The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-18


Witt has not now and never has had any
interest, large or small, In the DEMOCRAT;
| he has never exercised the slightest influences
| In shaping It's policy, and no has never
sought to do 80. Indeed, we believe that upon
some OF the most important issues which have
arisen under the present administration he has
| widely differed with us: and while we have
| had no expression Of views from him relative
| TO the adjustment OF the debt, we believe that
he does not indorse the position OF the DEMO
oRAT on that question. Governor Witt Is q
very warm personal friend OF the proprietors
OF this paper, but his relations with us extend
no further than that. He Is In no measure
or manner responsible for our utterances, nor
we for his. We trust this statement Is sufll-
Client, and we desire 1t to be final
In two other statements the Times mlsrep-
| resents us. First, 1t alleges that we carefully
avoided interviewing Gov. Witt, and second
| ly II states that the DEMOCRAT recommends
| and supports that gentleman for the chair
manshp Of the convention. Neither story Is
| true. On the contrary, Gov. Witt was one
| among the first OF the nominees whom tho re-
porter OF the DEMOCRAT interviewed, or
rather attempted TO interview. The Lleuten-
ant Governor made In substance precisely the
| same answer that was elected from Messrs
| Eustis, Chaffe and Bell and number Of other
nominees. He simply declined to be inter
viewed, but he did 50 In courteous manner
The Times, therefore, has simply misstated
the fact or recklessly ventured upon an asser-
ton based on It's own assumption for the pur-
pose Of making 1t appear that there was q
want of sincerity on our part In this business
SO much for that story. The other asser-
tion OF the Times is fully as wide OF tho truth
The DEMOCRAT has not advocated Gov
| Witt for the craftsmanship of the convention
and 1t ID not supporting him or any one else
| for that position. Some days ago we noted
In complimentary terms, tho names Of three
prominent Democrats who had been spoken
of for the craftsmanship, and subsequently VIZ
referred In the same manner to the fact tina
the Lieutenant Governor had been widely
spoken OF for that position. This Is the bash
of the statement Of the Times that we are sup
porting Gov. Wilt for the convention, ant
that consequently he must be in accord will
the DEMOCRAT ON the adjustment OF the Stat
debt
We have not advocated the election OF tn
Lieutenant Governor to the craftsmanship o
the convention. But even II we had done SO
we do not see that 1t would be to his injury o
that 1t would necessarily make him respon
sible for our Views on any question. Tn
most bitter enemies Of Lieut.. Gov. Witt d
not refuse to concede that he Is parllameD
tartan OF very great skill, tact and ability
The firmness with which he managed tn
brief but stormy session of the House on tn
fourth OF January, 1875, until 1t was disperse
by the soldiery. Is well known, while the Sen
ate. by unanimous vote Of both Democrat
and Radicals at the close OF the last session
passed a series OF resolutions commendiD
the ability and impartiality with which h
had presided over that body, and thankin
him for the unvarying courtesy with whic
the firmness Of his administration had bee
J tempered. These are facts of which Lieu
Gov. Wiltz has right to be proud, and
! would be unbecomlDg in a Democratic joul
nal. even II 1t were his enemy. not to speak {
them, especially when his name Is mentione
in connection with an Office for which the
Indicate his fitness.