The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-27
A HISTORIC DAY.
The Fourth of January, 1874, and
It's Hero.
Altitude and Bearing Of Speaker
Wiltz ON that Oeeasion-An Ex-
trar ordinary Crisis Met With
,rnunpt and Wise Action
A Review Of the Event.

- u,,se the rep,1tatIon OF no man who has
bp, hsrdihood to become canalhate lor
df t~e. No man, however pure or Tree from
n .,r may have been his life, no matter what
4 .aope,d deeds he may have achieved OF sac
I. .aees made shall escape the calumny OF his
.sner,ents It is always an Indication OF
.srned nature and small and narrow mind,
thls desire, which seems Inherent In some
|snsr 10 tefame the character Of others to try
~ rob them of some Of their well-earned
hnors.
The recent attempts to belittle Louis Al
ksod Wiltz VINO is a candidate for nomina-
kAan for Governor, In the interest Of Gen. Og-
An the rival candidate, serve forcbly to IL
+l,strate this remarkable and most deplorable
tandency of our politics. The claim set up for
k,an. Ogden that he is the hero OF the Four
I4apnth OF September may be conceded, and
III, one word from Lieut. Governor Wlltz or
kfrpm his friends has as yet appeared to de-
&4ract from the honor attaching to him by
reason OF the part he took on that memorable
tccason, but Louisiana has seen several ocoa-
Idons on which her sons have displayed that
armness courage and heroism for which
thew have ever been noted. and the Fourth Of
January, 1875, will be ever regarded rs an
| historic day in her annals.
/ The Fourteenth or September was a pro-
4 1tst entered by an uprfsen and outraged popu-
Nkm with arms In their hands against acts Of
Tyranny and oppression which had grown to
3hIntoerahIe 1t was sharp, sudden, glorious
Lind effective; but 1t has often been paralleled
mother times and other lands. Men have In
&el countries risen against oppression, and
history Is full OF instances where tyrants
hive been hurled from power by the sudden
Hwrsing OF an infuriated and wronged peo-
|1h The Fourth Of January. 1875, stands
1sbBe and has no historic parallel. it
ms grand victory achieved by the superb
nMal courage OF an unarmed few over an
NWwhelming force OF sodlery and Of armed
dieemen and hired assassins. We know of
pnstanoe in history in which there was q
tM exhibition of exalted herosm.
Do we forget so readily2 Have the people
New Orleans and of Louisiana forgotten
brady the heroic attitude and magnificent
nNring of the Speaker OF their House OF Rep
t1ntatives on that day when Federal troops
1haded the hall and, in the insolence OF I'M
ddled power, com mmitted that outrage on
ha liberty which aroused the entire nation
a realization of the threatened danger to
Do government?
Let us recall briefly the Incidents of the
E, No grayer situation ever confronted a
kple IL was an occasion that called for
the fortitude, all the patriotism, all the
NIsge and devotion Of the representatives
I vt Of the people. The usurping Governor
The State had for many weeks been en-
Iged In converting the State House into
FEess Its doors and windows were heavily
neaded; provisions of all kinds were
pred within 1t, enough to stand seige, Ii
Assary; the Metropolitan police converted
% an army and armed with the finest
spoons, were quartered within It's wallis, as
W also large number OF the most des-
nte thugs and bullies In the city. Every
hdow and doorway bristled with bayonets, !
le In the surrounding streets were drawn |
u dreadful array, to inspire our repre- |
1atives with proper awe and to be within |
Of the man who. having been elevated |
ohs office by the bayonets OF Grant, was
~ maintained there by him at all costs
Hazards.
nese troops were under command of that !
Iesslonal butcher, Sheridan, whose pres
here at that time was intended as |
aace and who 1t was well known would |
aate at no outrage to accomplish the bid
gof his master at Washington
ls was the situation on the morning OF |
Fourth Of January that confronted the
Ssentatives Of the people who had been |
s@ but who were not to be permitted to
aze the House, or enter the hall even,
~ upon special permission OF Kellogg
yea taking survey Of the situation, Mr.
went to the caucus room and informed |
MEMBERS that the situation was desper-
mat under the circumstances no plan
% predetermined upon, and that every
depended upon their ira plicit confidence
Y leader, and that II he wasto be that
they must signify their confidence by
The caucus at once passed unani-
VA vote a. confidence la the man who
come newspaper critics end patriots.
critical and diro emergency. at this
ne moment when the very lives and lib
X ne people were In jeopardy, the eyes
" member oe the caucus and the peo-
aew Orleans turned to Mr.. Wiltz as
naa who could be relied upon to
sneir rights. There was no question Of
rage or fitness then, and, when In re-
Y the vote OF confidence. he replied:
snen, inasmuch as you have placed
0ndenee IN me, and as the organiza-
] Oe House belongs rightfully to us,
myself to take possession OF the chair
aganize the House OF be carried out a I
Every mar felt that 1t was no idle 9
w calm and deliberate purpose to 6
Perform the responsible and dam {
uur'es that had devolved upon him.
solemn and sad spectacle when
ocratte and Conservative members,
Sy Mr. Witt, and attended only by
sYsis TO act as officers and messangers. 3
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