairs than now exists in this State.
When the planters are ruined and driven
to desperation by the miserable manage
ment of the levees by the State authorities /;
when the whole country is flooded by Gre
vases, the crops destroyed, plantations de-
vastated and negroes thrown out Of employ
ment and driven to starvation, we may look
for such an outburst of Indignation against
this usurping Government, as will sweep it
from power and consign it, we trust, to the
farthest depths Of oblivion.
Already our State has been shorn of its
glory, its prestige is gone, its agricultural,
commercial and industrial interests pros
trate And yet there is no end to the de-
mands upon the people for taxes and forced
contributions, by Government that affords
no relief and no protection to any one.
Our unfortunate and pitiable condition is
understood, however, by the members of the
General Government. In fact, the world
looks aghast upon the picture presented by
Louisiana. The Hon. John Young Brown,
of Kentucky, thus eloquently and truthfully
described the state of affairs in our State,
in his address to the House of Representa-
tives:
Look again at Louisiana. Daughter of the
sun, favored by climate and soil, and rich
in matchess resources; once happy with
her perfumed orange groves, her fields
of cane, thousands Of acres Of growing
tobacco waving as the great white
banners of her pride, industry and
wealth. with the mighty Father of
Waters bearing to her marts the products
of the South and West, and the Gulf
opening to her the commerce of the world
her mighty forests, standing as silent guards
of her magnificent repOsc her lovely lakes,
the peace and beauty of heaven
not then dlscolored by blood shed in dOmes
tic strife; her ruling class, more versed in
the graceful culture and amenities of po-
lite civilization than devoted to the barbarc
ri,es and mysteries Of voudouism her
CrescenB City, queen Of that realm of
trade and chivalry, the emporium of i'm
meDse traffic-river gull and railroad all
pouring their tributes into her lap; but
to-day, discrowned, and how changed. Her
scepter, her robes, and her jewels stolen
fallen froIa her high estate; holding life and
property at the mercy and caprice of her
OppressOrs; taxes almost insuppOrtable
levied; property deprecated until it is
with usurpiDg Legis-
|ature legalized by the un warrant-
table orders of drunken judge-she is he
victim Of a conspiracy of plunderers, sus-
tanned by the bayonets of this Government
Outraged, with weeping eyes and bleeding |
breast, there she lies, ravlshed Of fortune
and free government, to crafty the internal |
and remorseless lust Of her oppressors for
gold and power.
Such an array of charges against the
party is fearfully damaging, and
n the days Of the purity Of the Republic
would have been sufficient to drive from
bower the men who prostitute the high |
places Of government for base and ignoble
purposes.
We await with patience the action of the
United States Senate on Senator Carpenters
,ill, and are anxious to see if justice will be
lone Louisiana, or if our people are to be
doomed and held in bondage for years to
,Ome.