The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-09-24
The Repeal of the Salary Bill.

The Worcester Convention gave the salary
men new blow and one that their leader,
Gen. Butler is not likely TO forget. 1t had
been the fashion for certain gentlemen to as
sert that the popular feeling on the subject
was nothing but rabd manifestation height
ened by newspaper stimulus, and that so far
was it from having firm hold of candid, intelli-
gent men, that the mania was beginning to
subside and people were ashamed at having
made so much fuss about it. We gather
from things we have seen in the newspapers
and otherwise that the average new Congress
man has been wont to stoutly maintain this
view. We know of one newly elected mem
Der of the 43d Congress, not, we are glad to
say from the State OF Maine, who has, of
course, not yet been sworn in, who has no
small contempt for what he calls the "news-
paper outcry' and who regretfully laments
that he had no opportunity to vote on the
bill and to pocket the money that few timid
souls have put back into the treasury. He
naturally SCOTS at the mention of the repeal
of measure so intrinsically good and benef-
cent and indeed declares that, with the eX-
ception of the editors and a few ambitious
men who want to upset Senators and Repre-
sentatives, nobody wants it repealed. Such
men need lesson every now and then from
the people and the Massachusetts, Republicans
gave it in clear words at Worcester. And.
indeed, there was need of it. Everybody
who had secuted the idea that any real virtuous
indignation moved the popular mind over the
salary increase and back-pay took courage al
Gen. Buffers offgo il his late campaign. He
abused and derided the opponents of the
measure whenever he could find the chance,
carried the applause of the crowds thaG gath
cred to hear him at his meetings, and swept the
caucuses in the larger cities and towns. For
the first ten days he seemed to have things
pretty much his own way. No wonder that
thoughtful men were saddened at the out
look. The spectacle was about as bad as
anything that we have been called to witness
in late days. Setting aside the vauntings OF
the chief actor, the quips and jeers and in
suits that he put upon honored names, all of
which were veXatious to look upon, the real
disheartening thing in the whole business
was the indication that the moral sense in
great and enlightened state had become blunt
ed and that the capacity for kindling heat OF
wrath over wanton offense in public men
had passed away. The country towns, which
are pretty sure to be on the right side from the
absence of the powerful appliances of evil,
came to the rescue and saved Massachusetts,
from ho Mechanically avbi hot o1,o
would have otherwise made and the Repub-
lican party from load which it would have
found hard to carry. 1t looks as though the
Worcester convention was the turn of the
battle. We have never been sanguine that
the repeal of the salary bill could get votes
enough to carry. The case is more hopeful
since the 10th of September. Before that we
doubt if half of Massachu sets representa-
tives would have voted for repeal. Now all,
or nearly all probably will. Gen. Butler him
self may find it judc GUS to fall into line. AT
all events he will have the opportunity, for it
is now settled that the question of repeal will
be presente in the next Congress with pow
erful and vigorous backing. The back pay,
however, which was the most offensive tea-
ture ofthe business, is beyond the reach of
enactments. The men, who took the pay
and have not yet returned it, will keep it.
Legislative expression of opinon-for it can
be nothing more in this case-will be DO
more potent inducement than the public
opprobrium which has been so manifest and
emphatic.