The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-19
yINDEx AND CHIEF nOyLAN's ORDER,

The order issued by Chief Boylan to the
police force on the twelfth instant, forbdding
reports OF fires which can give color to preju-
dice in favor Of the Babcock against the reg,I-
lar fire department" and subsequent inter-
view had with Mayor Pilsbury upon the sub.
ject. are made the basis Of q virulent and
groundless attack upon the Mayor, the fire
department and myself in your issue OF the
eighteenth instant.
The Mayor has already given publicity TO
his views touching the article in question,
and needs no defense before q community in
which he has led q useful and honored life,
and OF which he has been successful servant
The same may be said of the fire department.,
which, for nearly half a century, has
performed its duties faithfully. earning the
appreciation Of our people and the unqualified
confidence Of many successive administra-
tions. The animus Of "Vindex" is apparent
from the language he employs, and the falsity
Of most Of his statements bring their own
refutation was requested by l. n. Marks.
Esq, president of the Frenen's Charitable
Association, to accompany him to the Mayor
the interview between the Mayor and the
fire. committee from the Board OF Under
writer's. ''rhe head and front Of my Offend
Ing hath this extent, no more and for this
the abusive article in question. Why does
not 'Vindex' show his identity and his OBJ
ject There must be- an object in attacking
and villifying public institution and officers
who simply try to do their duty.
ITO the utter surprise, we may say disgust,
OF the COMMITTEES, the Mayor sided with Mr..
O'Connor in this uDjustifabIe attempt TO stifis
publicity and surround the fire department.
with q shield OF darkness sufficiently thick to
cover up any shortcomings In the discharge
Of their duties as heretofore exhibited by the
police reports"
The foregoing is fair sample Of vindex's
language and alegata. The Mayor "sided"
with the propriety of Issuing the order, be-
cause it was just and proper; no branch of
government should be slandered for the bene-
| fit of another, no matter how deserving that
other might be. deny that the Mayor ever
tried or had cause to try "to stifie publicity
and surround the fire department with
shield Of darkness" to cover up anything. I
deny that the fire department has ever been
guilty Of an act in the discharge Of its duties
which could not he closely scrutinized, and
challenge Mr.. VindeX to show the contrary.
For years the fire department has been pre-
served to our Impoverished city by the volun-
tary contributions Of it's own members For
eight years past the city has paid the de-
partment most irregularly, and ut present
owes the FiremeDs Charitable Association
the sum OF about $4,000. The n-payInent
of this large sum, as the installments became
due, has nearly bankrupted an association
that had become affluent through the LIBERAL
ity and patriotism OF Its own members This
will be q sufficient answer TO the remark
that the fire department was "extravaganbly
paid by the city authorities"
l am not n Latin scholar am perfectly con-
tent ii ] can express my meaning In plain and
decent English. and hope that have done so.
/ will say in conclusion that I am not
ashamed Of the company that keep, and that
/ am perfectly willing to allow my acts and
my morols to be judged by an honest public.
A friend OF mine who learned good Latin att
school has supplied me with the following,
which invoke in my behalf:
FnLsLs hOqsOr jn,nt Ct Doenftdc infan,i0f Leryee
quem, nisi mendosun etmendaceu,.
THOMAS O'CoTNoR.