The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-05-01


a numerous and int ~ naienrc Of
ladies and gentlemen. among hn we've
quite number of our lcgislator.. ss-esnbled
IN the Rcprcss1tatirs Haii last right - lis
ten To Judge Hancock able adde's So his
constituents. We regrss that thG ia,ensss
Of the hour n which We nrife prevents ms
from giving our readers even q synopsis Of
the judges speech. bespoke IF the efforts
he had made. while N Congress 10 secure
better protection to our frontier. and attrih-
uted the cooperative quiet, which It now
enjoys, to these exertions We have no
doubt the Judge, during his stay in Wash
ington, used all his infrence with Genersl
Grant and the War Department, 10
secure our frontier settlements against
Indian outrages but our information
scarcely justifies as in agreeing with the
honorable gentlemen that there has been
any materiai improvement in the condition
Of the frontier a. ID protection. Scarcely
a mail reaches Us from the north or west
that we do not hear Of men being killed,
and stock driven of by marauding bands OF
Indians from Mexico or the reservation.
The honorable gentleman drew graphic
and truthful picture Of the decentralization
which characterises official life at Washing
ton. and wherever else the Radical party
holds sway-spoke OF the ruin this party
has entailed upon the country, as wen by
its moral corruption, as by its class legis-
lation. and partisan rancor. He instanced
the fearful falling off in our shipping and
foreign commerce Of more than one-half
since 1861, as the result of the false and
ruinous policy Of the party in power, which
taxes all other industries for the benefit of
the manufacturers Of New England and
Pennsylvania.
But the Judge soon made it apparent that
the main subject Of the evening was the
extra Congressional pay, about which so
much has been said in the newspapers. We
are sorry that we are unable to give the
Judges able and conclusive vindieation of
himself and his colleagues in his very words
We think they could not failto silence those
who have been uncharitable enough to at
tribute unworthy motives to such men as
Hancock, Giddings and Herndon, men whose
integrity has never before been impeached,
and not now save by inuendo and slur gener-
ally upon those who voted fer what they
call ''the back pay steal" Now, while NE
are as much opposed as any in the land to
stealing from the public treasury, in any
shape, We think the honorable Representa-
tive from the Fourth Congressional District
showed conclusively-
First That it has been the habit of Con
gress, from 1898 to 1873, to make changes
in Congressional salaries affecting The mem
bsrs then IN their seats.
Second. That the seven thousand five
hundred dollars, without stationery or post
age, is. little enough for the services of men
fit to represent the people of Texas Third
That the nominal increase, in the aggregate,
does not exceed sixty thousand dollars
Fourth. That the nominal increase was just,
in order to equalize the pay of the members
from the different States, which under the
old law was very unequal: the members
from the Pacific States receiving more than
double those from the States near Wash
ington.
We regret the Judge should have thought
it necessary to notice the attacks made on
him by a trio of black and tan occupants
of legislative seats aud to mar the occasion
and do them honor by the least mention.
We should conceive that we had indeed fall
len upon evil days when it is necessary for a
Hancock TO defend his official conduct be-
fore Democratic audience, against the at
tacks of Gaines, Ruby & Co.