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

cal authorities refused him his commission.
Flanders, the bogus Mayor. displayed O dog
ged disposition to hold on to the Office Mr..
Witt determined not to be again defrauded
OF to permit the people to be cheated out Of
the mayoralty, and, Without any commission
whatever, and claiming title solely through
tho legally expressed will Of the people, he
proceeded with his Administrators to the
City Hall, entered the Mayors office. and
after formally and peremptorily demanding
the exit Of Flanders, and being refused, he
dicate the functions he had usurped and held
by fraud Flanders adopted the wisest and
most moderate course. and retired under pro-
test, leaving the rightful Mayor In posses
sion.
The eventful years of his administration as
Mayor We have not space to refer to In detail.
It Is proper however, to say that. though sur
rounded with difficulties which would have
daunted a lesa courageous and overwhelmed
loss able or adroit man, Mr.. Witt dis
charged the duties of Mayor, hampered and
| thwarted ut every turn by u hostile nsurpa-
tlon, 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-
tecmed fellow-o,tizen, Charles Leeds. The tlnal
vote was very cloae Mr.. Wiltz and his friends
were satisfied that he had received u majority
of the votes. But az the vote was close and
some feeling was beginning to crop out, Mr.
Witt, preferring the harmony OF the conven-
tion to denomination, his friends withdrew
his name and yielded tho nomination to Mr..
Leeds. Subsequently Mr.. Wiltz was noml-
mated BY the Democracy Vi the ninth ward for
tho House of Representatives,. Lie did not
desire this nomination, but at the pressing So
licitation ot prominent Democrats III different
portions Of the city. as well as Of his own
ward, he accepted It. and was elected.
When the Legislature VI 1876 assembled III
the old ut. Louis Hotel 1t was under the
gleam of Federal bayonets. Federal artil-
lery was trained upon the street; regiments |
OF Federal troops surrounded the capitol
building, aud Federal ginboata, with open |
portfolios and shotted gus, lay Ii front of the |
city The entrances to tho State House. save
one side door, had been barricaded by Kel- |
logg's orders. and no one was permitted to
enter without o card of admission from an |
officer Of the usurpatlon. When the House
of Representatives assembled the gallery nnd
lobby were crowded with armed ruiftans, sta
toned there by Kellogg's direction In
the midst OF this scene the House
was organized by the Democrats through |
a coap d'ctat and Mr.. Wiltz was unanl-
mously elected Speaker Tho graphic,
the nearly tragic, scene enacted there that
day is part OF our political history, and the
prompt, resolute and heroic conduct OF
Speaker Wiltz can never be effaced from the
Of the men who witnessed 1t, and
who stood there expecting, with him, to be
OF leadership than Mr.. Witt
gave on that occasion. The House OF Repre-
sentatives was broken up at the point Of the
bayonet, but the Fourth OF January marks as
heroic an epoch In the history Of Louisiana
as the Fourteenth Of September. With the
Of the House, some weeks SUBJ
through the Wheeler compromise,
the public are familiar. Mr.. Wiltz earnestly
and persistently opposed that compromise;
but when 1t was finally adopted he went into
the House and did all he could to make 1t re-
dound to the benefit OF the State and city.
In 1876 Mr.. Wlltz was 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 ne was then best known.
He was, however, nominated for Lieutenant
Governor, and his course as President OF the
Senate which won for him golden opinionsj
'rom all parties and factions In the Senate, is
100 fresh Ia the public mind to require recital
here. II
He was member OF the late Constitutional
and was elected by q most tiatter- ,
ng vote to the high and responsible position
II President Of that important body. The
ability, tact, knowledge OF human nature and
u the views and interests Of the different sec
ioDa of tha Stafa disnlaved by him In that :
;rying position was simply marvellous. We (
lave heard no voice In the State raised In {
Of his course: the most expert
,nced party leader could not have displayed !
,rofounder judgment in the appointment of /
and non-partisan could not s
nave been more impartial and judicious In his :
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