The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-21

IL
ton & Mr.. Witt, that body gave the
country one Of those examples OF the utter
defiance of law which characterized the rule
of Kadcalsm In this State, and passed q
high handed act postponing the election In
the following year Mr. Witt was again the
Democratic nominee for Mayor, and IN the
election of that year he overwhelmingly de-
feated Flanders, the Republican candidate,
but the Returning Board counted Witt out
and Flanders in
In1872 the Democrats again nominated their
popular and resolute young leader for Mayor,
and again he was elected. me Radlcai au-
thorities refused him his mission.
Flanders, the bogus Mayor, displayed
d logged disposition to hold on to
the office. Mr.. Wilt determined not
to be again defrauded Or 70 permit
the neople to be cheated out Of tho mayoralty,
and. without any commission whatever, ana
claiming title solely through the legally e&-
pressed will of the people. he proceeded WIN
his Administrators to the City Hall, entered
the Mayors office, and after formally ard
| paremptorily demanding the exit Of flanfaers,
and being refused, he gave that worthy
five minutes in which to abdicate the
functions he had usurped ind held by fraud.
Flanders adopted the wsest and most moder-
ate course. and retired under protest, leaving
the rightful Mayor In possession.
The eyentful years of his administration as
MAYOR We have not space To refer tot detail.
IT ia proper however, to say that, though sur
rounded with difficulties which would have
da,,nted a, less courageous and overwhelmed
n less able or adroit man, Mr.. Wilt dis
charged tho duties Of Mayor, hampered and
thwarted at every turn by a hostile usurpa-
alton with singular ability and success.
In 1874 Mayor Wiltz's name was before the
convention for denomination. The contest
was between him and our popular and es-
teemed fellow citizen, Charles Leeds. The final
vote was very close. Mt. Witt and his friends
we're satisfied that he had received q ma
iorty Of the votes. But ~ tho vote WAS close
end some feeling was beginning to crop o It..
Mr.. Wilt, prcferring the harmony Of the
convention to a denomination. his friends
Withdrew his name and yielded the nomi-
nation to Mr.. Leeds. Subsequently Mr. Wiltz
I Z, Of 10
ninth ward for the House of Representatives.
| He did not desire this nomination, but at the
pressing solicitation of prominent Democrats
In different portions Of tho city, as well as of
his own ward, he accepted 1t, and was elected.
When the Legislature Of 1875 assembled in
the old st. Louis Hotel 1T was under the
CLEAN of Federal bayonets. Federal artil-
lery was trained upon the street; regiments
Of Federal troops surrounded the capitol
building, and Federal gunboats, with open
portfolios and shotted guns, lay In front Of
the city. The entrances to the State
caded by Kelogg's orders and no one was
permitted to enter without a card Of admis-
sion from an officer Of the usurpation. When
the House of Representatives assembled the
gallery and lobby were crowded with
armed rufilians, stationed there by Kel,
loggs direction. In the midst OF this
scene the House was organized by
the Democrats through coup detal
and Mr.. Witt was unanimously elected
Speaker. The graphic, the nearly tragic, scene
enacted there that day Is part Of our political
history, and the prompt, resolute and heroic
conduct Of Speaker Wilt can never be effaced
from the memories of the men who witnessed
1t, and who stood there expecting, with him, to
be shot to death. No man could give higher
manifestation of leadership than Mr.. Wilt
gave on that occasion The House Of Repre-
sentatives was broken up at the point of the
bayonet but the Fourth of January marks us
heroic an epoch in tho history Of Louisiana
as the Fourteenth Of September With the
reorganization Of the House, some weeks sub
sequenty, through the Wheeler compromises
the public are familiar. Mr.. Witt earnestly
and persistently opposed that compromise
but when it was finally adopted he went into
the House and did all he could to make it re-
dound to the benefit Or the State and city
In 1876 Mr.. Witt was q conspicuous candi
date for the Democratic nomination for Gov
ernor, and though defeated he was supported
by the almost unanimous delegation from
this city. and where he was then best known
He was, however, nominated for Lieutenant
Governor. and his course as President OF tbs
/ Senate, which won for him golden opinions
from all parties and factions In the Senate, Ii
| too fresh In the public mind to require re
citaI here =