New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-21
LOUISIANA IN CHAHCERY.

ed patriots elsewhere, as may take an
interest in so doing. This naturally
grows out of what is technically known
as 'politics," such is the hostility of par
ties, that Democrat loses his business,
whatever it may be, if he be seen speak.
ing with Republican. He is required
to indulge in given amount of abuse OF
Governor Kellogg daily to demonstrate his
loyalty to Mr.. McEnery.
All the Democrats who have been sent
TO Washington for the purpose of securing
the support of the Democracy are ex-
pected by their constituents to keep the
other side of the street from the Repub-
lican Representatives, and the Dem
ocra:ic lobbyists went to Washington to
overthrow the State government and dis
place several Of the Republican repre-
sentatives. Consequently the Republicans
were too much occupied in keeping their
own places to render as efficient services
as they otherwise might have done to the
interests of their constituents. They were
also so DETAINED by the opposition that
they found want of confidence and even
of courtesy at the hands of the DEM
ocratic members of Congress. There was,
therefore, no cooperation between the
Democrats and Republicans who repre-
sented the interests Of their respective
parties here or in Washington. The re-
suit was just what it is; when any intimate
relations fall out they must employ other
persons to conduct any intercourse be-
tween them. 1t is sometimes the case that
the Intermediary finds advantage in this
agency.
New Orleans had determined, after
forty years Of experience, to improve the
Mississippi outlet by means of ship
canal. She had signified this preference
in every way, and her business interests
were unanimous in its favor. The House
of Representatives had last year passed
bill appropriating eight millions OF dollars
for this ship canal.
At this stage ST. Louis intervened. She
is town on the upper river. Her citizens
have no knowledge of the commercial
wants of New Orleans. Some years since
they had demanded that Manchac Pass
should be opened, in order that they could
get to sea without passing New Orleans
at all. 1t was explained to them that the
lake, having turn, could not carry eight
feet of water into the gulf, SO the
Manshac outlet was abandoned. 1t
was then contended that boats could pass
from the Mississippi into the Atchafalaya
and through a plexus of bayous and
lagoons into the gulf at Berwick Bay. Its
shipment was made by this
route. Clothes and goods proper to trade
with ignorant natives were sent out, but
after having been lost for some weeks in
The lagoons, and arrested by the bar
barians at Brashear City for violating a
,ity ordinance by bathing in the river, the
expedition was abandoned and the party
'ound their way back by way of New
Orleans. St. Louis had just finished
bridge to carry Western trade across the
The contractor on this work
vas of opinion that he could build work
t the mouth of the Mississippi that would
urpass the ship canal If it did not sue
eed in conducting the commerce OF the
liver, it would demonstrate the value Of
he bridge, and so St. Louis could lose
othing. st. Louis, finding Louisiana
ngaged in party conflict, walked in and
ook charge of her affairs. She procured
be appointment of board of engineers,
Tho reversed the action taken in favor of
be ship canal. They brought forward
ne scheme of the bridge man, carried it !
nd placed one branch of the river outlet
t his disposal. When, or whether, he
ill begin this work is not known, but
ny other improvement is suspended until {
lis experiment shall have been made, if
takes till doomsday.
In somewhat the same way Mississippi ,
as taken administration on our levees. It {
as been found impossible to 'nation-
lie" the levees at the same time that we
our political troubles. Sen
Tor Pinchback was triumphantly exclud- c
l, our Democratic friends in the Senate t
ere out of the way or hostile, and the q
wee aid was lost, the defeat of Mr.. 6
inchback was celebrated with shouts of c
", the defeat of the levee aid was not j
'garded. Better that every planter on t
10 river should be drowned out, than b
le State misrepresented by o Republican.
1ch was the legitimate inference drawn 1
ON the Democratic reasoning. In the +
eantime the river is rising, the levees n
q giving way. Our Levee Company has I
, money, and the State is in the same G
'ndition. The country will be in b
ldated and starving thousands will be- a
ech Congress to give them rations for I
lother political campaign. o
The New York Times comes to ex- v
else the common privilege of advising "
nat is to be done with Louisiana. It t.
es OH to demonstrate-with no great t.
ow of knowledge, We contestant the II
Louis scheme for improving the out "
will be failure. n
Thus we suffer from the intolerant ami 1t
,sities of our political opponents, from e
. selfish intermeddling of some and the p
percilious ignorance of others. If the b.
w York Times, with its ability and in o.
enca had sa;d even as much in favor of n