The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-10-01
WILT AND OGDEN.

| WILT AND OGDEN.
Never before in the history of Lou
isiana, in the matter of nominations
for Governor by the Democratic party,
have that party had presented to them
the names of two rival candidates, who
stand so justly and conspicuously high
| in the esteem aud affection of the peo-
pie of the State. Knowing this and
believing our readers would be pleased
to read their antecedents, career and
good deeds, we publish below a sketch
Of each. The one of Gen. Ogden is
taken from the PicayHne and that OF
Lieut.. Governor Wilt from the New
Orleans Democrat. Both are curtailed
and condensed so as to contain the
main points:
LOUIS ALFRED WILT.
Louis Alfred Wilt was born In this
city in l943, and is consequently now
but thirty-six years of age. He was
educated in the public schools of New
Orleans, but at the age of fifteen years
he left the High School and took Sit
uatioD 10 commercial house on Car
ondelet street, where, by assiduous at
tention to his dnties, lie won the con-
fidence and esteem of his employers,
and laid the foundation of that practi-
cal and thorough knowledge Of busi-
ness which is one of his strongest
characteristics, and which has been OF
such great advantage to him 10 the
discharge of his duties, both as pub
lie servant and as vice president Of one
of the largest banks in the South.
On the failure of the firm III which
he was engaged, he became an en-
ployee in the Office of the Clerk Of tho
Second District Court, and there, as in
his previous situation, he was untiring
in Ills application to business. The
place he held until the opening of the
war between the States, when, though
but eighteen years of age, he was
among the first and youngest who en-
listed in the Confederate service, who
constituted in the earlier days Of the
war, the very chivalry and flower of
the South, and knew no end but their
country's freedom, and no path to vic
tory save that along which honor and
glory pointed the way. Young Witt
enlisted as private, but by his SOL
dierly bearing, strict devotion to duty
and his generous and winning deport.
ment he soon won a captaincy, and
served i'll that rank until the last sad
scene of the awful drama.
Returning to New Orleans with the
foot-sore and ragged remnants of the
Southern armies, Capt. Wilt again en-
gagged in commercial life. But his ar
dent and aspiring temper naturally
yearned for political distinction; his
magnetic nature readily won him a
host of followers and it was not long
before he was recognized a. the most
popular man in his section of the city
aud one of the rising men of the day.
The correctness Of this estimate of
him was soon manifested. In 1868
Mr.. Wil.z, having been already mem
Der of the Parish and State Central
Committees of the Democratic party,
was elected member of the House Of
Representatives, and soon became a
working and conspicuous member of
that notorious body. Here, snrround-
ed by men of the most corrupt charac-
ter; subjected to unceasing temptation;
when bills for the most gigantic
schemes of corruption and fraud were
being lobbied through the Legislature
and money was being poured out by
thousands of dollars for votes; when
the price Of an "aye" or ''nay"
ranged all the way from fifty or hun
bred dollars for professional carpet
Dagger to q fortune for q gentleman,
this young ''politician," poor in purse
but richer than gold in honor, served
through his term uncorrupted-with
out stain upon his reputation. All
the acts Of spoilation and frand enact
ted by that legislature, all its jobs and
wickedness are still fresh in the minds
If the people, and the vote Of every
member for or against those infami+s
is on record, and the vote of l.. A.
Witt ia, in every instance, recorded
against them. Indeed, we defy any
living man to point to a single act OF
the Legislature Of 1868, obnoxious to
the people of this State or injurious to
the public interests, against which this
politician" did not squarely vote.
| In 1869 Mr.. Wilt was elected by
the Common Council school director
and subsequently,, in the same year,
he was elected member of the Board
Of Aldermen, and of that body he was
elected president.
4 During this period Mr.. Wilt had
become, perhaps, the most popular
young man in New Orleans, and hie
rigid integrity and lofty sense of hon
or, displayed in the discharge of pub
lie functions when honor was at dis
count and corruption had invaded ev-
cry crevice Of official life, won him the
; confidence of all classes Of the cOmmu-
q nifty. He had not served long as pres.
ident of the Board Of Aldermen, when
he was nominated-in the same yea,
l869-by the Democratic Convention
for Mayor Of the city.
But at the time this nomination was
made Radical Legislature was in
session, and, to prevent the election
of Mr.. Wilt, that body gave the coun.
try one of those examples Of the uttel
defiance of law which characterized
the rule Of Radicalism in this State
, and passed a high handed act postpo
ming the election. In the followin,
year Mr.. Wiltz was again the NOMINEES
3 for Mayor, and in the election of tina
wear he Ovarwhelm;no1v dafeats,<