Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-04-05
BATON ROUGE, La, APRIL s, 1879.
BATON ROUGE ZEN AvANT."

We ore proud, indeed, TO nave occa-
sion to herald to the brave and open
hearted population Of our city and
parish, that after careful review Of
the names Of the delegates to the con-
vention, coupled with the expressions
Of the press Of the State, we have
reached the firm belief that the popu-
lar verdict rendered in November last
in favor of the restoration of the Cap
ital to our beautiful city will, beyond
question, be sustained by all over
whelming majority.
While the Crescent City is destined
soon to resume her mighty sway as
the great queen Of the commerce
of the southwest, through the medium
of the railway lines that within few
months will unite her with the very
heart of the Lone Star State, that
growing and mighty commonwealth
that lies contiguous to our western
frontier, an event that will bring to
its marts the numberless products
that heretofore have found but an in
adequate outlet at Galveston Oh one
side, and % circuitous one at st. Louis
on the other, it has become more APP
parent in view of this long looked for
development to detach from the midst
Of the metropolis, the political head
quarters of the State of Louisiana.
It is plainly discernible that the
limitless power Of New Orleans will
soon render the interior sections Of
the State nothing but tributaries to
the great city that commands the
Mississippi Valley on the Mexican
Gulf Coast. Whilst we mark with un-
feigned pride the gigantic strides that
our Crescent City Is now making, we
cannot but point to the self-evident
necessity that, in order that the ad
vancement of the rural districts of
Louisiana may not be neglected, our
State government must be placed
where it can overlook both country
and city. New Orleans will take care
of her interests under every and all
circumstances. She is now and soon
will undoubtedly be not alone the
commercial Capital Of Louisiana, but
also that of the States of the South
west.
We have need to look to the Agricul-
tural interests,and the development OF
our inland towns and parishes. Roads
and railways are needed in the Flor
idas, in the Northern . and the
Central parishes Of the State. It is
necessary, if we would open to immi-
grafton the fertile lands that are lying
waste all over our State, that our
Legislators have for their place of
assembling, an interior town, where
in, outside Of the hustle and influence
of such u metropolis they may calmly
and undisturbed devise the best
method of reaching these very desira-
bic ends.
The growing power and wealth of
the parishes will, instead of doing
injury to the metropolis, inure only
to its further profit.
The people of Louisiana want their
political capital in healthy location,
and away from the throng of aspi-
rants and schemers. BY restoring it
where our fathers designed it should
beat Baton Rouge-we will see ad-
ditioual lines of steamers and trans
verse or connecting railways between
the main trunks, whose objective
point will be the State Capital. Sec
tons of country that abound in re-
sources, and are now lying away
from the broad paths of travel, will be
opened to industry. and commerce.
These interests will be looked after if
the Capital is here, and will be ignored
if it remains to occupy an insignif-
cant corner in the Crescent City.
The cry of reform is being heard
from one end of the State to the other,
and if we would have it we must
establish our officials and Legislators
where their reduced salaries will per-
nit them to live comfortably away
from the example offered them by
those possessed of the wealth that a
large city necessarily contains. 1t is
more than plain to every one that our
people no longer expect to furnish
palaces and equipages to their public
servants. Therefore they must not
be located where the costly lllxuries
afforded by private citizens will offer
in many cases naught but temptation
to do wrong.
We are sure that we see the deter
mination Of our people to effect this
needed change. Therefore we do
think that we are .iustitiable in excit-
ing the hope in the hearts Of the citi-
zens Of our dear city that at last the
lost jewel is to be restored to them.
The people of Louisiana will not
forget that last summer, when the
quarantine was encircling the Cres-
cent City, the gallant people of Baton
RNpe. at the hazard of their lives