Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-04-10
sooIABILITy,

effort maze Wy worthy gentlemen VII"
were possessed with means, guided
by u commendable public spirit strove
to check the downfall of our city.
Bitter and disastrous was their expo
rience in attempting to give employ
ment to our labofing class.
Then came the foods, the anarchy
caused by Radical rule; then the epl-
demic, which added its sorrows to the
already existing dependency.
People as they grew poorer, became
sullen and unable to extend to their
neighbors those civilities which render
life one of happiness in a community.
Gradually the occasions which bring
about friendly interchanges became
less frequent, until every family al
most, existed within it's own home
circle.
Little by little the fairs, balls, cx-
cursions, picnics, etc, which frequent
ly made our city alive with pleasure
were given up. Even the private re-
unions were abandoned, and our city
sure enough became avery dull place.
A community that offers no pleas
ures to its members not only renders
them dissatisfied with all their sur
roundings, makes each one feel that
every body is down on him; that he
lives among the worst people in the
world, and that it isn't that way any
where else. Finally after expressing
such thoughts every day, they become
firmly convinced that it is SO, and
outsiders gradually seek localities
where there are more attractions and
social intercourse.
We believe that the time has come
to destroy this hurtful spell. Baton
Rouge can easily return to those days
when its people organized fetes and
galas, that drew to them many friends
from the surrounding country and
from a distance.
Despite what may be said to the
contrary, our citizens are as generous
and as noble in their instincts as those
Of any other locality under the sun.
When we look back to the period
when the carpet-baggers and the
bummers had swooped down upon
our people, we remember with pride,
how the gallant men of East Baton
Rouge fought on and on, when almost
every other parish in the State had
hopelessly given up. They were the
last to surrender to the Radical fill
busters. Even afterwards, Warmoth
and Kellogg were wont to say that
our people kicked more in the traces
than those of other portions of the
State.
Then, too, do we remember that in
April, 1876, at the municipal election,
by a combined effort of our citizens,
the first victory for the Democratic
party was won here, which gave
heart elsewhere and contributed
largely by the example in organiz-
ing the final victory, resulting in the
election of Nichols and Wilt.
Therefore we say it with pride, that
our people are neverbehind whenever
a patriotic duty is to be performed.
Baton Rougeans have deserved the
Capital, and it has been restored to
them. They fought for it with a zeal
and determination that has been I'M
tagging, showing that what they
want to do they generally accom-
plish.
Having obtained the crown. it is
necessary that We should strive to
wear it with honor to ourselves and
the State.
We must forget our jealousics and
petty chickering's, if we desire, as we
all mquestionably do, to make our
city prosperous and attractive.
This can easily be accomplished.
Let our firemen and other associa-
tons organize public amusements. 1t
matters not for what purpose, so that
our citizens may be brought together
as frequently as possible. Let us
have the pic-nics, the tournaments,
the fairs, the fishing parties and the
reunions Of former years. Nobody
will be made worse off by it.
Now is the time to unite all ele-
ments and heal discord through socia-
bility and pleasure, so that we may
work together tremendously for the
general good. Who will start the
ball, so that others may keep it ever
lastingly rolling7