The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-28
The Pennsylvania Democrats and the
Back-Pay Stcal-A Rebuke to thu
Pharisees.

Back-Pay Steal-A Rebuke to the
Pharisees.
While General Butler, the republican, is
defending the back-pay steal in Massachusetts
like Rob Roy, who gloried in every phase of his
Citing expeditions, from marrying the
''Saxons" to devouring the sirloin steaks he had
carried off ION the hoof," Mr.. Speer, the
democrat. Of Pennsylvania, is defending his
purchase Of "butcher's meat" with the back
pay on totally different grounds. Butler
fathered the bill, fought for it, car
ried it. and makes butchers meat"
of the spoiis. His transports II Joy At
the success Of his raid may be as real
as those of the immortalized COW thief, but
the people whose oxen Benjamin so uproar-
ously slices may not share that JOY. Yet the
position of Congressman Speer at the Penn
sylvania Democratic Convention yesterday was
far less worthy Of sympathy. He will rank
among the Pharisees of the back-pay grab
namely, those who fought and voted against
the measure, but pocketed the money
when the bill was passed. The scene at
Wilkesbarre must have been exciting when,
the Committee on Permanent Organiza-
tion having presented the name of the
Honorable Robert Milton Speer for
permanent President Mr.. Glatz, of York,
arose and moved a non-concurrence. Cause,
reception Of back pay. Then Mr.. speer.
defended himself; but, alas his cause was
very weak. His action had convicted him,
and he stood up only to invite sentence. This
the democracy did not hesitate to pass. After
an animated debate, in which the Convention
was almost unanimously against him, he
threw himself on their mercy and retired.
Five thousand dollars worth of Phariseeism,
nay, five hundred thousand dollars worth,
would not pay any public man for the stern
ness of that sentence, with its rebuke to those
Of all parties who have done likewise It is
hopeful sign for the democracy that
they have thus had the courage to
thrust aside leader whose actions they
could not approve. 1t makes it tolerably
clear that the Pharisees Of the back-pay will
have even less chance with the citizens in
future political conflicts than even the Rob
Roys. Nor can ii be expected that the latter
will, out of their brazenness, escape the punish
ment which their weaker brethren of the back
pay profits have brought upon themselves.
The Pennsylvania democrats have boldly
placed themselves upon the record, and their
action will receive the hearty approval of their
party throughout the land. As to Mr.. Speer,
broken and pointless, he may retire from
prominence, as he did with pang from the
platform OF Wilkesbarre.
Besides this sterling piece of good work
the Convention endorsed the Ohio platform,
with its acceptance of the constitutional
amendments, bid for the farmers and the mining
interests by opposing railroad combinations
that fetter transportation, said something about
specie payments, merely, we suppose, for the
purpose Of saying something, and supported
all kinds Of reform. It nominated James r.
Ludlow, of Philadelphia, for State Supreme
Court Judge and F. NJ. Hutchinson for State
Treasurer, and adjourned. The adoption of
the Ohio platform is significant of the course
which the democracy will mark out for itself
in returning to first principles with all the
modern improvements tackled on. But the
gem Of the Convention will be the knock-down
blow which 1t gave to the salary grabbers,
signalized, as it was, by sumner to one of
their own party who voted with the opposi-
ton, but eat his "butchers meat with the
majority. Well done, Wilkesbarrei