New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-12
novrRNMENr AID FOB LOUISIANA.

GOVERNMENT AID FOB LOUISIANA
Judge Ray, in his remarks before tn
s Southern Republican Club, Incidental
referred to some of the reasons why tn
national government takes so little IN
terest in Louisiana affairs. He did no
. exhaust the subject. Louisiana Is IN
peculiar geographical and political posi-
ton, aud it has developed pecuiia
people of strange temper. Its SOIL wa
purchased and paid for by the United
States many years after the heroes OF tn
revolution had established a republican
government. A majority of the inhabi
tants of the portion of the purchased ter
ritory now known as the State of Louisi
ana, became unwilling subjects Of the
United States. From the period of it
entry into the Union, to say nothing
of the anarchy which prevailed before
that time, Louisiana has had history
marked with scenes of internal strife, and
when the first opportunity occurred, the
Pelican State seeded from the Union.
The Carolinas and Virginia, and a few
other Southern States could stand on
their own bottoms. Virginia raised corn
and wheat for home food, wool for cloth
ing, and human beings for sale to cotton
and sugar planters. 1t wanted nothing
but to be let alone. Louisiana has always
needed assistance from the national gov
eminent, as to-day, but the mudsills of
the North could not be expected to force
benefits upon her, when her people ques-
toned the right Of the United States to
help build the Mississippi levses. Lying
in constant dread of overflow, Louisiana
was controlled by Democrats who boldly
embraced the States rights doctrines of
South Carolina because they were hostile
to the general government With other
rebellious States Louisiana was whipped
back into Union traces; but she has never
behaved we'll, as a people. Since it be-
came apparent that Louisiana must live
in the Union, States rights Democrats
have done nothing but grumble because
the general government has not improved
the State. They expect Congress to ap-
propriste millions Of dollars to build our
levees, while the people are left to organ
ize Ku-Klux and White Leagues to MUIR
der Republicans. They think Congress
should be charitable with the treasury
wrestej from Confederate robbers, when
at the same time Congress has seen that
United States troops are necessary here
to protect the lives of colored men and |
German emigrants. The radical Dem
ocratic organ has lately boasted that were
it not for the presence of the United |
States troops here ''the people" would
overthrow the State government in ten
and put Confederate colonel
IN command Of the State. We ask aims
md sympathy, and at the same time break
avs and do murder.
These are some of the pullbacks tied to
'ur State 1t is said we are kept down by
he Republican party and Northern
1atred. Republicans sent to Congress
rom Louisiana have tried to do some
hing for their State. They have secured
liver improvement appropriations and aid
o sufferers from overflow, and that from
! Republican Congress; but for their pains
hey have received more Democratic
urses than thanks. Now we have a House
# Representatives with a Confederate
majority, and the prospect is that Con-
'ress will give no assistance in building
he levees Of Louisiana. Why should it?
congress must hear the loudest voice,
nd ''the people and our Dem
cratic Representatives have said that
II Louisiana wants is to seat DR..
1cSlillen, Mari and Eustis in one
hair of the Senate, and have last-ditch
Democrat for Governor. With such bless
lgs our cup of JOY would be full and
INNING over. Let the levees slide. What
ur people want is local Offices for Demo-
rats The average radical Democrat
'ould rather be justice Of the peace or
* collector in q country parish than to
se permanent levees built from the Cult
, Cairo. Perhaps our Democratic Con-
ressmen will make an effort in a pro-
ress;ve direction, away from the old time
,olishness 'Bijou" telegraphs from
that Colonel Levy is getting
p an excursion party Of Senators and
representatives to witness the Mardi Gras
'stivai.' That is something, but it
oes not grapple the main ques-
on. We want Louisiana men in Con-
ress authorized to say there are no White
.eagues in Louisiana; that there will be
o more ofice-seekers riots in New Or
.ans; that colored men will be allowed to
ote for candidates of their choice; that
rerman emigrants and Northern men will
OF be murdered in cold blood; that the
eople of Louisiana have some respect
" the United States government and its
Ulcers other than that induced by fear.
Te want men to assure Congress that
'ouisiana is respectable and law-abiding ,,
tate Of the Union; and then we can ask
Or assistance from the general govern
aent. Our Democrats, however, can rest
ssurad that assistance will not come
trough the Democratic party, which is
1st now divided in trying to make a
,orthern or Western man President, car
,g nothing for the South u