New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-10-18
THE PENALTY OF DECEPTION,

i AANsAAASDAe
alike to communities and individuals.
We can trace back very many Of the evils
of which the business men of New Orleans
complain to some great wrong which mas
been suffered to exist here, and even
popularized to a greater extent than ever
appeared upon the surface, for the sake
of local effect and temporary advantage
There is one matter especially in which
those who lived and ruled here before Us,
who swayed the sceptres of politics, COM
MERGE and society, behaved at times very
badly, aud encouraged the same conduct
in others. We refer to the sanitary condi-
ton of the city.
As the season of the year when yellow
fever is most likely to prevail has now far
advanced, and the danger passed away 50
completely that even Galveston. that
loving Democratic neighbor of ours, has
no longer decent excuse to keep up q
quarantine, we desire to recall in brief
manner few of the causes which have
led to this city being held up to the coun-
try people as great pestilential bugbear.
In doing this, it is not necessary to 60
back further than 1858, when the mala-
rial or other influences which seemed to
be so potent tor sickness and death cul-
minated, and began to disappear. That
they did really disappear in few years
after is abundantly shown by the health
statistics. In 1854 there was An epidemic
Of yellow fever to limited extent and
another about like it in 1855. The city
was after that exempt from any greater
plague than unfounded fears and pam
icky talk until 1858, when there sp-
peared very maligna type OF fever,
which varied from the custom of its pre-
decessorY in that it attacked native and
acclimated citizens who had previously
deemed themselves exempt from its raw
ages. There was no more fever here of
any consequence for nine years, though
the fame of previous years left plenty to
fear and talk about.
But it really eliminated IS An intracta-
BILE disease in 1853, leaving behind it.
however, q name more terrible than the |
reality warranted. In the year succeed
ing, which was very healthy one, it was
found to be great privilege to be exempt
from danger BY reason Of having passed
safely through the scourge in 1853. The
mechanics, physicians, merchants, ser
wants and everybody else who could boast
of having had the fever, and were taught
by experience to believe they were in no
danger of second attack began to enjoy
. monopoly of employment and prices
ranged high. At that time New Orleans
q sort of secure commercial
position at the outlet of the great Missis-
sippi valley. 1t was before the days Of
railroads and there was no necessity for
cancellation. Such products as were
:aised near the banks of the great river
must pass our doors and pay tribute &C
,ording to the cons ciences Of the opera
ors. Our merchants thrived, grew rich,
,aid liberal prices for all kinds Of service
md also became somewhat famous for
in lands where their somewhat
xtravagant habits were an exception,
lot the rule.
The yellow fever sustained these mo-
lopolies, and the NOR opolists returned I
be compliment by constantly parading
be terrors of its name in the ears of the
lnacclimated During the seven or eight
ears that interviewed between the cpl
Iemic of 1853 and the war, thousands of
,eople, comprising mechanics, profess
ional men, laborers and useful citizens of
IL sorts were actually frightened away by
he wonderful stories which were told
hem for effect by their rivals in business;
nany of our physicians, too, acted y dis
INGENIOUS part. and some were even &C.
used of encouraging the popular fears by
heir incompetence, and others who ought {
0 have known better and probably did,
carcely escaped suspicion that the rich
arvest of a yellow fever year was too great {
temptation for their integrity.
During all this time few, if any, real {
forts were made to keep out the fever;
hose which were made were denounced
s useless; quarantine, especially, was
ttacked; keeping the streets clean de- ,
Jared injurious, and the doctors never
'ould agree upon the proper mode of s
In the first year Of the
ederal occupation of the city by troops,
elbow fever, under the playful epithet of
rome John, was playfully invoked as an 9
lily of the Confederate cause, and thou
ands of people actually spoke openly of q
IS almost inevitable advent as something a
hich would be at once qualification to '
ne Confederate sympathizers and e
courge to the Yankee soldiers.
Tne effect Of this dallying with serious C
ubJect was to create a chronic but at the a
anne time active fear of New Orleans in
as minds OF all the surrounding ccmmu- S
tiles. Small country papers printed in Z
hreveport. Memphis, Louisville, st. c
outs and Galveston frequently would =
lude to our quarantine jeeringly. u
Why" remarked one especially witty t
low, Il would as soon think of estab- Y
shing quarantine around graveyard" c
D, now, though we have not had bad p
ason of yellow fever here since 1867,
4 but q. ne since 1858, yet New Orleans e
nnal,v nav a penalty of many thou