The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-30
AN APPEAL 10 OUR: MERCHANTS.

fraud which exercised the functions ant
occupied towards the people the rela
lions OF government In this State, tn,
great impeachment in the way of oul
progress was removed, and now there
ID no reason why material prosperity
should not be attained by the people oil
Louisiana III greater Jnan any they
have ever yet known. It will be en-.
tirely attributable to our own sluggish
ness and lack Of enterprise and sagacity
II, with all our advantages, this city does
notagain reach her old-time greatness as
the second, IL not the first, commercial
city OF the country. For the first time
since the war we are living under a
government of our choice, constituted
In accord with our political theories, and
devoted to legitimate purposes and ends.
Such establishments as we had since
the war were mere oligarchies,
based upon no theory Of self-govern-
ment, but solely upon the maxim Of
oppression-to the victors belong the
spoils--and having no object but plum
der for the benefit of the few persons in
whose hands their functions were held,
and no policy but depreciation upon
the people, to which purposes all the
spirit Of their Legislation and the
methods OF their administration were
directed. Beneath the shadow Of such
a governmental establishment no in
dustry could thrive, while the true COM
merclal spirit was numbed, and its bold
| and venturous nature destroyed by the
common appeal, that had become
habitual, to government to do by sub
sidy and protection what should have
been left absolutely to private or cor
porate enterprise and the natural laws
Of demand and competition.
The evils that have resulted from our
unhappy political condition can hardly
be estimated the distrust among our
selves, the reluctance Of foreigners to
invest their surplus here. the entire de-
rangement OF trade, the feverish and
dissatisfied condition Of the public
mind, rendered us incapable as we'll as
indisposed to give to our material and
business affairs the consideration and
energy necessary to their success. The
first thought in every mans mind, the
first feeling in his heart, was to get rid
OF the false and usurping governments
that rode upon the industries Of the
people like some old man of the sea.
There was no other thing to be thought
OF till this was accomplished, and all
private projects were forgotten In the
urgency and preponderance Of this first
and highest aim.
From this we have at length escaped,
but we must not fail to realize that the
good, 80 far, is but negative; we are
simply loosened and freed from the
cords that bound us, and borne out
from beneath the shadow OF the deadly
Upas. Free government, pure govern
ment, good and wise government is by
no means synonymous with, nor does it
necessarily imply, material prosperity. |
This must be achieved by the people
themselves, by their sagacity and ener-
gy in the practical advancement Of mat
tiers that government has naught to do
with, and which history proves to us it
can best advance by letting them abso-
lutely alone.
Our political enfranchisement does
not Of itself secure us material and COM
mercial recuperation, but it does place
us in a position to attain it. But, as the
diversion of our trade to other ports and
our consequent decline have not been
altogether to bad govern
ment, but In a much greater degree to
The successful rivalry Of other cities,
and the operation of certain absolute
laws of trade, SO they will not be recov-
cred without an effort. The tapping of
vast regions once tributary to New Or
leans by railroads converging upon the
East has taken from us a source of
wealth which naturally belongs to us
md can be recovered in but one way,
Ind that is by Offering them better
market than can be obtained elsewhere.
But this cannot be done by simply
lffording greater facilities than we now !
possess for transportation. The market
must be made before the produce will
come to 1t, no matter what the facilities
or transportation may be. !
The problem, then, is not entirely I
olved by building railroads and open i
ng the rivers in order to establish &C. t
less to the productive regions of the in I
erior. We must offer superior induce t
nents to attract the products of these I
egions over the lines of trade that lead /
o our city, and there is but one induce r
nent, and that grows out Of demand and t
uperior advantages of exchange. These
an be supplied only by the opening of d
lew outlets Of trade and an extended Z
ommerce. The vast regions Of the =
Vest are ready to join US in any move t
a this direction that they may find il
ale for their surplus produce. Texas, t
nth her boundless territory and unri- 8
aled productiveness, only awaits the h