The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-08-28
Z, 4. Darke's Record.

nndcr Lhls captlon, lhe record OIL our
candidate. for State Treasurer, andH
from it we Gull the main portion toll
show our readers the status of our
standard bearer, and that. we have
just cause to be proud of him: !
Z. A. Burke, was born September
l84i, in Louisville. KY, and comes of
a fine Irish family, his ancestors, for
three or four generations back, having
been officers in the British army. His
grandfather, however, was attaihtcd in
the Irish rebellion, and escaped to this
country. His father was born in Bop.T
telonaft county, Virginia, and Ibis NOS
ther in Culpepper. After leaving school
Burke became interested in the rail-
road business; first around Louisville,
and atterward, by successive promo
tons, down to Louisiana and tinaily,s
just before the breaking ont Of the war
to Texas. Though only nineteen years
of age, he at once abandoned a bust
ness in which his talents and industry
were rapidly winning power and for
tune and easthis lot with the Confede
rate army. For his services in the
neighborhood of Galveston he was
complimented, and promoted by Ma
gruder. Subsequently, he laid before
Gen. Kirby Smith, commanding the
Trans-Mississippi Dept the scheme of
that vast system of military work
shops which won the Generals admi-
ration aud which was just attaining
complete development when the war
closed. The time intervening between
that event ana his advent in New Or
leans, was spent in business ventures
which are not important in this con-
nection but which, as Major Burke has
already had occasion to show, were
thoroughly creditable to his ability
and good faith, ts$ fn.
i IN NEW ORLEANS.
Burke's beginning here has long
been familiar bit Of history with this
community. Arriving without money
or friends. and animated by a. single
minded desire to earn his living al
w1Mteyey offered first Burke found
himself applying for work at a we'll
known marble yard. He obtained the
employment he sought aud set man
fully to work chipping stone, along
side of colored brother. Doing that
as he does everything, with hearty
4 good will and withan honest besire tc
excel, he soon attracted attention, Sc:
cured an increase ofpayi aud finally
4 promotion. From that time his for.
tunes began to mend, and the yeal
1872 found him in charge ofthe freight
4 business of the Jackson Railway where
his administrative ability had found &
congenial field aud borne a rich liar,
vest of success and popularity for thu
road. The merchants of the city vii
bear testimony to the correctsant
equitable system introduced forth'
adjustment ofclaims and compensation
ofdamages, and to the expeditioassans
satisfactory manner in which all th!
business under his control was trans
acted This period found him takin:
an active part in politics. itf was i
this year that he received the. regula
nomination for Administering of I'm
! provements, although owing to eth
putting forward of an independentcan
: didnte in the person of Gen. Beaure
gard, the Republican nominee wa
: : elected. Major Burke, however, re
: ceived within 1900 votes of his distin
: guished competitor of the total Cor
Q sentative vote of $4,000. After th
though shll holding his situation j
;. the Jackson Railroad Company and dis
charging his duties with undiminislle
energy and effect, Major Burke gradt
i ally become prominent in politics. i
d 1874, he undertook and successful
ID conducted the most arduous work (
the campaign, to-wit the revision {
; the Registration; by which be was ell
> abled to detect and expose the Cigar
, tic frauds of the Republican in the reg
:, istration. The tremendous labor il
a volyed in this achievement can on]
J. be appreciated by practical politician
20 here in New Orleans, and they alread
$. recognize and acknowledge Majt
'e Burke's claims as a leading worker
d the cause.
Is But the most brilliant exploit oftli;
+ campaign, the exploit which will
. most readily Understood and most Ell
. Enthusiastically admired, was Maj
: Burke's part in the great coup of Il
l4th of September. From that eve
we date the beginning of the train
ID events which eliminated last year
Of the final emancipation of the Sta
IS from political bondage, the overtime
70 of Radicalism and the restoration
w popular government in Louisiana.
is an event hallowed by the proude
memories. Every actor in it is chi
se tied to the atfectionate gratitude of Il
O. people, aud all of it's victims are eI
II ! I