The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-21
Communicated.
CITIES SHOULD BE FREE.

uumOeI OF lnuaDlLantS can De mustered, IL
Guiding stragglers, strangers, Indians, hunter
and vagabonds each new State ranking an
being represented in the Senate equally wit
New York, Pennsylvania or Ohio Instead {
multiplying the States in this way, it woul
seem better to erect into States ten Of th
large cities Of the Republic and make then
Independent Of the States to which they ar
new attached.
New Orleans, for example, has q pre-emi
nently equitable claim to the right of hom
rule. There is no reason at all why she should
be politically subject to Calcasieu, Claiborne
Carroll and Livingston.
The Representatives from Shreveport
Monroe, Alexandria, Opelousas, Jackson
Bayou Sara, Baton Rouge, Franklin and St
Martinsville have only an indirect and re-
mote interest in this city. Citizens of distan:
parishes, capable judges of their own want,
are not competent to say what laws are needed
here, what taxes our city can bear, what pro-
lection our citizens require, what sort Of
schools we can afford to support, how many
policemen are requisite, how large bonded
debt our citizens can carry, what corporations
she can afford to charter, what charities she
can maintain, what drainage she needs what
officers she must subsist, or what she re-
aulres for the security Of the property and
the lives of her citizens
That the prosperity of New Orleans is in a
degree contingent upon that of rural Loui-
siana is not disputed. 1t is contingent in
ike manner upon that of the agricultural
portions of Mississippi lying on the river,
and to great extent on that of Arkansas.
The relations of business between the CITY
and country are natural and necessary. and
nothing should in any way impair them or
defeat their lawful results. But it does not
follow that, because New Orleans is benefited
by the crops of the Teche the Atchafaaya,
the Ouachita, or Red River, and because
these sections are benefited by having this
city as a favorable market for their exportable
products, therefore the city and country
should be tied together in one commonwealth.
All the good the country parishes now do
to the city would continue to be done if the
city was as free from them as they are free
from Maine or Georgia, and all benefit thew,
derive from the city in any manner woud&
equally accrue to them if al political connec4
ton under State government We're at an end
Residents OF the country are under no OBJ lga-
tons to pay for the maintenance of a costly |
government in the city; residents of the CITY |
not only do not know what legislation the |
country parishes need but they ought not to
be compelled to pay the expense Of enforcing
the laws there
The trouble IN the way OF rural legislation
for city is not the ignorance OF the legisla-
tor, but his want of interest in the afairs
which concern the city, and the absence Of
accountat ility on his part to those directly in
terested. If New Orleans was not yoked to
the rest of the State in an unnatural associa,
ton, she would be governed by one cheapt
legislative body whose members would be
always present. and always answerable for
their votes and acts. The city would then be h
by her own people with identical
md common interests. Her rulers could \
regulate and limit her expenses according to
aer means. She would pay but one class of
axes and licenses. She would cease to be :
embarrassed by double set Of officers and I
courts. Her influence would be greatly in {
creased. The economy of her administration e
would attract capital, stimulate business and J,
promote contentment. Yet no loss or damage Z
4 any sort would be suffered by the country, e
Vhleh would retain all its legitimate rights
nd franchises as well after as before the q
eparation.
Other cities have not suffered as much frosa q
heir State relations as this, but it would be Y
etter tor the whole State of New York. if the h
lty we're free from country legislation If P
oston were Independent of Massachusetts,. b.
would be better for both. Philadelphia Il
ould De blessed by emancipation from the =,
OF Pennsylvania government q
an Francisco would thrive better under oi
ONE made laws. If the ten largest cities of to
le republic were made as wholly free from p
grounding Statesl as one State is now from to
lother, it would be much better for them s1i
I'd for the country around them The sep -
alton, by ending raral and civic intermed-
ing, would put an end to jars and jealousies
ONE rule would be powerfully promoted.
d local governments would run more
loothy in their proper orbits.
Had New Orleans possessed an automatic !
vernment ia and since 1866, she would not vi
" be sitting in sackeloth mourning over ]
pressions which sicken the hearts of he. 10 To
orle, and over losses, caused by misrule,
gregating more than a hundred millions of N.Y.
llals. str
Ask your grocer tor Paragon yeast powders. /
do
Specifics, 139 Canal street. Ne
che
We request attention to the advertisement of the