New Orleans Republican., 1875-12-02

OF the public debt was populaf with the
Democrats. When the development Of the
resources of the State and speedy reduction
of the public debt required unimpaired
faith in the State government, the Demo-
cratic party, through it's c0unsels. commit
tees and press, joined in q deliberate and
continued effort to ipjure the credit and en-
barrass the operation of the government in
effecting these reforms.
When reform demanded stable govern
ment, public men. claiming and asserting
themselves good citizens and reformers, ex-
powerful personal influence to create sedi-
ton, provoke slaughter and bloodshed, and
send abroad the impression that the gov
ernment of Mexico is more stable than the
government of Louisiana, and that neither
property nor life was secure within our
boundaries. They turned emigration from
our borders, frightened capital from our
midst. injured our reputation as State,
and drove our trade into other channels
aud to other ports.
The Republican party in Louisiana does
not underrate the obstacles and barriers
which the Democratic party has placed in
it's pathway to reform and retrenchment;
neither does 1t underestimate the opposition
which it must encounter at Democratic
hands in the future, and will gladly well
come and acknowledge all honest counte
purpose further to reduce the debt of the
State and decrease the expense Of its gov
ernment.
Permanent good government can only re-
suit from q condition of public opinion
favorable to peace and good order. Economy
in the administration of government will
follow when all men and all parties shall
form because that reform is suggested OF
attempted by an adverse party.
This condition does not seem to exist In
the State at the present time. Your coni-
mittee can find proof and illustration within
its own organization. A member of your
union was q candidate for Administrator al
the last municipal election. He publicly
announced that if elected he would serve
without pay. No one doubted his fitness OF
competency for the position. He was q
large property holder, who brought from
the West and expended q fortune in an en-
deavor to extend the trade and commerce
of the city. The grain elevator is the mon
ument Of his enterprise and public spirit.
Had the voters in the city really desired
economy he wOuld have been unanimously
elected. Yet he was not elected, though ht
In the city. Not Democratic vote was cas-
in favor Of this property holder, pledged tt
serve without salary. HIS opponent, th'
Democratic nominee, received the party
vote, was elected, and draws his salary.
appears that missionary labor is required i,
this city before Q majority of the voters ar
ripe for reform.
Public sentiment must be educated I,
forego its preference for indiscriminat,
abuse of party organization and the Sian
der of individuals, and to reserve denuncia
tion for wrong-dOers. Reform will then b
speedy and effectual.
The public was informed by the Demo
cratic press and leaders that economy ant
| retrenchmcnt would follow q Democratic
| majority in the present House of Repre-
sentatives. The result was extravaganza
| An extra session of ten days was calle,
last March to adjust our political differ
an opportunity to exhibit its intention an,
capacity for reform. Examine the recor
| of that session. The House of Represents
| tives originated and passed an spprOpria
tiOn bill expending $ll7, 900 of the publ
money as the expense Of that same tel
days session, and with eccentric patriotism
and disinterestedness it was provided by tn
same act that this large sum should be pai
| in preference to the claims of older cred
itors.
| Our community is not possessed of a SUI
plus of capital, and for purposes of trad
now, and for some time to come, must rel
largely on private credit for the operatio
| of commerce. Impair public credit an
| private credit at once feels the shock; trad
Is crippled and curtailed.
The financial history of this State is no
consoling; public sentiment has been neithe
consistent nor discriminating The ante
| bellum bonded debt exceeded ten millionf
| The Democratic Legislature charged wit
the conduct of the affairs of the State, fron
| the close of the late war until reconstruC
| ton, increased the bonded debt to owe
$l4, 600, 900, and appropriated $l3,000,0 900 il
| excess of even the estimated revenues o
| State. The immediate predecessor of Gov
| ernor Kellogg found the State with din
inished assessment roll and undiminishe'
expense-likewise this legacy of debt out
standing. During that administration tn
bonded debt increased to nearly So, 900, ,00(
This administration was, in the opin
| ion of the Republican party, extrava
| giant. As party it sought to remove hin
from power as an enemy both of the party
and of the State. As soon as he was cas-
forth by the Republicans he fed to tn
camp Of the opposition and became thei
leader. Not only were his misdemeanort
and extravagances oondoned, not only dis
he receive votes from Democratic and 80
called Reform legislators for seat in tn,
federal Senate, but the popular vote cas-
Tor McEnery was to the practical end O.
continuing the very policy which for thre'
years the Democracy had denounced. Gov
ernor Kellogg, without aid 0utside of hi
party, has demonstrated the possibility o
reducing the bonded debt to the limi
reached at the date of reconstruction. Th
reduction Is to-day in rapid progress, snG
will soon be accomplished, although the tai
levy has been reduced from twenty-0pe ant
0pe-half to fourteen and one.halt mills.
When men who claim to be reformers AMI
model citizens shall cease to menace tn
public peace, to aid and encourage ire
sponsibls armed constituents publicly t
boast that they have organized and com
msnded armed bodies of reckless men
who at their beck can and will delug
anew the State with blood; when the pc
litical oDiuion of Republican shall NO
be deemed adequate pr0v0catiOn tor mur
der and violence; when men who CLAIM
Identification with the business and cap
ital in our lmits shall cease to justif,
nifty We care nothing for good government
public credit or freedom from domesti
violence; when the immigrant, despite tn
too prevalent terror which, outside of thl
State, attaches to our climate brings int
our midst and adds to our material wealth
his capital, his enterprise and the strengtl
Of his right arm shall cessefto be met at 0ul
borders with opprobrious epithets and b.
briven of BY msnacss, . material appreeia
stsAdfast conRdenoe, and mono but th,
wholesome rivalries that should animate 1
people living in Christian amity, are oerteis
to be realized by Louisiana. You will doubt
less share with me IN tho persuasion the
nothing can be 10 honorable in . man vht
enjoys the profession of the laws ss to for
get the complexion Of . fellow-citizen II
the title which he sS fully holds to tha
prOee0tlon. - q II - ID
The Central Executive Committee has re