New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1878-09-28


II increasing Geld of demand and con
snmption? That Is the important tg1es-
ton. How and when shall we begin3 We
ought TO have begun long ago. Duty
alike to ourselves and our nefghbozs ought
to have prompted us to governmental ef-
fort ia this undertaking ct least as early as
the middle of the present century. Delay
has already largely cost rs, and is still
more largely costing us prestige and profit
aud pc yer. We should 20 TO work ct once,
and in solemn earnest determine to sue
coed, even to the extent of making up in
some degree for. the long time already lost.
Not another day should be allowed to
elapse unimpr0yed.
Our people, right-meaning and trustful,
bat more or less shortsighted, like other
people, and not knowing perfectly well
their own interests in al respects, are
willing to pay eighteen millions Of dollars
per annum for the expenses of navy.
That is more, much more, in my opinion,
than we ought to epend for a navy in
times Of peace. Thirty eight first rate war
ships for service at sea, and the same
number of well constructed cutters for
river and harbor service one of each class
for each State and State capital in our
Union, and so named respectively would,
as think, constitute all the floating force
we require in ordinary periods; and the
entire cost of such force. being once
provided, ought certainly not to exceed
ten millions per annum.
New Orleans as the Port Of Connection with
Spanish America.
Does not the suggestion present an OPP
portunity for judicious retrenchment and
reform? and can you not put it into prac-
fice, and thereby save the country anru-
ally, $4,000, 0002 And then, because of
your having thus hghtened tbs burdens Of
our patriotic taxpayer in the sum of eight
millions year, may you not, in the fur
Their interest of those same taxpayers flor
eventually it viii be very greatly in their
INTEREST,", induce Congress to grant a
subsidy of two millions or more year for
the establishment and permanent main
tenance of q line, large line, long line,
of first-class steamers, to run from New
Orleans, twice a month or oftener, to all
the ports of Mexico, and Central and South
America, both on the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts
Do that, Mr.. Secretary Of the Navy, do
it at once, do it bravely, do it successfully,
and you VIII thereby readily solve one of
the most important problems to which
you, yourself, have alluded in your
admirable report. In the interest Of the
industrious and dexterous labor of our
country, you will have found fields Of al
most illimitable dimensions, and Of ever
increasing demand, for our surplus pro-
ducts and manufactures; and in that find
ing you will have proved yourself beyond
all fhn afyrf ri IL
Secretary Of the Navy we have ever yet
had.
Under proper guarantees, and with q
potent governmental voice in the manage
ment of the affairs of the company, a sub
sidy-c considering the old and strong and
tenacious hold which Europe already has
on the trade of this continent-a subsidy
of at least two millions year should be
granted, for a term, to start with, Of not
less than fifteen years, or until ship canal
shall be cut through Nicaragua, or across
the Isthmns of Darien; but for every mil
lion thus spent from two to five millions
ought to be gained and under an ener-
getic and prudent administration of the
business Of the company, that much, or
more, probably, would be gained as an
accretion to the general wealth of the
for me to assure you, as l do with all sim
certify and truth, that, so far from being
myself pecuniarily interested in any enter
prise Of this sort, have never had word
with any one ON the subject. In this re-
spect, really have no more ct stake, nor
in prospect, than yourself, or President
Hayes, or any other gentleman who is
wholly disconnected from mercantile pur-
suits. 1t is only because, having two eyes,
and having seen SO repeatedly and extern
sively, during my two crossings Of this
continent, the great requirements and OPP
portunities of American commerce in the
Southern Hemisphere, that have given
myself the liberty oil addressing you in
this manner.
Another point. You viii have observed
that have mentioned New Orleans as the
port in the United States from which oul
ships under governmental patronage
should sail to Mexico and Central and
sputh America, and to which they should
return with their caigoes OF far south pro.
ducts. All the maps and lands and winds
and waters Of the New World, not less OBJ
viousIy than animated common sense, are
equally emphatic in suggesting New Or.
leans as the only convenient and proper
port, the only natural and suspicious port
for the concentration Of our trade with
these many vast countries, every one oi
which lies south Of the Mississippi river.
Besides, for pleasure seekers and Other
passengers. and also for the mails and fol
freight from all these southern climes
New Orleans is, by sea, from twelve K
fifteen hundred miles nearer than amy
Of the great cities Of the North. More
over, by going directly to New Orleans
and thence by railroad or by steamboat 20
other places, as may be desirable, both
time and pleasant changes Of situation
will be gained, and the ever stormy and
fatal regions of Cape Hatteras, that howl
ing and harmful horrors Of the Carolinl
haunt Of Charsbdis and Scylla will bt
Stunned. Furthermore, the climate Of al
our Northern cities, as / am well aware
from the woeful experience Of several per
sonal friends, on various occa-
aions, is much too RIGOROUS. much too
/ perilous, for visitors and other passengers
from the tropics in the winter season; es
pecially is it so for those who may have
been born and reared within the tropics
and they will prudently, for their lives
sales, remain away from our country alto
/ getheE, rather than enter iton the Atlantis
coast north Of Pamlico sound, betweei
November and March. inclusive
1t Is alike due 10 the great West, TIL
South, the North, aud the East-it Is pre-
eminensly due to. the United States as
/ whole--that the marvelously favorabl
geographical position Of New Orleans fo