New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-18
UNFOuNDED FEARS.

The measures Of reform effected by The
Republican Legislature proves that it may
be safely intrusted with the care of OH
affairs. Any public apprehension lest this
Legislature would pass acts for personal
benefit and public injury has been tri.
umphantly refuted. There were pending
two bills for the regulation of commercial
sales, the one of cotton and the other OF
tobacco. They created offices and imposed
sales which the regular traders in cotton
and tobacco deprecated as destructive of
their business. Did the Legislature pass
those bills to enrich those who might be
called to administer them? The Repub-
lican Legislature has too much sagacity
| to promote the private interests of any
man, by. passing measure which may
bring reproach upon the whole party.
That game is played out in the Repub-
lican party, here and at Washington.
Republicans are not aristocrats. They do
not intend to build up colossal fortunes
for few men at the expense of the many.
They are satisfied that it is not 'for the
good of the party to fatten any man up
to such wealth, by party largesses, as
that he may dictate to those who have
made him what he is. Equality is not
only justice-it is wisdom. and the Re-
publicans want no greenback nobility TO
buy promotion with the peoples money,
even over those whom the people may de-
light to honor. The Republicans of
Louisiana have seen little too much of
this evil and its consequences to create
cotton lords and dukes Of tobacco. But
they have refused to pass bills protested
against by the great interests of COM
merce for higher reasons. The Legislature
of Louisiana is in chief part composed of
men who toll. and represent the
toilers of the land. Their interest is then |
with the city, it's merchants, its mechanics,
its taxpayers. There are very few members
who in the language Of Mr.. Gair. ''spend
the summer in New York, and the winter
in New Orleans" They comprehend
that they are members Of this common.
wealth. That they must remain here and
share its fortunes whatever others may
do. In our regulations Of cotton sales the
country members have taken care of the
country planters and laborers. They
make the sale of less than bale a misde-
meanor, punishable with fine and impris-
This may diminish the ''city
crop considerably. This luxuriant pro-
iuct OF our pavements has been stated,
We think. as high as twenty-five thousand
oales.
Tie Fusion opposition to tn. State
government has sloughed Of from both
PARTIES, turbulent and tricky element.
t has left the government exclusively
lnder Republican control. 1t can pretend
0 no part or lot in the reform. It takes
10 share in the merit Of having resisted
he solicitation Of rings for corrupt legis- {
alton. The people Of Louisiana wiz see
bat a majority of colored members Of the
and majority Of Repubi- /,
ans in every department Of the State gov '
rnment have given them sub I
,antial reforms, and are not the =
lere tools of home or in 0
orted rapacity. They will see that no $,
'nse OF former wrong can impel these '
en to abuse their power, and that they
ossess the sagacity to see their own in S,
rests bound up with that Of all others. fc