New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-03-11
Our PeODIe-Thsir Duty and Their OPP
pOFtunity.

Uur feOple-The1r pufy and Their OPP
pOFtuBlty.
NEW ORLEANS, March 5, 1877.
EDITOR REPUBLICANS:
notice in the papers of yesterday let
ter addressed to E. B. Wheelock, Esq,
president New Orleans Pacific Railway
Company, from Messrs. Gibson, Ellis, Levy
and others, in which, after informing that
gentlemen of the defeat OF his bill by the
FOrty-fourth Congress, occurs the following
passage:
We believe that the bill requiring the in
dorsement by the United States of the bonds
OF the company and parishes will pass the
Forty-hfth Congress if earnest and con.
certed efforts are made and kept up by
Uhose who are vitality interested in Its sue
cess.
And again:
The nationality of the enterprise, the de-
pressed condition of our section, the stinted
manner in which the Federal government
has extended aid and bounty to the South,
combine to strengthen our claims in this
matter.
also notice by the telegraphic dis
patches that the bill providing for rebuild.
ing the levees of the Mississippi river also
failed, but that General Gibson felt san
guine of it, passage by the next Congress.
1t is further stated that the Brazilian
mail subsidy was defeated, thanks to the
efforts of Messrs. Clymer and Blount, Dem
ocrstic members of the House.
Now, Mr.. Editor, what desire is inform
alton as to the data on which the opinions
of our Representatives in Congress are
based, so as to warrant the assurance of
their passage by the Forty fifth Congress.
II these gentlemen admit that they stand
Democracy of the North, as was very clear
~ shown by their action in the session just
closed, when, with a majority of over sixtv,
they defeated every measure of practical
benefit to our section, fully concur with
them; but if they expect the support of the
will become by the accession of five or six
members Of the House who have heretofore
acted with the Democratic party, but " hose
conservatism will not permit them to i'm
pede the wheels of government, the mem
bers from the Mississippi valley must
ing the constant abuse of every leading Re-
publican of the country, concediDg some
honesty OF purpose and patriotism to those
with whom they have heretofore differed,
and give frank and cordial support to the
administration of President Hayes.
Can they consistently and will they pur-
sue this programmed fail to see the
| slightest inconsistency in such a course,
more particularly after the refusal of their
Democratic allies of the North to consider
even one practical measure of relief, cou.
| pied with the Indispensable fact that be.
tween the two great parties which strug
gled for supremacy during the late cam
paign there was not single political
principle involved, but it was solely con.
test for power aud place.
What our people need is peace, quite the
| appointment of unexoeptionsble men to
government aid aud assistance to complete
those measures without which we can have
no prosperity.
That it can be easily obtained by our
| people land in using that term / wish to be
understood as meaning all the voters OF the
State, regardless of old party lines), no Ons
that has watched the course of political
events in the past two months will deny
Dy fearlessly taking the initiative, and
through our Legislature, instructipg the
Senators and Representatives in Congress
from Louisiana to give an unqualified and
hearty support to the administration Of
President Hayes, requesting, at the same
time, the cooperation OF our sister States
of Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas
and Missouri by taking similar action.
Let our leading public men of all pOlit
ical parties rise above mere party affilia
tons, petty jealOusies and prejudices with
our home difficulties, in legal, Just and
honorable manner, demand that the people
Of all cl4sses and conditions shall be pro
tected bY the Law, making one united con
ceIted effort for the redemption of our city
aud State, thus iusuring an era of prosper
| ty, peace and good feeling, thereby deserv
Ing aud winning the gratitude of the whole
people as well as the approval of their OWE
consciences.
GEORGE A. FOSDICK.