Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-09-17

cred above tho ordinary Stature o.
man. Mr.. Monaghan is a Democra
OF tho old school OF tho straightes
sect, and he is standing delegar
from Chester county. Evcrybody
knows him, and everybody knows
him TO be one Of the most thoroughly
honest and fearless men living. Ho
is fine speaker, but 30 vehement
when excited that ho sometimes shiv-
ers his voice and becomes inandible TO
distant hearers. AT the close of his
sentences Mr.. Monaghan's faco indi-
Gated that be suffered almost as much
as Mr.. Speer. No one who heard him
doubted the extreme reluctance with
which he took part in the discussion.
From the time he began by alluding
pathetically to the close and long con-
tinued friendship which existed be-
tween him and those whom a stern
sense of duty compelled him TO criti-
else until hc closed with an earnest
appeal to Mr.. Speer, urging him to
relieve the convention by withdraw
ing, Mr.. Monaghan did not trans
gress the bounds of courteous debate
in any respect. lie did not indulge
in single harsh cpithet. He review
ed the course of the offending Con-
gressmen with an air of sadness mixed
with profound regret. He placed
himself in the position of the tax rid
den masses, looked at the back.pay
through the spectacles of Pennsyl-
vania farmer, who finds 1t hard TO
make both ends meet, adjusted the
glasses 10 the eyes of his fellow-mem-
bers and bade them SEQ as their con-
stituents saw. MIR. Monaghan's speech
was profoundly impressive, because
he was profoundly in earnest. Time
and again he was interrupted by out
bursts Of applause which shook tho
solid walls of the building, and, when
he took bis seat the result was no lon
ger doubtful.
MoNAGHAN's SPEECH.
No synopsis of the speech of Mr..
Monaghan would do justice TO him
Ho said that it was the most unpleas-
ant duty of his life to oppose the ele-
walton of one who had always been
his warm personal friend 10 an honor
able position. Nothing but regard
for the best interest of the Democratic
party, and through il the best inter-
ests of the country could induce him
TO open his lips. Back Of this Con-
vention stood the hard listed yeoman-
ry of the State, the farmers, the me-
chanics, the working men. Whether
these Congressman were within con-
stitutlonal limits when they went to
the national treasury and took from
it the money Of the people was not the
point at issue. The moral aspect of
the question was what the Convention
must consider. The indignant masses
could not be expected to pause over
the cosideration of legal technicalities
in such case. They went directly
to the matter in hand and determined
IL by tho commonest rules OF common
honesty. If they hired man for SO
much month they did not expect
him to put bis hand in their pockets
and take out one third more. They
would not tolerate that, and they had
a very short and homoly name for
such transaction. The taxpayers
feel that they have been wrenged by
what they call the Congressional sal
ary grab. Turning to the agricultural
districts we find general gloom rest
upon the people. Heavy taxation
taxation increased that officials may
live in luxurious case, sucn expendi-
brought weight of debt upon tho
farming classes. Go TO the Court
House in Chester county, and there,
four times in each year, you will find
4 list Of Sheriffs sales, reaching from
ceiling to floor. In my own county,
men who have worked hard since they
eft their cradles, till now that they
ire tottering into their graves, are
being sold out by the Sheriff. They
surn TO our servants-for they are
)nr servants and not our masters
md find that they who were sent to
Congress have opened the public treas
Try and helped themselves. You, sir;
1ou, sir, Mr.. Speer, and the rest of
hose men, took $4,000 for few
months service, while old men, your
have not made so much
n long life of honest TOLL
Shall this man come here and ask US
o advance him and outrage the mil
ions whom he has wronged Many
'oices, "No."1 In Gods name | an
'wer Nol As one who loves the peo.
Die and does not care for oliice-holders
hat is my reply. j have been noti-
led by member of Congress, that l
night make the most of this that
hey were going TO drive this thing
through the Convention. Let the
ssue como right here. | say unless
We stand straight on this record we
will DO defeated most overwhelmingly.
Let us tell the people that we are on
heir side, and not on tho side of those
who have robbed them. These men.
ire, am glad to say, still young men
young enough to repent of this, tho
of their lives. Let them re-
ire and do penance. Let us have
ome man Of perfectly unspotted re-
ord to preside over the deliberations
f this convention appeal to my
ricnd Mr. Spcer, and beg that he will
nagnanimously withdraw his name.
While Mr.. Monaghan was speaking,
/. Lawrence Gctz, ex-Congressman
rom Berks county, could not keep his
eat. At least half a dozen times he
capped from his chair and called out
Mr.. President" in weak voice,
which was almost smothercd by agi-
alton. His faceshowed that he was
uffcring all the pangs Of intense men
al torture, and sometimes ho seemed
o lose all presence of mind. A friend
TODD by and tried TO calm him, but
'ithout effect. Every time Monaghan
aused to gather breath, Gc,z bound
d TO his feet and called out "Mr.
President" in tones which sounded
Ike hoarse whisper. The Presi-
ont did mt eaa,n IN hpar him and