Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-10-22
LOUIS ALFRED Witt.
Now Orleans Democrat.

| been passed in their service, ana whose
ambition was bounded by their apprO-
bation. closed his earthly career this
morning at 1890 O'clock, surrounded
BIZ the members of his family, and by
near and dear friends.
For months he had lived with the full
] knowledge that his life was drawing to
a close. that he stood momentarily in
the presence Of death, aud the Christian
resienation-the dauntless courage ex-
bibited by him evinced the true nobility
and grandeur of his nature. Always
gentle and courteous in his demeanor, he
never, throughout his long illness, for
got to extend pleasant and kindly
Greeting to those who called upon
him, and his patient and uncom-
planning endurance OF pain and OF
discomforts incident to protracted sick
ness, proved the natural sweetness OF
| his disposition.
Our misfortunes follow each other
with startling rapidity. 1t seems but
Yesterday that we were called upon to
mourn for the Chief Executive Of the
nation, and to-day we bow in profound
sorrow beneath the blow which has re-
moved from MS the Chief Executive Of
our State, whom we have long regarded
as one of the truest of Lousiana's sons,
as her representative in spirit, ideas
and thoughts, whose greatest glory was
was to make the State in which he was
born, great in the councils of the nation
and in the history of the world
fever representative Louislanlan nv
ed, if was Louis Alfred Wilt. he had
every characteristic of our people, every
idea, thought and habit OF our State
1t was this that made him SO strong IN
political life, because he knew us so
well, because he so thoroughly under
stood what we wanted. If it is little,
to love ones State first, to cherish It's
glory and honor above that of the rest
of the world, our Governor was not a
great man. He certainly felt that State
devotion and love so common III the
South before the war, so common yet IN
many portions of Louisiana. He loved
Louisiana as his home and the home OF
his ancestors. He might easily hay flg-
ured in the councils of the nation and
played the'part of statesman at Wash
ington to larger audience than he could
ever have hoped for here, but he never
desired it /; he never asked it. From his
earliest days, when mere school boy,
he rushed into the then turbulent poll
ties of the State he had one great end III
view, one great wish-to enroll his name
alongside that of the Knigbtly Bienville,
the Soldierly Galyez, with Roman and
Allen, Governor of Louisiana.
| When, at last, after we had demanded
of his fourteen years of service and elect
ed him to the Office he SO earnestly
sought,i was only to find that his health
had broken down in his arduous public
service, and that when he found himself
in position to carry out those reforms
he had so long looked forward to, his i'll
ness cut him short in the very beginning
of his work. Such is the sad portion OF
the history of Louis Alfred Wilt, who,
mt nearly the very minute he found bis
wishes realized, found his life fast eb,
bling away.
There is bright side to this picture
side showing how pluck and energy
can overcome all difficulties and how q
young man, backed by energy, can win
his way to honor. This, in fact, just such
picture as the story of the canal boy
of Ohio, in whose memory fifty millions
of people mouned but yesterday.
Louis Alfred Wilt was born in this
city January %, l943, and at the time OF
his death was consequently only 3S years
ofage, in the very prime and vigor OF
manhood. He had but a limited educa-
ton, for when he was lad of only six.
teen, he found it necessary to leave the
High School in this city in which he was
studying and go into business. He hat
barely started in the commercial career
he had marked out for himself when the
war broke out. Hewa a boy Ofeighteel
then but he did not hesitate and wa:
among the first to offer his services to thu
Contederacy, and march to the field OF
battle. Young as he was, inexperienced
as he was in military affairs he soon VOL
such distinction among his comrades thai
he was chosen to the position of Captain
before he had reached the age of twenty
one. His war history was that of sixty
thousand other Louisianians He served
throughout, from the first day unit
Johnston laid down his arms, with hon
or and distinction.
Returning TO New Orleans, Captain
Wilt again embarked in commercial
operations for which he showed decided
taste. During all this time, however
he had displayed great interest i'll poll
ties. He had always attended to his du
ties as a citizen but he felt compelled by
his natural energy to take hand i'll thu
stirring politics of those days. His sue
cess in Political life, when once he EN-
barked in it, was encouraging, and 1T
soon rose to prominence. A member o
the Parish and State Central Committed
of the Democratic party, Captain Wilt
became member of the Legislature il
1865. 1t was gloomy era in the histor,
of Louisiana. The Republican part,
had just gained possession of the govern
ment and had inauguiated that reign O
rapine and tyranny hat prevailed 70
eight long weary years. The Legisla
, ture was Overwhelmingly Republican
composed Of a large body Of ignorant
: negroes who had given their first vote
, only few weeks before. and showed bu
INSCRIPTIONS men who had entered poll
tics to coin themselves q fortune from it
: The Democrats i'm the i.e0islature yer