New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-06-09
IGNORANCE Or DELUsIoE.

1GNOhANOh Oh OhhOo4ON'
The Democracy has held the city ad-
ministration for more than four years, and
has not been able to arrest its decline. 1t
attributes this failure to the alleged mis-
government of the State, yet the agricul-
tural interests of the State have steadily
improved during that period. The change
of State administration has not caused
that reaction in the business of the city,
which we would have right to expect
from the withdrawal of the depressing
causes. The REPUBLICAN has always al
lowed deduction from the prosperity of
q city for Improvement. 1t has never
claimed that the Democratic governments
of Wilt and Leeds were as injurious as
those of Hoffman, OF Oakley Hall, the
Democratic mayors of New York. But
admitting that maladministration is per-
centage against the progress of city, we
can not see that greater abuses would &C.
count for the increased wealth and popu-
lation of New York or Chicago, while the
smaller capacity for mischief of the mu-
nicipal administration of New Orleans has
nearly blockaded the commerce Of this
port.
Suppose We take the city of Savannah,
whose government has never been out of
the hands of its inhabitants. We find
it has declined in population, taxable
valuation, receipts and commerce. 1t has
demanded an abatement of its corporate
debt, and afirms, even under Democratic
government stsgnation and decline. What
are the causes alleged? The introduction
of railroads which take the trade once
due to Savannah, and carry it to ports
and cities more directly on the line of
transportation to world markets.
The Democracy will now permit us to
apply this same cause to the stagnation
and decline of New Orleans. II is the
only means by which they can be relieved
from Che position of d quaek who procures
the discharge of conscientious physician
upon fallacious promise of effecting an
immediate cure.
The mere change of the physician pro-
duees no arrest in the chronic and critical
symptoms. New Orleans was founded
upon the profit formerly allowed upon the
exchange of commercial commodities
We need not recur to the former geo.
graphical monopoly of her position. New
Orleans has not suffered from the fault Of
her merchants, but because all CONNER
cial channels have been changed, and
even the mode Of transportation on the
ocean itself Owing to this fact there is
very small intermediary profit on the ship
nent between the producer and consumer.
In the words Of the Kansas City Tunes
tits because goods Are sold ct margin
between purchase and sale that leaves lit
tie profit TO the distributor
Indeed, our opinions are SO Fixed on
this theory that while we undoubtedly
wish all current charges on through trade
repealed, we do not think even that re.
form would restore the trade between thu
Western end Eastern ports which New
Orleans once enjoyed. The Democratic
politicians have either not comprehended
the inevitable decline Of all river citiei
and the progress Of al railroad cities, o.
disposed to uss the decline Of New Or.
leans As means Of power. have suggested
but enc remedy for our disaster. Il has
been 70 take the State governments from
the Republicans and give Il % the De
moeracy. The impoverished people hayl
accepted this promise It has NOT YET
operated As Vas expected. In The mean.
Tins ne Only lfus specific B heah
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