New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-08-24
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN. TUESDAY, AUGUST "a, 1875.
HONE HELP AGAINST FOREIGN PROBES
SIONS.

HONE HELP AGAINST FOREIGN PROBES
SIONS.
For any time within the last seven or
eight years New Orleans has been honored
with the visits of.the most benefcent cap
italists who ever relieved the distresses of
an impoverished community.
These gentlemen spoke Of millions as
ordinary men would have done of pocket
change. They discoursed of Ames, and
Vanderbilt and Drew. They alluded
mysteriously to the syndicates of Amster-
dam, the Bourse of Paris and the Royal
Exchange of London, and intimated
that they could by touch of telegraph
command all the capital needed for
any enterprise they might undertake.
These projectors have proved confidence
men of the largest proportions. With these
men of magnificent professions money
was no object. They merely asked formal
legislation to justify the investment of
their surplus millions in the service Of the
suffering South. They were even so econ
omical of the time and means of our
people that they furnished their own at
torneys and presented their own ready
drawn bills to be introduced on leave.
Later it was sorrowfully found that these
adventures came to obtain the obiga-
tons Of Louisiana, and that our own
public improvements were TO be conducted
by negotiating our own securities. The
discouragement and disgust which fol-
lowed these exposures paralyzed the pub
lie spirit Of our people. and made them
distsust every agent that proposed to re-
ieve them.
Those disintefested capitalists who gov
efn the railroads OF New Orleans from the
brokers' Offices of New York still hold the
franchise Of exclusive way to Texas. When
New Orleans, paralyzed in her commerce
by che superior Eastern facilities Of her
rivals, wished direct extension TO Texas,
the capitalists who held her right of way, !
purchased with her own credit, and built
with her own money, said to the city, you |
can not pass but with our permission, and
you will pay literally for that It was I
hard to see roads built with the credit of |
Louisiana, administered by those who had
no local interest in our welfare, but it was
much more provoking to see those who
could not, OF would not, extend these roads
themselves do even worse than the dog in
Ihe nanger. They were willingt to sell the
hay that they could not eat. It showed
The surly indifference to the wants or well I
fare Of q benefactof. Il showed also a
Venal willingness 70 sell back again gift
received without consideration. and with
,eld for price.
Every one has read of the farmer who
depended upon the promise Of his neigh
oors to help him harvest until he was
TO 60 on and save luis crop
himself New Orleans has done. this.
She has gone at last precisely where she
hould have begun-to the country. When
t has beer, found that road was to be
IN in earnest from existing navigation to
, Texas connection, the people said
hat New Orleans has fanked those who !
old the franchise Of way obtained on
be pyetense Of making an extension to
'exas.
New Orleans has explained to the plant
RS of Louisiana and Texas that they are |
,terested in way to market; that they
lso have the means to make the railroad, |
nd that instead Of paying out the money .
the taxpayer to distant contractors, it
ill be expended among the taxpayers,
nd merely be transferred from the hands
one man to another.
We have seen with pleasure the results
che mission Of Mt. Wheelock and Of i
is engineer, Major Green, into the inte- !
or. Former presidents have set off for
all street. Mr.. Wheelock has set off for q
le woods, prairies and county seats Il
ong the line of the proposed soad. ?
hen he left here che monopolists fancied q
ey had the control Of every avenue to p
g West; when he returns they see MAT g
long as the rivers are open New Or Il
ans can conduct her communications Il
ith the West in spite Of O. with indifer- q
ce to their opposition. p
As we have written our appreciation Of r
e home help system over that of for -
On expectations, it will be unnecessary -
do more than express our qualification -
the confirmation Of the views hereto =,
'e expressed. =.
4 SMALL AFFAIR.
Thn 4