The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-19
BURKE'S SPEECH
- THE MEETING OF CITIZENS MON
DAY EVENING LAST.

IA have simply the one eXplanation-thatt ne
.r.ation OF political affairs. In my Judgment.
s.cn,res the most earnest and thoughtful con-
.ssaratIon OF the best citizens Oh New Orleans.
.star consultation with number Of gentlemen
az thought best 10 request the presence for
aonaultation Of various gentlemen throughout
~ atty known Ia the past for their patriotism
"a for their devotion to the best interests OF
mia city and OF the State.
rbe situation In many OF Its details could
80 he observed by men who had been thrown
" connection with the details VI politics. and
,roa my recent position In political affairs
sheae gentlemen thought 1t my duty to take the
E.nitIatiye and old so simply and purely from
.ha desire to see II. from the exercise OF common
rrudenee and wisdom. the great disaster OF q
hsided people might not be averted.
About ten days ago was called upon by a
eommittee OF citizens who We're apprehsnsive
ibst the existing organization Of the Democratic
nsrty would not afford them an opportunity to
sgsrnre that object which all good citizens In
sba com unity believed should be attained
ibst Ii to say. the. selection OF suitable can
adatsg to the constitutional convention.
THEIR distrust had been awake ned concerning
ina existing political organization. aud 1t Is not
necessary for our purpose here to- night to dis
sass whether 1t had been properly awakened or
not BY common consent the past has been put
hehlnd us, and the various political elements OF
this city with whom | nave been brought into
nontact have expressed desire and willing
mesa to let bygones be bygones. and to Join with
Nj good people In laying down such y basis tor
he future as will result In good TO the entire
peTH M me the danger seems most imminent, and
| see no good reason for 1t. At the request Of
these gentlemen i. with the president anu other
members OF the ate Central COMMITTEES. hAve
sanyassed the political elements OF the city
most thoroughly. We commenced with the
Hate Central Committee, thence to the Parish
dommittea. then through the city officials. and
6nally through the different ward Organiza-
iona to learn II there existed u disposition
upon the part OF the political elements within
r. tht5tn ri trin
candidates ami men OF capacity to represent
Ills city In the coming convention. desire to
say here that we made this canvass at
he request q those gentlemen who ap-
reared distrustful. and 1t IL my firm convic-
lion that there is no good reason existing
igr any division vision, # the Democratic.
by the different ward organizations was m
anxiety to correct within the party any wrong
iu thing that may afford citizens cause fpr
complaint We have the assurances OF the
Members of the State Central Committee. OF the
members of the Paris Committee. and we have
the assurances OF those representing the ward
clubs throughout the city. 1t having been re-.
ported that the public officials of the city were
combining with the ward organizations to 50.
cure representatives TO the convention, we In.
yIted those gentlemen to n consultation. and
they authorized US TO say that there had been
no novement made or contem plated by them
but they stood willing to lend their best on;
deavors towards securing men OF capacity and
honesty and they would seek to exact no oblt
cations as to the future course OF those gentle
men, expecting tHem 10 hgb LOT the common
GOOD, without reference TO the personal interests
Of any body or any Official !,
In my opinion the people Will not submit tt
the dictation Of any committee In choosing
candidates for the constitutional convention
30 anxious are they for harmony however. any
recommendation of suitable persons by the
Gentlemen now 10 conference would would havs grsa
exists with the Parish Committee or ward pres
dents.
The dangers that may arise from division
~ arrp m tiah AaripuE thar
now appears upon the face OF affairs.
Gentlemen who profess TO desire to maintain
s u Of a e o
community composing the Democratic party Ii
this city In the past, a majority OF whom OWL
h Urne aided IN he ped Of tn
State and city. They will. In my opinion bes
serve their interests by continuing to trust ths
throughout the State the people have deter
mined upon come adjustment Of the state deb
81 twelve millions that will permit a reduction
of the burdens OF taxation. In this city, which
pays three. fiiths OF The twelve million debt, We
have the additional burden OF twenty millions
Gty debt. and whilst 1t Is true that every indus
nY In this city Ia promoted by the relations OK
sting. between capital and tbor. think 4
would be disastrous that such an organization
should be- formed rs TO create an I'm preston
With the masses of the people that the bond
holde- and the capitalist had combined. 81 ct
an impress ion would result from the separat,
organization OF the business community. anC
HuniQ UAtuiHlly pIUuuGs Hisbi5
On the part Of the people. II seems TO. me tina
little wisdom and forbaaTance ut this time
will avert dscord. continue Just relations be
tween capital and labor. and unite the people
who have won our party victories In the past.
There Ia an Idea presented by the gentlemen
Qfthe Citizens Committee In heir dress. tant
Iascribe only the purest motives to them In sc
dolngg that the election Of delegates 10 the con
stitutional convention should not be- made
party matter. Followed no to Its logical SO
quence. In each ward Of this city. each individ
lAl who think that ba Ia Dr0nHr IL
represent the people Ia the constitutional con
yention will be- announced by his friends ant
admirers as q candidate. and with ten or twent,
candidates In each ward In the city what will b.
the Inevitable result !?
Twenty-six thousand Democratic Conserva
tive voters will be divided into factions and tht
thirteen thousand modified voters of the Re
publican party will be thrown into the arena
and they may carry thirty-two delegates into tht
constitutional convention, Who called the con
yenion into existence, al who are responsible
Tor Its acts II Ia the Democra lie Conservative
party who, through their action at Bator
Rouge, and through their representatives II
the Legislature last assembled. have called i
INTO existence and are responsible for its acts
and they cannot avoid i. Have we right
n the lace OF these dangers. to, disband
Radical party, that enemy OF good
government. walk in and carry Of the fruits q
iOfgood resuis5 for one one am not willing 70 50
contribute to this result. Suppose your organ
] Ration is not all that you would wish for: sup
Pose you desired that the standard should be
higher. will you benefit by dsbanding your
party or will you endeavor e improve It 1t
seems to me 20 clear that the prudent thing
and the wisest to do Is for those men who have
atled together Tor the past many, years In the
shoulder as they did IN 1872. 1874. 1876, and to
complete the work that has been commenced
md until they have given to the people wise
honest aud economical constitution they dare
not disband aud leave their work half done.
And now will refer briefly to personal
matter There may be some misunderstanding
With reference to my participation In this
Rathering / simply desire to cay that the in.
seDtion OF It was when | was waited upon
by some gentlemen and my offices solicited by
he Citizens Committee. that | continued ac-
l lively In this movement purely and simply tc
90 what | could to restore harmony In the
party. With this meeting will terminate ny
active connection with this campaign-be Q
constitutional officer whose term of office maj
be affected by the constitutional convention,
prefer hereafter merely do my duty as suffra
gan Of the State. IApplau e.l