The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-10
ISLANDERS AGAINST THE O0NVEN-
TON.

and especially by those VINO Witnessed lt1 Qe~
liberatiOns, that the Convention which has
just nominated State ticket ut Baton Rouge
was one Of the most respectable and represen
tatIve bodies that ever assembled In Louisi-
ana. Not only was II impressive In all its ex-
terror respects, but the results Of Its labors
have shown that II was animated by as
patriotic motive and as Intelligent m UNDER
standing as its most fervent friends could
have expected. Upon the merits Of the gen.
tIemen who were selected to bear the standard
of the people to victory In the forthcoming
election we have elsewhere dWelt. 1t Ia our
intention here merely to pay tribute In pass.
Ing to the exceptional dignity and weight of
the Convention, to the high character and In
fluenee of It's members, and to the assurance
thus extended that harmony, confidence and
enthusiasm will be given to the party
and TO the people. The proceedings at Baton
Rouge were singularly free from the asperi-
ties which co = monty prevail upon similar
occasions. As between the supporters OF tho
two aspirants for the chief place upon the
ticket there existed, indeed, the best Of feel
Ing. Both OF the distinguished gentlemen
enjoyed the profound respect and est EN- OF
Ill, and II could In no instance be fairly said
that preference for the one implied or In
volved an 0 lection or disparagement as re-
garded the other. We do not doubt that, had
Gen. Ogdens candidacy been properly under
stood Ia the beginning, many would have
given to him the same cordial and devoted
advocacy which, as things werN, they gave TO
Mr.. Witt. II WAS contest into which no
bitterness could well intrude itself-a contest
80 happily placed that the result contained no
to the honor and welfare Of the State. Both
gentlemen had friends, and warm ones, but
neither can be said to have had enemies In
any proper sense Of the term.
In conspicuous contrast to this admirable
state OF things is the course which was
pursued by our esteemed contemporary Of
the Picaypne In Its chronicle OF the events Of
the Convention. Although, as we have shown,
that body was one which, Ia Its personnel as
we'll as In It's acts, ref acted signal credit upon
the wnols community; although II was COM
posed OF gentlemen whose standing and repu-
tatiop should have insured the recognition OF
their patriotic purpose, the telegraphie dis
patches from Baton Rouge which thronged
L1S III blC Nuy@1te WGtC lAIiCd WlGl
accusations against the integrity OF the dele
gates and with arralgnments OF the honesty
OF the anticipated result. The Picayune's re-
ports did not hesitate to charge the friends Of
Mr.. Witt with the most brutal rufflanlsm
and with the most disreputable trickery. It
was freely asserted that corruption and
intimidation In equal parts were being en-
ployed, and that Mr.. Witt, IL no got his nom
nation at all, would do SO only by prostituting
the proudest attributes OF free institutions
and dragging himself and his supporters
through the mire OF unutterable venality. We
fail to understand how SANDERS 80 fragrant
and 30 impertinent could find place In the col
umns OF paper with such pretensions as the
PicaWsee. They involve the most cruel In
Justice to as honorable body uf men as ever
assembled In any age or country, and are,
otherwise, outrageous aspersions upon the
fame OF the white people OF the whole State.
The Pcaya,7ee, OF course has the privilege OF
realizing Its own ideas Of journalism, but
when we recall the fact that the cam
paign has beer conducted, from
beginning to end, without one unfriendly word
or injurious insinuation by the advocates Of
Mr.. Wilt as against the advocates Of Gen.
Ogden, 1t Is quite impossible to believe that
the calumnies contained In the Picdyu1ses re-
ports were inspired or approved OF by any
sincere friend Of Gen. Ogden. Certainly, those
Of Gen. Ogden's friends who were at Baton
Rouge will answer for their utter mendacity,
and will concede that In such a body such
practices would have been totally out Of the
question, even had Mr.. Witt and his friends
been disposed to resort to them. Perhaps we
could not better illustrate the monstrous ma
ture OF the Pcayune's allegations, than by
giving the names Of some Of Mr.. Wiltzs more
prominent supporters In the city
to whom the bribery and corruption
are presumably attributed, and OF some OF
his more prominent friends In the parishes,
who are, presumably, the fruits of that
bribery and corruption. The former can
afford to treat the Picayune's SANDERS with
contemptuous good humor. The latter may
possibly experience an emotion of indignant
surprise But for the sake OF our good name
before the world at large, 1t is necessary tc
interpose to the whole Islander most positive
and peremptory denial. Ii this world and
our neighbors throughout the United States
only knew the Picayuae as we'll as We know
the honorable and patriotic gentlemen whose
names are given as representatives OF the
Convention that paper has SO wantonIy as.
persed no denial or notice of any kind would
be called for.
SOME OF Mr.. WILTZs FRIENDS AT
BATON ROUGE.
Hon. B. F. Jonas, Orleans.
Hon. Randall Gibson, Orleans.
Hon. Albert VOORHEES,, Orleans.
Hon A. Il. Tissot. Orleans.