The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-10-28

d ivinity Of Capt Eads to use their influence
at his dictation to crush out great enter
prise calculated If successful to benefit the
State and the Mississippi Valley, and which
could by no possible means iniure the jetties
are accountable to nobody, because they rep
resented nobody but themselves. But we are
curious to know who were those superser.
viceable members of the Legislature and
those supple members Of the New Orleans
press who, representing the people of Lou
isiana, were ready and willing, without a
full and thorough investigation of the two
enterprises, at the dictation of Capt
Eads immensely interested in the jetty Ell
terprise, to defeat a charter for the Barataria
canal. which asked not dollar of the State
or the National Government. and which has
respectable and weighty authority in tes-
timony of its feasibility
Gentlemen who were ready In the Legisla-
ture to act thus at the bidding of Capt Eads
may be, and we doubt not are, men of integ-
rity of purpose; but we submit that they do
not belong to that class of men of staIwart
brain and independence of purpose, and
those intense and vigorous propensities for
investigation which should. in these times,
characterize legislators for this ring job and
monopoly ridden State
Capt. Eads' statement in relation to our
members of the Legislature we confess, as
tonishes us much; but that members of the
New Orleans press were on hand to do his
bidding and crush the Barataria canal
scheme, or any other scheme that he or any
other capitalist might order them to crush.
astonishes us not in the least. But none the
less Is Capt. Eads' statement q fearful COM
mentary upon New Orleans journalism. An sd
itor Of 81 newspaper. more than members Of the
Legislature, more than members Of Congress,
less only perhaps than members of the judi
ciary, should investigate, act and think for
himself, and independently/of the dicta-
ton of all outsiders, and especially ndepend-
emily of the will, wish or dictation of
parties interested in the matter he is
called on to pronounce upon. Yet. we
arc told by Capt. Eads. a man of high,
nay, of ilustrt6us position, that the proprie-
tors of New Orleans papers crawled and
crouched<at his feet, begging, in matter that
the interest not only of Louis
ian9'but of the whole Mississippi Valley, to
d5 his supreme bidding and strike down. IL he
desired 1t, IN enterprise which, whatever we
or others may think of it, has the intorse-
ment of men of ability and science.
We discuss this matter irrespective of the
merits of the jetty and canal schemes and
solely because we believe the Legislature and
press of the State should be absolutely
exempt from the influences of the
projectors. managers and capitalists
OF all companies and enterprises however
beneficial those enterprises may be In them |
selves. The railroad system of Pennsylvania |
is en- excellent thing, but 1t is dis
gushing shame that the railroad man
ayers own the Legislature and earry
two-thirds Of the editors of that State In
heir pockets. The jetties are, we have no
loubt, great institution, destined, indeed,
% be Of incalculable benefit to the Missis-
ippi Valley; but they will find in us, and In
ii right thinking men, uncompromislng op-
'onents whenever their projectors and man.
ayers assume to dictate, Or are able to die
ate, the course Of members of the Louisiana
legislature or to control the press or any
art of the press of the State.