The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-05

tho popular phraseology of the time, The
Witz boom has apread from parish to parish
until, IN Its breadth. and volume. and power
It has reached to every nook and corner d
tho State. Tho DEMOCRAT Joins heartily anc
earnestly In the popular preference aud with
out, In any way, disparag,ng the claims or
aspirations of other prominent Democrats
we shall give Mr.. Wiltz vigorous and cor
dial support. Az this time 1t ID perhaps prop.
or that we should briefly review the career 81
this gentleman, that tho people may fully
understand and appreciate hls public ser-
vices
Louis Alfred Wltz was born In this city in
1sI3 and Is consequently now but thlrty-six
years Or age He was educated In the public
schools of Now Orleans, but at the ago Of tlf.
teen years he left the High School and took d
situation In commercial house on Carondelet
street, where, by asslduous attention to his
duties. he won tho confidence and esteem Of
his employers, and laid the foundation of that
practical and thorough knowledge Of business
which ID one OF his strongest characteristics,
and which hns been of such great advantage
| 10 him In the discharge Of his dutios, both as
public servant and as Vice president of one
| oF Tho largest banks III the South.
On the failure of the firm in which he was
engaged he became an employe III the office Of
the Clerk of tho Second District COURT, and
there. as In his previous situation, he was un-
firing IN his application to business. This
place he held until the opening Of the war
between the States. when, though but egh-
teen years of age, he was among the first and
youngest who enlisted In tho Confederate
service. who constituted In the earlier days OF
the war, the very ohivalry and flower of tho
South, and knew no end but their country's
freedom, and no path to victory save that
along which honor and glory pointed the way.
Young Wiltz enlisted as a private, but by his
soldierly bearing, strict devotion to duty aud
hls generousand winning department he soon
won acaptaincy, and served In that rank TN
til the last sad scene Of the awful drama.
Returning to New Orleans with the foot
sore and ragged remnants Of the Southern
army, Capt. Wiltz again engaged In COM
mercial life. But his ardent and aspiring
temper naturally yearned for political dis
tinction: his magnetic nature readily won
him host of followers. and 1t was not
long before he was recognized as the most
popular man in his section Of the city and
one of tho rising men of the day.
The correctness Of this estimate Of him was
soon manifested. In 1s6s Mr.. Wiltz. having
been already member of the Parish and
State Central Committees Of the Democratic
party, was elected member Of the House OF
Representatives, and soon became u working
and conspicuous member OF that notorious
body. Here. surrounded by men OF the most
corrupt character; subjected to uneeasing
temptation; when bills for the most gigantic
schemes of corruption and fraud were being
lohbied through the Legislature and money
was being poured out by thousands Of dollars |
for votes; when the price OF an AYE or a
may" ranged all tho way from fifty or a
hundred dollars for professional carpet |
baeger to fortune for gentleman, this |
young 'polittcia,," poor III purse but richer
than gold In honor, served through his term
-withouta stain upon his reputa |
tion. All the acts of spoliation and fraud en-
acted by that Legislature, all its jobs and
are still fresh In the minds OF the |
people. and the vote OF every member for or
against those infamies is on record, and the
vote Of i. A. Wiltz Is, In every instance, re- |
corded against them. indeed. we defy any |
living man to point to o single act Of the |
Legislature OF 1868. obnoxious to the people Of |
this State OF Injurious To the public interests,
against which this politician" did not
vote.
In 1869 Mr. Witt was elected by the Com
mon Council school director. and subse-
Quently, In the same year, he was elected
member OF the Board OF Aldermen, and OF !
that body he was elected president.
During this period Mr.. Wilt had become,
perhaps. the most popular young man In
New Orleans, and his rigid integrity and
lofty sense Of honor. displayed In the dis
charge OF public functions when honor was at
q discount, and corruption had invaded every
oreyice Of official lfe won him the confidence
81 all classes Of the community. He had not
served long as president Of the Board Of Al
iermen, when he was nominated-in the same
year, 1s69-by the Democratic Convention for
Mayor of the city.
But at the time this nomination was made
! Radical Legislature was In session, and.