Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-10-18
LOUIS ALFRED wILTz.
New Orleans Democrat.

Inc iOiiSi Paihiui o"o "o1o'V "ooA'
| is ended.
Louis Alfred Wilt. Governor Of Louis
lana, whose every aspiration was for the
| good of his people, whose whole life had
been passed in their service, and whose
ambition was bounded by their appro-
baton. closed his earthly career this
morning at 1890 o'clock, surrounded
by 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
n close. that he stood momentarily in
the presence of death, and the Christian
resienatiOn--the dauntless courage ex-
| hibited 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
rot to extend pleasant and kindly
erecting to those who called upon
him, and his patient and uncom-
planning endurance of pain and Of
dscomforts 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 us the Chief Executive OF
our State, whom we have long regarded
az one Of the truest Of Lousiana's sons,
| hn,, ,taf in an1rit IInDE
and thoughts, whose greatest glory was
was to make the State in which he was
born, greatin the.councils Of the nation
and in the history of the world.
fever representative Louisianlan 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. Ii it is little,
to love ones State first, to cherish its
glory and honor above that of the rest
of the world, our Governor was not o
great man. He certainly felt that State
devotion and love so common in 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 Zig
ured in the councils of the nation and
played the part of statesman ut Wash
ingt0n to o 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
tics of the State he had one great end in
view, one great wisll--to enroll his name
alongside that of the Knightly 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 50 earnestly
sought, it 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 ill
ness cut him short in the very beginning
of his work. Such is the sad portion OF
the history of Louis Alfred Wilt, who,
at nearly the very minute he found his
wishes realized, found his life fast eb.
bing away.
There is O bright side to this picture,
side showing how pluck and energy
can overcome all difficulties and how 8
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 mourned but yesterday.
Louis Alfred Witt was born in this
city January 22, 1o43, and at the time OF
his death was consequently only 81 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 i'll this city in which he was
studying and 90 into business. He hat
barely started in the commercial career
he had marked out for himself when the
war broke ont. Hewas n boy ofcighteer
then but he did not hesitate and was
among the first to offer his seryicest to thu
Contederacy, and march to the field OF
battle. Young as he was, inexperienced
as he was in military affairs he soon wor
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 thatt Of STAT,
thousand other Lonisianians He served
> throughout, from the first day until
Johnston laid down Liz 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 in poll
tics. He had always attended to his dl.
ties as a citizen, bat he felt compelled bS
his natural energy to take hand III thu
stirring politics Of those days. His sue
S cess in Political life, when once he EN-
barked in it, was encouraging, and IN
soon rose to prominence. A member o
the Parish and State Central COMMITTEES
3 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
t ment and had inaugurated that reign o
+ rapine and tyranny that prevailed 70
- eight long weary years. The Legsla
y ture was overwhelmingly Republican
composed of a large body of ignoran
= uanroos who bad yiyap thar fret yota