The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-14
BARTERING VOTES.

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9 Herald contains the following paragraph:
+ It is q general understanding in the House
!, as to the Centennial bill that it will have the
support of the Southern members and hence
be sure of its passage in the House, provided,
, first, however, that the passage Of the South
ern Pacific Railroad bill shall be assured by
, the pledged votes of those who are interested
in the Centennial bill The South is earnestly
: interested in securing the passage of the
} Southern Pacific Railroad BILL as it is regarded
in the light Of peculiarly Southern measure,
and one on which much of the future pros
perity of the South depends 1t is even
threatened that unless assurance is given that
the Southern Pacific bill shall be passed tn re
is no chance of the Centennial appropriation
receiving the support Of the Southern men,
bers
The bill referred to is, presumably, the
Texas Pacific, work Of most urgent and i'm
mediate necessity for promoting Southern
production, Southern development, Southern
progress, national economy and national de-
fense Yet we do not desire Southern men,
bers to get national aid for it by any crooked
ways. If they vote for the Centennial grant,
it is to be hoped that they will do so on its
merits. If they consider the donation or loan
Of q million and half more for the purposes
ofthe great exhibition wrong in principle or
inexpedient, let them vote against it; but if
they think it wise thus to open the Golfers of
the republic to promote the success Of an
affair in which great many millions are more
or less interested let them join in approving
the measure. Let not Southern statesmen ap-
pear in Washington IS traders and barterers
in votes, even for q cause SO good as that of
securing q Southern trans continental rail
way.
In point of economy the proposed exhibit
ton subsidy is small matter. 1t is less than
a twentieth part Of the sums stolen from the
treasury by the whisky thieves 1t is but a
two hundredth part of the total expenditures
cost of regiment of soldiers. It is less than
the twentieth part Of what would be saved to
the treasury by the completion of the Texas
Pacific Railway. Divided among the forty
millions Of Americans it would be about tour
cents apiece Divided amongst the ten mil
lions who will be to some slight extent bene-
flied by the outlay, it would be fifteen cents
to each visitor.
Expenditure for the Centennial, within rea-
sonable limits, is like voting q sword or
medal to q heroic soldier, or like paying for
the powder burnt on Independence Day in
military salutes, or like giving support to the
widows of the soldiers of Washington. 1t
may not accord with the strict rule which
ought TO govern public disbursements, rule |
which neither our government nor any other
has followed closely at any time But even
that rule is flexible under the pressure of the |
wishes of great many millions of people.
As precedent it may prove little dau-
gerous. At the next Centennial the patriots
in Congress will be liable to follow the
example set in the nineteenth century and in
crease the Centennial appropriation to twice
the present amount. A century afterwards
the sum will again be doubled. This alarm
ing increase in the course of few centuries
would become embarrassing. This danger
has no doubt, occurred to the minds Of that
class Of forecasting patriots who fear even
the seeds Of evil example.
In reference to the South and the Centen-
NAL, the Herald remarks:
It is the fatality Of politicians to do the
right thing at the wrong time and to refrain
from doirg it at the right time. This truism
is aptly illustrated by the attitude of the OPP
posing parties in Congress regarding the
Union soldiers. During the uninterrupted
rule of the Republicans it was possible for
the party in power to do everything for the
faithful servants of the Republic neces sary
to be done.
We believe that all that was necessary was
DONE but no sooner were the Democrats in
the majority in one branch Of Congress
than the minority began to pelt the House
with resolutions full Of fulsome compliments
to the Union soldiers, but intended only to-
irritate the majority. This was in bad taste,
to say the least of it, and already
it is bearing evil f1uit. Basing their opposition
on this spirit Of antagonism to the South,
we are told that the Southern representatives
have resolved to oppose an appropriation for
the Centennial, unless the Republicans keep
quiet about the soldier and agree to pass a
these propositions, because it is unnecessary
to reopen the old wounds by constant allu-
sions to the Union soldier, while it is neces-
sary that these wounds should be healed by
an amnesty already too long withheld. At
The same time We can not justify the attitude
Of Southern Congressman on the Centennial
By opposing an appropriation for the ex-
nibition they show the very spirit they are
in the Republicans. We nope
hey will think better of this matter, and not
oppose the Centennial merely because the
Republican party has been unjust to the
south.
Duly Installed.