The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-02-04

4 FOSSIL.

New York lawyer, and always a con-
sistent Democrat, has recently few
the track, and, Ia long letter, gives
his old party, and the Republican
party likewise, ''fits from the word
CO." and winds up by declaring he
is yet a Democrat, but under no cir.
cumstances can the Democratic par
ty succeed at the coming Presiden-
tial election. He is particularly
hard on John Kelly, "the great bolt.
err" who in turn takes Nj. O'Conor's
measure, which We think worth re.
publishing:
Mr.. Kelly was called on yesterday
by reporter ofthe Tribune, and the
following conversation ensued:
"Mr. Kelly, have you read Mr..
O'Conor's letter to the Democratic
Club of Essex County and HE refe.
renee to your
eyes, I have read it," was the
reply.
"Have you anything to say about
|itr
"Mr. O'Conor is a conceited old
man." replied the Comptroller, "wbo,
in his retirement, has imagined him
self the monitor Of the political at
fairs of the country, but you must
make a little allowance for age. 1t
is said that people grow more child.
ish as they grow Older. That IL the
most charitable way of looking at it.
l might say, too, that during bis
long life he was never known to do
sensible thing politically. While
he has bad the reputation of being a
great lawyer, to my mind he is q
very poor politician, and it would be
better for him to preserve what little
reputation he has IS q lawyer than
to be dabbling in politics and attrib
uting improper motives to men who
are bis equals-at any rate, in all
that constitutes character"
"Mr. O'Conor says that the direct
effect Of the Tammapy Hall bolt has
been the ruin Of the Democratic
party throughout the Union, and he
holds you responsible for it. What
have you to say to this sweeping
accusationT'
"Mr. O'Conor has always had tie
reputation of being unwilling to
allow persons to disagree with him
on any pet subject of his own. This
shows the littleness of his nature.
No generous man possessed of the
traits of true character would ever
be 80 uncharitablc and illiberal as
not to concede to others the righte
which he claims for himself. He
once attacked the Court of Appeals
for having rendered an opinion &C.
cording to its convictions and best
judgment, and l believe now that it
is conceded by every sensible lawyer
not biased BY prejudice that il the
Court had decided otherwise it would
have lowered itself in the opinion Of
every honest man. l think now it
is pretty generally understood by
the members Of the bar that the
credit given to him for his vast So
periority over other lawyers was
rather far-fetched, for he has assu-
med certain amount OF arrogance
towards the bench and the bar in the
prosecution of his cases that would
never be submitted to again, even If
he were active in his profession.
And think the judiciary, too, have
paid certain amount Of reverence
to him which they would be loath to
pay again under similar circumstan.
ces. In fact, he is more theoretical
than practical, and probably it would
be better for him il he knew more of
the world and less Of himself"
"What does Mr.. O'Conor mean in
referring to the "caste" in speaking
Of your"
''He probably wants to create the
impression that the mass of the peo-
pie are of an inferior grade to him.
self, and were not capable Of compre.
bending the condition Of affairs DO.
litically in this State last Fall. He
then tries to be charitable by saying
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