The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-05
A HISTORIC DAY.
The Fourth of January 1876, and
Its Hero.
Attitude and Bearing Of Speaker
Wiltg on That Oooasion-An Ex-
traortiinary Crisis Met With
Prompt and Wise Action
A Review of the Event.
lDemoorat. September so.l

To the Editor OF the Democrat:
1t is the curse Of modern politics that Il
respects the reputation Of no man who has
the hardihood to become o candidate fol
office. No man, however pure or free from
stain may have been his life, no matter what
splendid deeds he may have achieved or sac.
rihces made shall escape the ealumny OF hls
opponents. 1t is always an Indication OF q
warped nature and a small and narrow MUD
this desire, which seems inherent In come
men, to defame the character Of others, to try
and rob them OF some of their well-earned
honors
The recent attempts to beiittle Louis Al
fred Wiltz, who In u candidate for nomination
for Governor. In the interest OF Gen. Ogden
the rival candidate, serve forcibly to illus.
trate this remarkable and most deplorable
tendency OF our politics. The claim set up
for Gen. Ogden that he is the hero Of the
Fourteenth OF September may be conceded
and not one word from Lieut. Gov. Wiltz OF
from bis friends has as yet appeared to de-
tract from the honor attaching to him by
reason OF the part he took on that memorable
occasion, but Louisiana has seen several oc-
casions on which her sons have displayed that
flrmness, courage and heroism for which
they have ever been noted, and the Fourth OF
January, 1876, will be ever regarded as an
historic day In her annals.
The Fourteenth OF September was a pro-
test entered by an uprisen and outraged popu-
lace with arms III their hands against acts OF
tyranny and oppression, which had grown to
be intolerable. 1t WIS sharp, sudden. glori-
GUS and effective; but 1t has often been paral-
leled In other times and other lands. Men
have In all countries risen against oppression,
and history Is full OF instances where tyrants
have been hurled from power by the sudden
uprising Of an infuriated and wronged peo-
pie. The Fourth of January, 1875, stands
alone and has no historic parallel. 1t was q
grand victory achieved by the superb moral
courage Of an unarmed few over an over
whelming force Of soldiery and OF armed po-
icemen and hired assassins. We know Of no
instance In history In which there was finer
exhibition OF exalted heroism.
Do we forget 80 readily? Have the people
OF New Orleans and OF Louisiana forgotten
already the heroic attitude aad magnificent
bearing OF the Speaker OF their House Of Rep
resentatives on that day when Federal troops
luVAuCu biS lldkks huu III LILO AaoohVhS0 w ua-
bridled power, committed that outrage on
civil liberty which aroused the entire nation
to realization Of the threatened danger to
free government
Let us recall briefly the incidents Of the
day. No graver situation ever confronted a
people. 1t was an occasion that called for
all the fortitude, all the patriotism, all the
courage and devotion Of the representatives
elect of the people. The usurping Governor
OF the State had for many weeks been en-
gagged In converting the State-House into
fortress; its doors and windows were heavily
provisions Of all kinds were
stored within 1t, enough to stand siege, II
necessary; the Metropolitan police, converted
into an army and armed with the finest
weapons, were qusrtered within Its walls, as
were also large number Of the most deg
perate thugs and bullies in the city. Every
window and doorway bristled with bayonets,
while in the surrounding streets were drawn
up In dreadful array, to inspire our repre-
sentatlves with proper awe and to be within
call Of the man who, having been elevated
into his office by the bayonets OF Grant. was
to be maintained there by him at all costs
and hazards.
These troops were under command OF that
professional butcher, Sheridan, whose pres
ence here at that time was intended as