The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-05-29
SHALL WE IMPORT YELLOW
TEVrR

ZION ~ quarantine dpAIuou AA"'"hs
and Vera Cruz, where yellow fever is
prevalent-and besides this we have
the following items clipped from New
Orleans papers Of the 10th inst:
American steamship Clinton, Henry, 4
days from Havana, with general cargo
to e. A. Whitney & Co, Algiers.
SIP steamship Yrurae Bat, ugarte, 2
days from Havana, to Aventlano Bros
I'd dis.
sp steamship Guillermo, Lazarraga. 2
days from Nlatanzas, to l.. Ranger L Co.
18th dis.
Span bark Rufina, Matil,, S days from
Havana to Nfasich and Colusicll-2d dis.
Brig Raven, Nash, s days from Havana
to master-point.
If steamships two and four days
from Havana, port proclaimed by
Gov. Wilt to be infected with yellow
fever, can come up to the wharves Of
New Orleans or Algiers, open their
matches filled with the presidential
atmosphere Of Havana, and discharge
their cargoes in our midst, then quar-
an,ine seems to us Il solemn farce and
we think it higl, time to raise the cry
of alarm and warning.
Two classes of people oppose quar-
antine: one, composed Of theorists,
who maintain that yellow fever is in
digenous to Louisiana ard hence that
the most rigid quarantine can not
protect us; and the other, composed
Of pa,tics interested in steamship
lines between New Orleans and Ha-
vana or Vera Cruz, and in the trade
brought by steamships and sailing
vessels from countries infected with
yellow fever.
1t is this latter class that fought
the guarantees Of DR.. Chopin 50
pertinacious'y. 1t embraces not only
slipowners aud their employees and
merchants interested in the tropical
trade, but that numerous and inter
esting class Of Siciliar, Spanish and
Italian citizens generally called Da-
goes, who energetically and nnswerv-
iugly push the sale of bananas aud
other seasouable fruit in New Orleans
and to our remotest l,amlets upon
navigablc streams or bayons.
| These numerous classes have band
ed together to fight quarantine, and
| have learned that the most effective
influence could be exercised at the
primaries Of of the Democratic party
by securing pledges from candidates
In 1873 they elected half dozen o.
more members Of the Legislature
pledged to oppose quarantine, and I
is a significant fact that the banan,
dealers and their associations sen
from their wards delegates to Bato,
Rouge favorable to the nomination o
Gov. Wilt. Whether any pledge
were given by Gov. Wilt or hi
friends to secure their votes VIC al,
unable to say aud we sincerely hop'
that the great question: of the public
health has not been matter ct bar
gain and trade over q gubcrnatoria
nominations.
The firm and resolute attitude q
DR.. Chopin, the President Of th
Nichols Board of Health, upon TIL
subject Of quarantine made him
conspicuous target Of attack from til
banana trade and its sJmpatl,izers.
Outside Of New Orleans there is u
question that the lamented Chopin
was regarded us the highest autl,orit
npon sanitary matters and was looke'
upon as the courageous and unseIfis
guardian Of the public health agains
the assaults of parties who were reck
less Of the general veal when
claslled with the interests Ut thei
tlade.
We regret to say that, in our belief
the theorists and banana traders
forming the anti quarantine party
have triumphed under the new Stat
administration. Gov. Wilt remove
DR.. Chopin aud other members {
the Board Of Health and appninte
their successors. Among these is d.
jones, who succeeds Dr.. Chopin a
President, and MI. Hernandez. D.
Jones is a man of SCIENCE and theur,
believing that yellow fever originate
| here and that the most rigid quara,
tine can not exclude ii. MI. HERNIA,
E lez, We are informed, was an actiy
opponent of Dr.. Choppin's quaranti,
!, aud is the secretary of and otherwis
, interested III the Havana steamshi
F., line. Gov. Wilt certainly possesst
f unbounded confidence in Mr.. Hernia,
dcz, evinccd by appointing him
guardian of the public health, While
can only be preserved, III the opini,
e of the most of us, by intertercn'
6 with the profits of Mr.. Hernandez
!, steamship line, trading with Havau
K The quarantine law (Sec. 3O34 r
II vised Statntes) requires tie Govern
i to appoint members of the Board