The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-08-27
1.-The Salary Grab"

1.-The Salary Grab"
One of the most curious features
| of our American politics is the
'blindness with which the public
seize upon a prejudice and run
away with it, without stopping to
reason whether it is prejudice
worth the having. The thought
Ilessness which has been exhibited
by the newspapers through the
country in their severe condemna-
ton of the salary bill, illustrates
the folly Of this kind Of fanaticism.
An idea seems at times to have
the same effect upon the people
that the devils which were cast out
of the occupants of the tombs had
upon the herd of swine, causing
them to run violently down a steep
place and choke up the sea.
With all due Difference to those
who.have assailed the salary bill,
we must confess we have not seen
a single argument presented against
it. Its retroactive feature is OBJ
iectionable it is true, but nearly
every bill of the kind passed by
Congress in the earlier, purer and
more exalted days Of the republic
contained the retroactive feature.
The salary of a Congressman was
certainly too small to support him
and his family decently in Wash
ington. He was compelled to
deny himself the presence of his
family while serving the public or
to draw from his private resources
for the means to support them. We
happen to know that a Senator
who lived without extravaganza or
ostentation was compelled to draw
two hundred dollars per month
from his private fortune to meet
the board bills of himself and fam
IlIY. The amount did not embrace
clothing, doctors bills or incidental
expenses. Manifestly a system
which did not allow a support in
return for the responsible and Ia
borious' duties Of United States
Senator could not be dignited
with the name Of economy. 1t
was niggard!y parsimony. 1t was
a system which barred the poor
man of family from the National
Congress. It was system which
paid tribute to wealth, and which
offered the strongest temptation
to immortality and corruption.
An increase of the pay Of Con-
gressmen was reclzoned good in
vcstment in early days, when the
public conscience was not half SO
dcbauchcd as it is now, and it was
advocated by some of the pnrest and
ablest men who have ever figured in
American politics. They reasoned
that a generous compensation which
attracted the best talent and the
most infexible integrity to the public
service, was better than q mcagcr al
lowuncc, which barred both talent
and integrity from that service.
In the light Of the Crcdit-Mobilie
robbery this reasoning seems stronger
and more convincing than ever. The
amount stolen in that disgraceful
job. if appropriated to an increase Of
salary, would have sutticcd to have
made the robbery impossible. But
Instead Of the newspapers continuing
to denounce the great scandal, they
have let it drop almost entirely, and
are leve!ing their wrathful indigna-
tion ut the only means by which such
scandals can be avoided in future
The people join in the injurious
clamor, real corruption is lost sight
of ana forgotten, the substance is
passed without assault and the
shadow attacked with all the violence
), and heat Of infurialcd fanalicism
Blind leaders Of the blind. Both vii
fall into the ditch.
We impugn the motives of no one
but few rejecting persons will thlnl
that this noise and. fury proceed
from the disintcrcsted impulse 0
honest zeal for the public good. Mel
.. who were up TO the arm pits in tn
MobIicr iutamy have ';rcturned thei
Z "back pay" and denonncc those wht
took it. They seek by terocious en-
thuSiasm in the cause of virtue II
oblitcratc the dishonor Of their pas
e record. Aspiring dcmagogues noun
!. the waves OF popular fury and hop
to ride into the position of bette
men OF seek to SO direct the storm
that competitors who have hithcrt
stood in their way will be overwhclm
cd and Destroyed. But
a man may cry "Church" "Church '
ut every word,
With no more piety than other people
A DAVIS not reckoned religious bird
Because he keeps a-cawing round
steeple.
-C'ourieT-Jo,Tnal.