The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-03
WHY THESE TEARs7

Tbe hearty and unanimous Endorsement
Ehat has been accorded to Gov. Nichols ant
his administration by the people all over the
State as eyinced In the resolutions passed al
aiE the primary meetings preliminary to tht
organization Of the progressing campaign. Is
Che very best possible evidence of the popular
faith that is reposed in him and his admins
afntion Of public affairs. Hesuits the people
and they believe In HMM him personally
butspecia1ly In the methods his Inauguration
introduced and the principles, moral as vel
as political, which he represents.
There are, of course, cavaliers and fault.
finders what administration has ever had
Immunity from them ?--but the wonder u.s.
mot the number, but the paucity and lack OF
influence of these soreheads. When we recall
the number Of good men, who had no perso-
Tal ends to subserve, that differed honestly
with Gov. Nichols In the measures taken by
him to secure the ascendency Of his govern
msnt. and In the policies he pursued at the
beginning OF his troublesome administration
when We take into consideration the exagger-
rated hopes and expectations Of the numbers
oil ineonsiderate, but honest and over-san-
guine, people, who had no proper conception
of the delays and difficulties attending gov
srnmental reforms, but more particularly,
when we consider that this State 10, by
reason Of the long and corrupt
rule 81 the Radical party more than from
any other cause. full of politicians, men who
have given q long and, to them, costly ale
glance to the Democratic party, and who
e,,,,s 4y,t hT Ha nf3t cd.
day Of personal reward and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,
when Offices and sinecures would be as thick
MS huekleberries, and all for their own special
gathering, when we take these facts into
consideration and endeavor TO realize the
personal disappointments that Of necessity
came to all such people, it Is rather o matter
of surprise that these various sources of dis.
satisfaction have not developed some very
serious arrangement OF the existing Demo
cratic administration. ~ -.
It Id, indeed, rare proof of the patriotism
pf our people and Of their ability to sink all
personal consideration In their unseltish de-
yotion to the public welfare that SO far, there
has been, from no reputable or influential
source, an arraignment OF the wisdom or
honesty of the present State government.
Whatever cavilng there has been Is traceable
TO the disappointment Of individuals, the
growing OF soreheads and the relentless ma
lienitv OF the old horde of Radical plunderers
and thieves, who see, in the savings Demo
cratic economy has operated In behalf of the
people the old rewards Of their robbery and
peoulatlon.
These large margins, which are left In the
public treasury to the credit Of the people,
these Radical thieves and adventures had
long been accustomed to divide among them
selves and to regard as legitimate spoils-
prize money to be divided out among rings
The appropriate wages OF craftsmanship. 1t
touches them deeply to see such reckless mis-
appropriation-such an absolute lack Of polit-
Zeal sagacity--as that which leaves such rich
spoils In the State treasury. They itch in all
their palms to get hold Of affairs again, in
order 10 correct this singular and, to them,
unaccountable diversion from their pockets
of what any man can SEQ Is mere surplusage.
It pains us to add a pang to the suffertngs
s1f these poor wretches, but an instance has
been brought to our notice which we feel
Obliged to call their attention to. It consists
uf statement of the relative expenditure for
sevee construction under the Nichols and the
preceding Republican administrations Under
the Republican administrations the entire
amount of work done mades o grand total Of
&C, 262 1884, 30 cubic yards, which cost the State
i'm round figures the handsome sum of $1o-
gT2.sA1 AT. I'ht average cost Of levee con-
.struction under boards prior to May IL, 1877,
when the Nichols government took charge,
was 56Fs cents per cubic yard, varying in
price from rs cents per yard to 45 cents, the
lowest price paid.
Under the Nichols government the amount
OF work done is 1,1s6,71s cubic yards, at the
cost Of $685., 412 0s, showing an average Of
tarentv-three cents per cubic gard II the same
economy had prevailed under the Radical adj
ministrattons. the total cost Of the 20,262
75a.s cubic yards of levees would have been
but s. SEQ a32 &C. instead of q fraction less than
Al ,0oo, ooo-or, In round numbers, $40, 1879, 441-
showing q margin of $6,3l2,009. or sum
large enough to restore the entire levee sys-
tenn of Louisiana, of which the people We're
ROBBED In this branch of government alone
that dividend might be declared on the po-
Iitical stock held by these Radical thieves.
Now let us see what these scoundrels have
lost under the Nichols administration. The
Ievee work done under the Nichols admins
tration wauld have cost at Radical prices
$672. 473 5s, whereas the actual cost has been