The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-03-12
"The Main Reasons
LOUISIANA ONLY DROP IN THE buckle

In their stead, the caucus sent MeSSrs.
Zacharie and Burke to Washington, to
negotiate for an adjustment, and Mr..
Leonard was shortly afterwards sent to
assist them. After the Wheeler propo-
sitions were r~e-adopted by the caucus,
Messrs. Burke and Leonard returned to
New Orleans, and addressed the caucus,
on the 1~stinst. From Mr.. Burke'slengthy
address, we extract the following:
When left New Orleans I believed
that the outrages upon Louisiana had
reused the people of the North, and was
the main cause of the tremendous change
in the public sentiment against the
Radical party and the Administration.
soon found that the Louisiana case
was but d portion of the great indict-
ment framed by the American people ;
that whilst it had assisted in awakening
| the people of the North to dangers that
were then threatening them, yet it be-
came my belief from intercourse with
persons from all sections, North, East
and West, that had the Louisiana case
been the only charge against the Adj
ministration it would have been left
free to deal with Louisiana without the
exhibition of serious opposition. It is
true that a large number of the people
of the North believe that we have been
outrageously dealt, with, and desire to
render us Justice, but that sentiment is
neutralized by the misrepresentation
of partisans, by reports of ~lawlessness,
violence and disloyalty, which are be-
ing made by northern politicians to
ALLEVIATE northern sympathy, in order
that the Southern States may be left
under caTpet-bag rule.
Initiation, growing out of the wal, ere
ated a speculative feeling amongst the
people. tt was common to see vast en-
terprises inaugurated, whereby mil
lions were drawn from Europe and
disbursed into the channels OF trade or
circles of finances. Giant corporations
with rapid strides pierced the wilderness
of the West, spreading a vast net
work of railroads from the Atlantic to
the Pacific. 1t seemed as if Young
America had carte blanche to draw
upon the Old World, who looked on
with astOnishment at its rapid growth
and progress. Railroad and mining
stock operations, as the Memphis and
Ell Pas0 railroad, and the Emma mine
Job struck a blow at the credit OF Amefi-
can corporations, which stopped them
from procuring further funds from the
money centres of the world. Suddenly
checked In their wild career of extra
yagance, the bubble bursted.
Tricked and deceived by unworthy en-
terprises, foreign capitalists refusedfur-
therloans, and the stream of foreign cap
ital that had long prompted the enter
prises of the country was cut of. The
| tide turned, and instead Of two hundred
millions flowing into the country and
passing into the hands of the people, one
hundred and fifty millions per year had
to be taken from the trade and COM
mefce and sent across the sea.
THE PANIC FOLLOWED,
and with it fell many of the largest
financial and industrial firms of Amer
lea.
Others struggled along badly crippled
and others who were free from specu-
latiye obligations, or had foresight to
prepare for the storm, are running under
fur1ed sails until quiet is restored.-
hegreat manufacturing interestsalso
| suffered. Iron, which formerly sold at
$50 per ton, can now be beughtat $3.50
$20sper ton, and works are only running
with reduced forces. Salaries and
wages have been reduced throughout
the entire North fully forty per cent,
4 hUH Obs 4n1fllUA ODGIG6btVG6 GIC V1U O1
employment, clamoring for bread. The
threaten one OF the great cities of the
North Real estate has declined in price
from twenty-five to fifty per cent in
nearly all the cities.
SeVenty-fiYe railroads have passedinto
the hands OF receivers, unable to realize
the current expenses and pay the mort
gage or interest due the foreign bond
holders. The people already greatly
burdened to meet their obligations con-
traeted In prosperity, and those grow.
ing out of their vast national debt, wit.
messed the greatest
ExTRAvAGANcE IN THE CONDUCT
Of the government until civil service re.
form became a laughing stock. "Credii
Mobilier,r i" Sanborn,D BOSS ShHp.
herds SALARY Crabs " Pacific Mall
all followed by ademand from Congress
for additional taxation of $35, 100000.
Instead of reducing the civil list an6
practicing some plan ofecon0my that tht
necessities 0fthe peoplsdemanded, tleil
servants c00lly added to their pay, anC
wrung from the people additional sun
to be used insperpetrating themselves O.
their party in power.
These, in my opinion, we're
THE MAIN REASONS
for tile vast flood De public opinion tina
seems destined to sweep the Republican
party from power.
w of Louisiana, borne down by 0p
preston and occupied with the terrible
distress of our situation, peRhapI
do not fnlly feel the great moving
causes that produced this national up
heaval, and whilst much sympathy Ger
tainly exists for us, it is well to c0nside
that their own misfOTtunes aid IN Civ
ing voice To y0ur complaint; but th'
DrinciDal ground of complaint agains
the Administration is the effect up0l
their own material interests,
We sought advice and counsel from
friendly Senators and members of thl
House before presuming to give Opinion
as I'd the prOpriety of accepting or re
iecting the Wheeler proposition, ant
we gave no such opinion until repeat
edly urged By telegraph from New Or
II leans, when further silence could 0nl,
have been construed into coWardiCe.
On ON request for an interview witt
Democratic Senators, they declined Il
give MS advice upon the acceptance @
man, General Gordon, who had kindl,
counseIed with Us, we were asked tina
if the propositions were not accepted
and The Kellogg government was sIla
tanned, would the people bearitpatient
IL without disorders for two years Z AM
would not the irritating measures tina
were then being framed and would pro
badly be passed, provoke tile peOpl
beyond e~nduranee9
Your committee replied that we be
lieved that further arbitrary and irritat
ing measures, coupled with an attemptt
force the Kellogg government upon Oh