New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-31
A GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY.

A GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY.
The Democratic members OF the Legs
lature are doubtless too. much embitteret
to look with any patience upon any sug
gestion of compromise. which would IN
volve the abandonment Of their antag
onism. The feud may not, therefore, w
apprehend be accommodated, and must
like other fevers, run its course. At SOLE
later period, however, it will be admitted
that in making issues on Louisiana to ale
the schemes Of Tammany Hall, Louisians
sacrifices much of material interest tt
political vengeance.
There is now body of legislators sit
tina in the State House who claim au.
thority of law for their acts. They owe
their commissions to one Returning Board
lust as those gentlemen who claim the
State Offices owe the commissions which
they present to the report Of another Re.
turning Board. In the meantime the
Democratic members elect, who have been
returned without dispute, refuse to take
their seats with their antagonists. What
is the consequence OF this quarrel?
1. The legislation of the State is in the
hands of men belonging almost exclusive
ly to one party. This is a dangerous
state of things, since if the animosity Of
the Republican House be as great as that
of the Democratic House, there might be
vindictive legislation, which should be
deprecated by all good citizens.
2. The city Of New Orleans has vast in
terests at stake, and feels every day the
want Of representatives charged with and
comprehending those interests. We re-
member distinctly urging upon the out
standing Democratic members Of former
Legislature the danger of improvident
legislation as to the interests of their con-
stituenty. We pointed out those measures
of signal Importance which might have
been secured by the presence Of the intelli-
gent gentlemen chosen to represent this
city. It was explicitly impressed upon
those representatives that they could Sc
cure the passage of bills limiting and re-
forming the exorbitant fees and salaries
which are exacted from an impov-
srished and unemployed people.
With the aid of these representatives
low reform legislation may be carried
which will relieve many Of the burdens
md abuses of which all complain. Do
he Democratic members really wish these
'eforms? Then let them cooperate with
hose Republicans who also desire the
anne thing. Why not prepare duplicate
bills for what we deem the legitimate
legislature, and let them be submitted to
What We deem moot assemblage? It GER
ainly would not impair the legality of
n enactment which our opponents as
veil as ourselves deem important to the
;tate and city, that opposite parties
hould agree for the common good. There
aust be a rumber Of measures in which
large majority of good men concur.
Why not then informally agree to cone
yer and pass these measures, so that they |
lay be withdrawn from the. category of |
'sues which it seems can not be adjusted? |
The refusal to accept these suggestions
IN alone injure the best interests Of the |
ty, and can inrre to the good of none.
he city of New Orleans has many and
tive rivals; they are securing her trade;
icy are publishing her troubles. Tam
any sends emissaries to prolong this
,litical fight, while New York grasps and
verts the commercial subsistence Of New
rleans. The very drummers Of sycamore
ltmegs and Eastwood hams occupy our
'tels and warn away our customers.
oards of trade commiserate our condi-
IN and sympathize with vim which
II Democratic friends will not permit to
contradicted. In the meantime some
teen or twenty representatives Of the city
out whose right to seat under the re-
TT Of the Returning Board there is no
spute, absent themselves from the legal
if they choose so to call it in their ,
the de Jacto Legislature, and =,
we the interests Of their constituents to '
3 action Of those whom we have no =,
station in saying can not represent t
en- as properly as those they had them i
yes chosen. c
Can you not, gentlemen, waive etiquette, l
even opinion, and agree on batch Of i
Is which will guarantee the reforms S
ich all demand? When they shall have
N passed in what We deem the lawful
uses, We can have no objection to their +
ne debated and enacted in any other +
Uses. We remember when the Demo- n
is were inveighing against the legality t
the Kellogg Legislature, last year, we i.
ed them, but what if the acts Of this 7
ly shall be declared legal? We re- 7
t the question, and we respectfully RI
nind those to whom New Orleans has II
rusted her interests, that they will s;
ur grave responsibility if they should S;
NIT the enactment Of laws injurious to c,
Sc interests, or, what is more probable, S;
NIT the defeat Of measures which every o.
crest of the city demands shall be
cted. a,
THE REPORT OF THE ENGINEERS. Il
'ha renort of the hoard of enuineerS | g,