The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-13
HON. Z. A. BURKE.
HKs SPEECH AIT THE BATON ROUGE
CONVENTION.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Conven-

"l' GusSit HAL anu VenLienen or the COnVsn
find it impossible, amid the deep emotions
which the partial action OF this convention
exctes in my breast, to give expression to
the gratitude feel. Impressed as I am with
the devotion Of the friends who have sns-
! balled my candidacy, and by the steadfast
adherence OF the gentlemen who had other
preferences, 1t will be- impossible for me at
thls time to do much more than express to
my friends, and the gentlemen OF the conyen-
tlOn at large my thanks for the honor and
dignity bestowed upon me.
can only assure you that my course shall
De such as TO deserve your good opinion, and
that shall SO discharge the duties Of the
hlgh Office M to which you have nominated me
as to vindicate your selection.
Ii may have appeared to some of the gentle
men OF this convention who were unacalaint-
ca with the situation in our section OF the
State, that my friends have advocated my
nomination with undue ardor. For mvself +
assure you that hold the endorsement Of
the people OF this State high above any con-
sideratlon Of emolument.
For my friendly supporters it must be
said, that they have acted from their con-
Of he party.
We have had many dissensions In our
parish, and many OF you are familiar with the
events which finally welded our people TO-
gether, and enabled us to achieve our past
success. There are so many different nation
alltes, SO many political organizations, so
many varied interests of an Industrial me-
chanical and commercial character, so unlike
other districts, where solely agricultural in
terests are concerned, that our difficulties in
preserving party unity have been greatly
multiplied,
Many Of our people have not realized all
thelr. expectations In the result OF our last
elections, and whilst it may be said that g
to bring sudden and complete relief or that
the spolatinn of some ten years of Radical
misrule could be repaired in one short year,
and while it is true that much has been done
TO remove the burdens weighing upon the peo-
pie, it Is nevertheless true that they demand
that we shall go on in the work of redemp-
tion. It Is true that great reforms have been
inaugurated, that we have established an
honest government protecting the rights of
oil, and although peace and honesty have
many who do not reflect that the recovery
from bad government must necessarily re-
qulre time, and they are apt to lay their
grievances upon the party in power.
i These elements in the parish of Orleans
openly threaten revolt against party rule
They say that the Radical foe no longer con-
fronts us aud considerations for their material
interests rise paramount to party discipline.
Inc citizens OF New Orleans beaF nearly two
thirds of the entire burden of sHe State gov
ernment, and their municipal burdens are
greater still. They look with anxiety to the
action OF the party in this respect. With the
dangers OF dlssension staring the party In the
face, knowing that they must act with great
prudence aud wisdom to retain our party su-
premacy, the Orleans delegation have urged
our friends from other sections to strengthen
our hands by according Orleans the leading
nomination in this campaign. It is scarcely
necessary to assure you, however, that had
this nomination not fallen to the choice of NV
friends, we would have gone back to our duty
and given our best efforts for the success of
our party, which can best complete the re-
demption of our State Loud cheers and ap-
pluAse.
We have not found it strange that other
sections OF the State have sought to elevate
gentlemen whose character, capacity and in
tegrty render them worthy OF honor, and we
accept the nomination which you have ac-
corded us as indicative of q determination
that there shall no longer be any political dis
tinctlon between country Or city. You will
not forget that we have been willing to Law
down our personal preferences TO secure
unity and harmony, and I am sure that each
and every one Of us will return to his home
determined to roll up such O. majority. that
will forever set at rest the question of the
supremacy OF our party in this State and
enable us to go forward untrammeled In Sc
curing the reforms necessary for the happi-
ness and prosperity OF our people. fCheers.l