The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-01
now even being called by some the honor and

l CTDQIC Oh LOuI6lhlds
| Where are the public buildings, the rail-
ways, the canals, Che internal improvements
or the leyees, to answer for this profiigacy?
We can point to the crevasses, through
| which runs the mighty Father of Waters .
as 1t carries Its desOlating streams over lands
once teeming with productiveness.
10 the railway charters Of lines that are Ia
embryo.
To the purchase of that rookery, known as
the st Louis Hotel swinde"
lies.
To the Lake Borgne Canal, and to the levees
constructed only in the fertile brain OF rapa-
cious contractors.
To the stacks of warrants issued to those
satellites, tie metropolitan police militia, for
faithful services rendered In their ineursIions
by the Federal troops All this In order to
force upon the people the most abject the
most q merrcenary, the most INSCRIPTIONS
That Is the foundation on which rests those
securities that the new official organ, the
Ptcayu',e-that advocate OF the bondholders-
ls pleased to couple with the honor and the
public credit of louisiana,
Inc hour has sounded for the redemption
OF our State. Its representatives to the con-
vention must do their duty. This generation
has carried this cross for eighteen weary
years, and 1t is high time that it should
breathe freely, At least, Ii not for ourselves,
ture that will permit us to educate them and
that will furnish field wherein the indus
tr1ous may thrive. We have enough of this
slavery, and we will no longer be held In the
traces by hollow sentimentality. Louisian-
ians must cease to pay out their substance to
the stock iobbers and gamblers The people
demand that the taxes shall be applied to the
schools, to the repairing and building OF pub
lie editices, to the development of our internal
resources, and the payment of honest debts
only.
We care not for the outcry Of the Unsuitable
shyIocks, who have been getting and still
want the annual pound of flesh"
The State debt must be investigated, and
every cent Of that IS spurious must be thrown
overheard.
It Is known that the holders OF these secu-
rites have In most instances received
through the erorbitant interest that has been
paid since fourteen years-nay, more, twice
more than they gave for them.
We say no child's play now, and attack that
infamy courageously, no matter who squeals. |
In the views that we express we but re-echo |
the almost unanimous wish OF the people |
the State, wish that is boldly |
spoken by the country press, and all but two
or three journals OF the Crescent City.
lMarksvile Bulletinl
II we were to take counsel from a certain
class OF men and Journals we would never
begin to think Of handling the State debt in
any other spirit than that Of the most sub
missive reverence. Ii we attempt to inquire
into the origin Of portion OF this debt, they
roll up their eyes In horror and cry out repu-
1iation. They insist that the public debt
must not be tempered with In any manner;
that the public faith must be upheld at all
hazard. But what do the oppressed taxpay-
ers who are toiIing In the fields and In the
say to this fine sentiment? They
lsk, and very bluntly, ii all of this debt has
been honestly contracted; il yea they are de-
,ermined to see It paid, and Il nay, they
'quarely say that 1t is as discreditabIe to pay
l dishonest debt as it Is honorable to liquidate
/ Just and legitimate claim. And no other
rev OF the situation can or should be taken
)ur State Is threatened with many dangers,
ind not the least of them is the
LANCER Of starvation In the future.
The present debt Is exceedingly
arge and cannot be paid in years and years.
Ne have heard it urged that as Louisiana in
reaseS in population her revenues will in
rease and her debt will finally be lquidated.
his is wrong view OF our position. Louisi-
ma as at present situated, with heavy debt
anging over her and an exorbitant rate OF
axatlon to keep her people poor, will not only
eep away from her borders all new comers
ut will most assuredIy drive away from here
nany Of our own people. A piece of property
ncumbered, directly or indirectly, Is never |
ppreciated to the extent of one free from any
UGH hindrances, and to those who would de-
Ire to settle in our midst the simple
noWledge that taxation In Louisiana Is slow
ut sue confiscation Is sufficient to drive
hem away to other more favored States; and ,
Mess the coming convention is willing and ,
oes slit the public debt and cancels the dis
oneSt portion Of it we cannot see in the ,
lture any signs Of prosperity or relief :