New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-05-12


we accept the thanksgiving according to
the text of its proclamation as intended
to signaize the peace of race strife, the
adoption of national Republican princi-
Piles, with the restoration of sectional and
social harmony.
We do not doubt that such is the inter-
probation and intention of Governor
Nichols. 1t will remain for time to de-
termine whether the thanksgiving meant
gratitude for salaries and contracts, or
the reconciliation of discord and the SUBJ
stitution of the arts of peace for the
achievement of arms. In one point of
view this truce-if it be nothing more
in the perpetual war for Office will effect
good. 1t may even afford vindication for
the Republican party from the heavy
responsibilities which have been heaped
upon it. That there has been an arrest,
and even decline, in the progress of New
Orleans during the Republican admins
tration of the State is admitted We have
cited in vain the fact that the agricultural
productions of the State have increased,
while the State debt and taxation have
diminished under the same Republican
rule. 1t has not constituted any vindica-
ton that the city of New York has debt
and rate of taxation as heavy as our own;
that it has suffered from public robbery
by its Democratic representatives and
mayor. Nor that the city of Chicago has
lost by fire nearly twice the taxable values
of New Orleans, and yet these cities have
maintained a rate of progress in popula-
ton and wealth. 1t has not even been
admitted as plea in mitigation that while
the State debt has been reduced and the
State products increased under a Repub-
lican government, the decline of the city
has continued under Democratic admin
istration.
The history of superstition affords many
instances in which the people suffering
under an epidemic are advised that the
Arabic characters of some abstract astron-
omer comprehend an incarnation, or the
medical mysteries of some old crone, a
charm, responsible for the death and
misery that surround them. In such cases
the readiest remedy has been found in
hanging the magician and drowning the
witch.
While there have been few who have
looked into the true and inevitable-not If
reparable-causes of decline, the profess
sional politicians have seized upon the
fact, and byassigning Republican misrule
of the State as exclusively responsible for
the ruin of the city have enlisted the am
bilious, the needy and the unemployed.
The Democratic politicians assure the
malcontents that nothing is necessary for
the relief of their wants except to remove
from power the alleged authors of mis-
chief, and to install Democratic admin
istration. Hence the armed organization
and the united influence of society to
overthrow and forever extirpate this
radical cause of popular and industrial
distress.
The revolution has been successful.
The expulsion of the Republicans has
been effected. This alleged cause of mu-
nicipal ruin has been removed, and the
panaceal remedy applied. We await the
redemption o. these rather empirical
promises.
The advantages which we anticipate
from the theory of pacifcation are two
fold. l. It eliminates from the possible
category Of the causes of commercial de-
cline the malevolent agency of Repub-
liean State administration. 2. An abate-
ment of the hatred and suspicion which
has prevented men of opposite parties
from uniting in the prosecution Of any en-
terprise, while it concentrated the thought
and action of the one party on the
means Of injury, and Of the other on the
resources Of defense on escape.
II is not usual that the industry OF
commerce Of a city blockaded and be-
sieged continue in full activity. The po-
IiticaI warfare within this city for some
years past has neutralized and nulIified
its capital and industry by an Interrupt
tion Of all cooperative enterprise
We may then claim that the decline Of
our eommeroe, Il Il continues. shall not
be attributed % Republican misruIe.
Should immediate prosperity fail to fol-
low the Republican exodus, the Demo
cratic administration will not complain
that it will be held responsible for that
restoration Of commerce which they have
promised 10 their constituents.
We viii not prolong this article BY q
repetition Of the causes which have made
tho decline Of New OEleans--as Of al
other cities ia The world dependent upon
water-borne commerce = inevitable.
We win mol paias out tle remedy ard The
cAtion Of larger, richer. and more
nernanent commerce than Nsw Orieana
ss lyer enjoyed This ne nnPun1IoAis
s 100 often bIAiasa b iadihsaent
blends 81 ira slota orponsnis. We
~ asy. hqEeYst sass to restore Kew