Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-04-16
Coi. .ueCiure,s Lecture.

just previous W tuo uuJournmcnt
of the Legislature, on tho 10TH, the
"Roosters' in the House had a resolu-
tion passed requesting Senator NJ Clure
10 give them 20 lecture on REFORM
Tho invitation was burlesque, but
it hit in another direction. The Phil
adelphia Ledger has tho full speech,
and as it is 80 much more TO the point,
and Just as tho Colonel would say II,
we cannot refrain from giving II q
place. 1t is rich, rare and racy
Mr. Speaker and Commonors of the
Sta.e of Pennsylvania 4 thank you
for the distinction you have conferred
upon mo by your invitation to address
you on tho subject OF reform. | know
OF no other body of men, either of the
present or past, that needs instruction
on the necessity of both public and
private morality so much as the House
of Representatives OF this State now
before me (laughter,) or that has so
broadly and deeply experimental in
the line of individual and official prof
ligacy. daughter and applausc,) /
am not surprised, owover, that il Is SO
when consider that Of tho members
serving in this House from my imme.
diate locality, many were not even
nominated, and few, If any, wero ever
elected [Shouts Of laughlorl sent
you reform bills, which cos, me many
days of anxious thought and labor to
perfect, but you danced not when |
pipcd to you, neither did you weep
responsive to my mourning over the
degencracy of the body polite. l
must admit however, tnaJ you w~,v
prompt execut TONERS, for every bin that
looked toward reform was negntived
with yell as fast as rules would al
low. Butin political, as often il moral
and religious circles, tho darkest hour
is just before the dawn Of day, and il
is gratifying that, after you layo con-
summated all tho harm you can posi-
bly, inaict upon the State,you have by
a unanimous resolution called for n
confession. Laughter.] II was well
to pause thus, just for the sake OF
novelty or reference, so that when the
tempest breaks you can point to this
becoming act Of contrition for the
wrongs done TO your constituents
and to the Commonwealth. Ap-
plause and sarcastic shouts Most of
you who have for three months been
serving in the places to which other
persons were elected by the people,
have discounted the retributivo wave
of popular reprobaiion by creating
officers by legislative enactmcnts, 10
which you hope to retire and those
unprovided for hope TO be placed on
the indefinite payroll Of the pastors
and folders OF the House, in accorance
with the prevalent custom here to
pension decayed statesmen. [Shouts
of laughter That you seek liberal
counsels to have good seed sown in
the chaos OF virtue that surrounds you,
is hopeful sigh of the times, and If
you do not cheat US moro than 10000
in Philadelphia next Fall, tho places
that know you now, will know most
Of you no more forever. Laughter !
But | turn to tho faint silver lining
on the deep cloud of your record
One act OF this House gladdened tho
hearts of the whole people oftbe State,
and roinspircd hope throughout the
length and breadth Of tho Common
wealth. | refer to your vote in the
midst of disorder that, at Philadel-
ialphia fire, would be called roit on |
Monday evening last, fixing an early
lay for your final adjournment
Laughter and applause | have
heard of no citizen of the Statoiwho |
lid not heartily approve of that act.
Laughter.l l am happy to point TO
I as tho oasis in the withered desert
hat you have made about you, and
record you credit for it, Hoping,
gentlemen, if l may be pardoned for
he use of the term, laughter, ] that
he length of your lives may cores
bond with the measure of your virtues,
md that you will be succeeded by bet
er men than yourselves, bid you
rood night.
The Senator retired amid roaring ap-
'lause and shower OF paper balls.