New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-14
NEW YORK AND HER RAsCALs.

The admissions made by our Fusio
friends in regard to their abuses in Lo,
isiana, have occasioned much turning u
of eyes among the pse~udo-purists Of othe
sections, yet it appears that we are bette
than these Pharisees. In the first place
our abuses were not merely copied frol
''the better land" Of our censors, but the
actually condescended to com On, i
some cases, and put up the machinery {
fraud. Bills, ready written, with all tn
patent Albany loop holes for escape, i
case of danger, were brought on and pu
through, using the same lubricating agen
that made the ring at Harrisburg 0
Albany traverse so smoothly.
The first principle of these abuses was
Fusion. The only excuse for perpetua
parties ever made was that 'they vii
watch each other" The Fusion trick con
sisted in an ostensible abuse of each othe
by violent partisans of Democracy AM
Republicans in the day time. and a meet
ing at night to devise means of burglar.
upon the treasury. This was the Tweed
patent, and was applied with success b.
the Credit Mobilier ring.
Louisiana has taken the lead, however
in returning to the simple integrity of tn
earlier republic. She has commenced
the scrutiny Of obligations fraudulently
or imprudently granted. She will Gu
down the appropriations in strict accord
ance with this purpose.
The New York people have suffered
| even more than ourselves from the abuse
of the funding principle. 1.-The New
York ~rascals' are even more resplenden;
in their villany than our OWL. The debt
imposed on New York by this fusion OF
their rascals Cor the sake of the spoiis il
stated at one hundred millions.
The local Indebtedness of the State is
quoted at two hundred millions more.
Adding thereto the proportion Of one
seventh Of the national debt, the State of
New York owes s547, 900, OOO. OF more
than $500 for each adult male inhabitant.
This. at six per cent, is head tax of $50
per annum, which those who can pay for
those who can not. The New York Iri.
bune, from which we take these estimates.
sounds the note of admonition:
We warn our legislators and public func.
tionaries at Washington, Albany and at
home, that these burdens Of debt and taxa
ton, which, taking them altogether, have
been rapidly and necessarily increasing
during the last thirteen years, must be
lightenet. And the only way to tighten
them is by genuine economy and radical re-
trenchment.
There is another way which the people
will teach their rulers if such admonition
is not hardened to. 1t is 20 say, as Lou
isiana has done, much Of the money
composing tais, that you call debt, has
never gone to the account for which it
was incurred. We acknowledge ourselves
bound by the acts of u representatives,
as . merchant acknowledges his response
bility for his abused power Of attorney.
The people Of New York will say: We
would pay all obligations in our name if
We were able. but We are not able to pay
$500 a head. Therefore, like any other
improvident obligee, whose credit has
been destroyed by the abuse Of his sigma
ture. we shall go into voluntary bank.
pro tanto. We shall scruti-
nizs and then scale these outstand-
ing obligations. We will acknowl.
edge rs many cent, OF the dollar
as we can pay. and provide for
that. But we forewarn you not to trust
any persons pretending authority for u IS
these sums. This policy will be
inevitable IN New York. The very admin.
of Mayor Havemeyer is charged
on all sides with the repetition o: the
Eweed-Conrolly frauds, and it seems that
have already made sor themselves
some nine millions Of dollars.
New York will have to reform these ras-
calls out of Office. or repeat the remedy
~ her yaseals founded the yuiu-of LOU
In thus leading fiscal reforms it is graft
lying TO know that the funding act of
Louisiana and the sequentiaf economies
ire the work of Republicans, the Fusion
having stood resolutely aloof, except to |
rage against the scrutiny of State bonds.
md denounce the reduction Of the public
1ebt.
There is a higher honor yet. These ini-
,ial and ~resolute acts have been passed by
/ House of Representatives with a majority !
# colored members! These members are
by a constituency that own little |
property and are day laborers on the
ands Of others. yet the first arrest of ras-
the first abatement of burdens, |
zones from thi: colored majority. This
carried out will demonstrate the
integrity of the eolored people and their
incere desire to do justice to their fellow.
II would seem o strange per.
'ersity Of temper for a landlord to shoot
n cause to be shot, for the otfense Of inn
properly executing the right Of suffrage, a
aborer who has just relieved him of q
,urdensome tax. The vindication Of the
Republican, party, and especially Of the
Republicans of Louisiana. is COM.
,lete. w. tyus: our censors elsewhere /
nd our defamerS at home will remember
ha: as Louisiana was seduced into the ex.
Of Ne. York and Pennsylvania
through ~eontiding ignorance. she has set
hem tis eXaMDle of repuiiatino her |