New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-05-26
TIE IN
ilefeat Of AM citv gutseTiptIon 10

tne EaCluC railroad Is o 6enOu5, but not
ifreparAble disaster Ii VIII be proper
to examine shortly its causes and the pos
sibie remedies for such an unfortunate
error. For some years past the city Of
New Orleans has been exclusively occu-
pied with political questions, We may
adEitszthsuimp oEcy ~Of-ths- Republican
party in having omitted to conciiiate the
sentiment and secure the support of the
property and intelligence of the country.
We may estimate at its full force the Gu
pidity and need of Democratic politicians
determined to conquer the Offices Of the
State ard city. Both these causes have
combinedto leave ONT population inl a
state of ignorance and indiference ag to
the local interests, and while this CONFLICT
has proceeded, mach, of the capital end
labor of the city has been withdrawn,
while little inducenent hes been offered
for its replacement Indeed, We have;
found the chief Argument in favor Of
Democratic rule to consist in the charge
that the decline Of the city proceeded
from Republican misrule. This state of
facts has closed the public ear and inteli-
gence against the true reasons why New
Orleans has lost SO large q part of her
imports, exports and general business.
The true reason for this loss is the substi-
linton of overland and transporter
ton BY rail and steamer for the ancient
water. way of the river and the sail
vessel '-.... ...-
Perhaps no community in the United
States could be found less prepared to ap-
preeiRte the indispensable necessity of
providing new aecessions of commerce
than our own. We deubt whether
proposition to build by a public tax
railway 10 developed trade would have
been. beaten in any other city or town in
the Union. From al theipfcEmation and
observation OF our commandthe ignorance
of the voters decided the question. They
were told that the tax would be charged,
in theirTents. They were not told that
AAo Ano1 SarSu uoL1hnU4VE l1oAr AfsDOk WOuAlt
q nable them to pay sven increased rent
stAHOte easily than at presents They were
.mot informed that ths.increase7 trade of
th Getty would inducethe erection of more
buildings; that tensments would be
Oh eaper and more considerable. as in Bal
tinIore, philadelphia and Chicago, all
Cit es dependent exclusively upea railroad
con lmunicRtion with the interior.
/ 7 he doctrine of the Democracy and of
its rgan is in the highest degree ultra
mon tame and aristocratic. II is. the same
doch inc which has made and kept the
Soua lem States and cities in dependence
upon other sections Wsrdo not think it
peneh 'ated deeper than to convince the
French and other alien property holders
that futuyo tax was inimiCal to their in
terests; but we appre herddt may tell with
fearful effect against the application to
Congress for BsVee or Texas railroad. If
it be true tIbt no tax may be imposed
upon property except with the consent of
its prophecies if it be admitted that the
universal representa- ton should not be
allowed to control Il ,e property interests,
then will it be dis cult to convince the
owners of s4C0i9OO, o. 20 investment in rail-
rnada that tSaH sht ,nliitallnw public
debt for the eoDstTuc ton of q railroad in
some respects,rival t their own; then will
it be absurd to e1pe ct the gold and silver
mine owners on t he Pacific, the grain
growers of Wiseonsi or the lambermen
Of Maine to tan Il .emsslves to improve
the profits Of q sugI II plantation in Louis
inna. The DeAaocI attic argument strikes
both OF State and Federal aid in the con-
struction of railre ads, and with the ad.
nitted want of "a pital in our city appli-
cable to such o : 'urpose, will make the
immediate constEu elton, of the road diff.
cult, if not iIaRnOt able. Shall we give mp
the construction of the road? By nc
means. On bhs CONTRARY, we need two
Toads throuGhGel :as-the one to Marshall,
the other thnOl Oh Houston. Measures
should be tAltan TO instuncs the people in
she necessity for homo wosks. The press,
which has emily taken up the question ia
earnest within Il ie past ten days, should
be devoted to I be object. The managess
Of the road shO aid lay before the people,
and especially Those, of the lower part .oi
the city, asshe' lule of the benefits toAuise
from a pfaper anAsqual participation d
that part Of tie city in the advantages Of
eOnstrSlchagri YER crossings and depots So
far from hsini discouraged by this result,
wsshsl dsEna nd two Texas railroads from
the State and, city with national lavee
and national railroads through Rexas into
Mexico and TO the Pacific ocean.