The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-06-05
HON. ]. B. ELAN.

This gentleman, our attentive and
worthy Representative in Congress,
has recently written letter to Cit
izen of Caddo, which the Shreveport
Times has been permitted to publish,
and as it touches on matters impor-
tant to US, we hereby republish it:
l am in receipt of your favor Of
the 18th, and accompanying memo
rial and petition asking for a contiu
uance of daily overland mail service
between Shreveport and Red River
landing. The department has awar-
ded to Captain Aiken the water route
on Red River and increased the SER
vices to twice week in summer and
three times week in winter, and
think they ought not therefore to
keep up the old service on the land
route from the mouth of Red River
to Shreveport mean ought not to
require the mail to be carried as Of.
ten per week as heretofore.
! got the Mansfield Post.ofllce
made into a money order office long
ago, but it seems they have been
strangely dilatory in forwarding the
additional bond for Mr.. Taylor which
the law requires. i
You ask if I think the passage Of
the United States District Court bill
would strengthen my other bill for a
public building in Shreveport. l
have no doubt Of it. Indeed, I do
not think the latter bill can be passed
without the passage, first, Of the
other, for very obvious reasons.
l do not think the Republican
party are disposed to make over
lures to the South by giving her rail-
roads, levees, etc. While the Demo.
Gratis are more opposed, on principle,
to making grants Of land and money
for internal improvements than the
Republicans, many of them think, as
the practice has been carried so far
in the North and West. that equity
demands that something Of the kind
should be done for the South. The
fact cannot be disguised BY all the
efforts of insidious enemies that the
Northern Democrats are our friends
and the Radicals our enemies. And
my judgment is that the only way
for US to get our rights in any direc.
ton and in all directions is to stand
by the Northern Democracy and wa.
ger aggressive warfare on the Repub
lican party. I do not think it wise
to press the Northern Democracy on
this question Of appropriations, be
cause the Radical press and thei,
party in Congress are constantly ur
ging that, if the Democratic party
got control Of the next House having
the Senate, the solid South will com.
pei the Democratic representatives
Of the North to join in a grand raid
upon the Treasury, which will solely
effect the pockets Of the people Of
the North, because they being rich
and the people at the South being
poor, they will have to pay for these
expenditures Of the public money.
This was actually said the other day
in the House.
I telegraphed you at your reques,
!.
what amendments l had put in the
bill for the transfer Of the Backbone
land grant to Mr.. Wheelock's road.
that he should build his main trunk
line to Shreveport before building Z
branch line to Marshall or elsewhere
Mr.. Gibson, who introduced the bill
consented to the amendment and hl
thought it nothing but right, in view
of the fact that the State had done
so much for the New Orleans Pacific
/ trust and believe that my action ir
this matter will convince the peopl,
of Shreveport that / am anxious to
forward the interests of their city
and the interests Of the district Al
we'll. Yours truly,
| j. B. ELAN.