The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-07-31
THE RAILROAD TAX.

nacity and industry which indicates
disposition on the part of the gentle-
men engaged in 1t TO rule or ruin In this
special matter.
The movement is, in our opinion, dan
gerous and ill-advised; calculated. In
fact, to weaken the organization upon
which the hopes OF our people are Eow
fixed, and to prejudice large classes
not only In New Orleans but throughout
the whole State against an enterprise
important to our property, commercial
and agricultural interests. It is well
known fact that there exists in New
Orleans wide and rreconcilable differ
ence of opinion as to the right or pro
priety Of the tax for the benefit Of the
New Orleans Pacific Railroad. Men
who are firmly united In opposi-
tion to the Radical Administration and
In their purpose to support the Baton
Rouge ticket and platform, differ so rad
ically upon this railroad tax question,
that it's intrusion into the canvass can
only result In splitting the party or In
paralyzing the efforts of a large, influ-
ential and patriotic element OF IL. That
astute politician, Warmoth, immedi-
ately grasped the consequences OF this
ill-omened issue, and when the bill Gre
ating it passed the House he sprung
from his seat. clapped his hands in ex-
ultation and exclaimed: By Cd, We
have got them split at lastl" II
the friends OF this measure insist
upon forcing 1t into the canvass
the result in this city will very likely
justify the exhultant prophecy OF the
great et-bagger the majority for
the reform ticket which New Orleans Is
expected to give will be lessened and
the city government probably captured
! by Radieallsm in the disguise OF lnde-
peDdentism. Such will be the conse-
uuences Of this movement In the city
and to the cause OF the people through
out the State. And how will 1t affect
the railroad? It will simply destroy
it. There are thousands OF met
in New Orleans friendly to tn.
road who fully understand that tn.
rescue of the State from Radical mis-
rule is of infinitely more Importance
than the levy Ct this tax, or than even
the completion Of the road which the
levy Of the tax would by no means insure.
When the friends of the road attempt
to wreck the Democratic party In theli
arbitrary purpose to foree this tax.
these thousands OF mon will become the
enemies Of the road, and join with the
present large element OF our population
in their opposition to it, and thus mate
rally weaken its strength. But this is
not ALL The people Of the country par
ishes, even Of those parishes through
which the road is to pass, will regard
lated to wreck tha hopes Of the whole
State In the interest Of New Orleans
railroad enterprise. The upfriendliness
and jealousy Of the country toward New
Orleans will be deepened into bitter
/ feeling Of hostility, and the country
parishes will. In such an event,
more than likely send down here
country delegation inimical to the
New Orleans Pacific Railroad and
| inimical to New Orleans interests; and
between the recruits the friends OF the
] road will drive into the ranks of it's eDe-
mics here, and the hostility they will
arouse to it throughout the State, the
enterprise will very probably, for a
series OF years at least, be crushed.
But, say the friends of the road, 1t is
| u great public enterprise, and it Is The
duty OF the Democratic Conservative
| party to father it. This Is simple
nonsense. The Democratic platform
! adopted at Baton Rouge covers all the
issues that are necessary to constitute
the basis OF sound reconstruction
OF the State. Specific enterprises
under that reconstruction will bt
| likely to flourish and prosper. This
! Is all that wisdom and prudence dc
nands of the Democratic Conservative
party just now. TO attempt more woulc
necessarily give rise to differences o
opinion, dissensions, divisions, and con
sequent weakness. 1t is not the duty o
the Democratic party nor OF any othel
party to foster every important specific
enterprise, or to make an issue upor
every special interest in the State. /
the proposed policy OF the friends OF tn
New Orleans Pacific Railroad wer'
adopted, we would have as many war
ring factions In the party as there ar
local interests in the State. In Nortl
Louisiana we would have Texas an'
Pacific faction that would support n
candidate who was not the property o
Tom Scott; In the sugar regiol
we would have faction base'
upon opposition to the Hawaiian
treaty which would cruelty every fre
trade Democrat in the State; In Ne,
Orleans we would have a faction whicl
would crush every nominee who dare
to question the policy Of levying a ia
upon a ax-ridden community for th
benefit Of the New Orleans Pacific Rail
| ,onL arAth~r eoot;D,, toh vuc,,IH uct