National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-16

atty of 600 Leaving the mill, our party
Of ninety-two was invited to the Avery
mansion, half n mile distant. The grounds
are 100 feet above the surrounding level,
and command all the poetry OF the country
for twenty miles. The elder Avery died
five years ago. There are Eve children here,
besides grandchildren. The Oldest OF the
capture Of the place during the war. The
salt was a necessity to the confederacy, but
even that couldn't save them. OF course,
wewere dined and wined, and, after linger-
ing beyond our time, turned our backs re-
luetantly on this Eden by the sea.
We had little time TO study New Orleans
and its people. All It's attractions were new
to us, and could not be comprised in O let
ter or volume. We had looked for more
hustle, more wealth, moro enterprise. The
Exposition, magnificent In many respects,
is doing but little for the city so far this year.
The st. Charles was not more than half
filed. There was little stir on the levees.
counted forty large vessels tied up above
the jetties, hopelessly idle. II was the
same up river. Old sea captains are here
from many quarters asking for Job at any
price. Talking with Gen. McRae, Of Ar
kansas, we inquired, tWhat is the cause OF
all this stagnntion ~ We were answered
in brief:
The first cause is the "ring'' management
huu tile bnOIInOuS IaNnllOn.
Second. The combined labor organizations
among black and white, which hang like
nightmare upon the commerce Of the city.
Third. The general inortness Of the old
time population and theproclivity to gayety,
dissipation, and gambling.
Fourth. The building Of cotton presses
all over the south and the consequent
change In cotton trade.
Fifth. The shipments OF the sugar plant
nirnnf N II mi nd ~ ar
Sixth. The diversion of river business by
railroads north.
Lastly, the want Of capital.
And yet, despite all these drawbacks,
New Orleans is more than holding its own
especially on the American side. Many
improvements are seen In the direction OF
the Exposition. st. Charles is said to be
the handsomest street In any southern city.
The French side is another affair. Properly
here is going to decay In many quarters,
and can hardly pay the three and half per
cont taxes. The railroads are doing much
for the city, and have helped on the Ex-
position. Not so with the rich men. Few
OF them show nnypublic spirit. The news
papermen are foremost In enterprise. Mai.
Burke, Of the Times-Democrdt, who was the
master spirit Of the Exposition last reur,
is pronounced "the most progressive man
In the city," Plnckney Smith, the little
Ginnp OF the States, is doublo-shotted with
brains and energy. The Picdwne is more
conservative snd money making. The City
Item Is aco.operative concern, Independent,
spicy, and slashes right and left. The Ger
man Gazette is liberal minded, and circu-
lates widely Mr.. Rivers, of the st. Charles,
Dudley Colman, and McConnico, Of the
Exposition, are samples Of go-ahead that
any city would delight In.
The politics Of the south, for the most
part, are on par with its horse-racing-
you'll get cheated anyhow. questioned
many negroes from Kellogg's district (:
why they didn't come out and voter"
There was the same dismal shake of the
head: ut was fno use; they wouldn't be
counted" Gov. Hahn, now in Congress,
says the state would be 10000 Republican
with any fair expression. Even so good a
Democrat as Gen, McRae is not satisfied
with the condition Of things. He looks be-
low the surface. He has taken the measure
Of the politicians. He sees in Mr.. Blaine
the only man at the north with the "genius
of craftsmanship" sufficient TO solve this
question OF South American commerce.
the one Of all most vital and important to
tDe South. F. A. MOORE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. II.