New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-22

and primary assemblies hold elections to
determine who is the man most accepta-
bic to the localities, and the executive will
30 relieved Of much responsibility and
the State win secure the best services at
the command Of the dominant party.
REPUBLICAN REDUCTION OF DEBT AND
| TAXES.
|. The report of the public debt and liza
bilities at the commencement of Governor
Kellogg's administration was fraction
over S52.O00,0OO. As Mr.. Kellogg had
never held an Office or represented con-
stituency under the State government,
We may assert that he was not response
bic for having created one dollar Of the
Indebtedness. No sooner was the election
OF 1872 over than the Fusion party at
tackled with their tripartite forces the
main body of the Republicans. Some
Of their leaders repaired to Washington.
Some organized force to take by cap
ture the Offices the people had bestowed.
The life of the Governor was attempted,
the laws set at defiance, and at the last
the Democratic party advanced in battle
array, seized the State government, and
proclaimed the Fusion ticket of 1872 the
lawful government.
During the whole period covered by
these agitations, or at least up to April,
1875, the Republican party was in sole
charge of the State government. A part
of the time it was disreputable act for
Fusion member elected to the Legislature
to take his seat in that body. There were
few Fusion Representatives who did SO,
but under the protest of their constituents
in pact. All remember the Fusion ward
meetings in this city to demand of the
Representive that he should withdraw
from the Legislature or resign. The case
of DR.. V. o. King is a prominent example
of the intolerance Of that day. During
this whole period the Republicans were left
in exclusive charge of the law-making
powers and in exclusive control of the
power of taxation. Did they devote this
opportunity to the increase of taxation;
to voting themselves appropriations, and
increasing the liabilities Of the State?
Was it during that period that the laws
creating mammoth monopolies were en-
acted?
Observe: The Democracy had with
drawn from the Legislature. They de-
nounced any who should enter that body
as no better than those who had made
the ffty-two million dollars debt, and who
had granted the mammoth monopolies to
the brokers and spectators who bought,
and who now hold them. Yet the Repub-
licans, q majority colored, took the gov
eminent in such condition. These men,
bers, denounced by the Democracy as
utterly incapable of administering
government, commenced q course of |
economy and amendment which is now |
in law. With Coriolanus, the
Republican party may point to the
brilliant results Of this policy, and say:
"Alone, did it,"
1t would really seem as if Providence
was driving the Republicans into political
even to the extent of turning
against them some of their own party who
had to large extent thought and acted
Tor them, had in view a great object.
It was to demonstrate that the colored
people were competent to self-govern-
nent, and to vindicate the principle of
universal human equality to which they
'wed this opportunity.
The child was taught to swim by throw
ng him overheard with nothing except
lis own instructive resources to rely on.
The experiment succeeded. The Re-
publican party proper neither needed the
Instructions Of Democracy nor the direc-
ion of former leaders. Opposed by
'ower, weakened by desertion, it was
brown upon its own capacity, and it has
ucceeded in effecting immense reform
nd in demonstrating its own capacity for
l.
We confine ourselves to the most prac-
cal and apparent result Of Republican
ule. The amount of outstanding obliga-
ons has been reduced by a purely Re- I
ublican administration, from over fifty
70 millions of dollars to less than twelve I
lillions of dollars. State taxation in 6
s72-73 was twenty-one mills, to-day it is ,
'urteen mills. Had the debt of ffty-two t
illions been established by law the an |
nal interest thereon, equalized at seven
n cent, should have amounted to
J, $40. 600. The interest on the present
'bt of less than twelve millions will be
'out eight hundred thousand dollars.
no has saved the people of the State a
is possible tribute of nearly three mil a
ms annually? The Republicans, pure
'm the furnace Of persecution I'M r
ixed with the dross of Fusion. 1
We only refer to the Republican reforms b
lich have been effected in other depart s.
snts of duty. But as to the debt the a
'publicans have stopped the hemor- II
age, and they alone can effect the cure. q
t the Conservative people Of Louisiana e'
* at this great work; let them acknowl- n
&c the relief which they receive from
, burden of debt and taxation, and they a"
Il hoe;AoAo IA d;..a.l | 81