New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-03
MESSAGE OF aOYERNoR KELIOea.

The assault upon the administration of
Governor Kellogg, which has continued
without abatement during the whole off,
cial term now approaching its close, has
subjected him to obstruction, leaving lit
tle~trust and little popular cooperation
in such measures of policy as he has per-
fected. Notwithstanding these obstacles,
the reduction of debt, and the arrest of
aDS future increase, with the low rate of
State taxation, has assured to persons and
property far more moderate contribu-
ton to the support of government than
heretofore, less, indeed, than in many
far more prosperous States than our own.
That this abatement of burdens has
stimulated the production of agriculture
is evident from the rapid increase stated
in the message. With such state of ter
ror as has prevailed in many parts of the
State one is surprised to find the free
labor of the country so responding to the
wants of the country.
The Governor we'll contrasts the grow
ing prosperity of the country with the
stagnation and commercial decline of the
city. If the Democratic argument be
sound, that the alleged ruin of Louisiana
has been produced by an excessive taxa
ton imposed by Republican administra-
tons, how can the Democratic administrs-
ton escape direct responsibility for the
reduction of assessed values, and the COM
plants of unemployed and destitute thou
sands? While we are satisfied Governor
Kellogg has assigned the true cause of
that decline in the diversion of trade, and
the failure to provide other means of COM
municstion with the commerce of Texas,
it must be plain that the Democratic party
is at least responsible for the consequences
of city debt and city taxation.
The explanation given of the Demo-
cratic purposes is expressly clear.
1t is the vesting of all political control in
the hands of an aristOoratic ohgarchy, ir
respective of the will of the majority Of
the people, and the practical nulii sation
OF the constitutional measures which 40
cord to the emancipatod tl4ves the rights
of citizens.
1t was singular that the whole reform
South should have taken sides with 6
Presidential candidate whose persona
record was certainly no better than tina
of Republican candidate without re-
proach.
1t was expressly strong where no Re
publican candidate favors on principl,
the Improvements, for which the South il
suffering, while the Democratic candidate
stands pledged, on principle, to veto anC
deny these improvements.
The message points out very distinct,
the attempt to prevent the representation
: of colored numbers to the advantage o
their Democratic opponents. We appre
, bend that the first use of Republican
power will be to so assure the exercise @
free will suffrage that the representation
and suffrage given to protect the enamel
pated will effect that object
Governor Kellogg has done remarkabl
well to hold the fort at all during the pas
four years. While he may not have ei
! fected as much as if he had the co-opera
ton of the people, he has at least gon
far enough to show the people of LouiI
4 lana how much Republican administrl
7 ton could improve their condition if
should be permitted to do so.