Saint Mary's beacon., 1873-09-18

SLauearER or rHE TnrRyEs.-The scene
in the Democratic State Conventien OF
Pennsylvania when the salary grabbers
were 90 thoroughly slaughtered vas re-
markable. and is worthy Of being giysn
historical prominence.
At first il seemed as If the job TO make
Richard Milton Speer the permanent Pres
ident Of the Convention vas trick of Sam
Rsnda!rs. He is one Of the leaders Of
the salary grab movement. and Chairman,
unfortunately of the Democratic State
Committee. he evidently feels somewha,
uneasy under the lashing that the Demo-
cratic press Of his State has bestowed upon
the thieves. II undoubtedly occurred to
Sam that il he could force . salary grab
Der upon the convention IL would silence
criticism. Randall called the convention
to order. and Immediately Mr.. Carrigan.
Of Philadelphia. nomiuased DR.. Andrew
Nebinger Of Philadelphia for temporary
chairman. Perhaps it is just little sus-
picious that these gentleman are from
Philadelphia. where Randall lives. We
have no reason to charge DR.. Nebiuger
with being an instrument Of Randall's, but
u Philadelphia Democrat is naturally Pc
euliar. and DR.. Nebinger was unfortunate
in the sppointmens of his Committee on
Permanent Organization. 1t might have
been design. but was no doubt merely an
accident that it was SO constituted that it
was able to agree upon one Of the salary
grabbers for permanent President.
When the report Of the committee came
in with Richard Milton Speer for Presi-
dent. the fight began in earnest. Mr..
Glatz of York. rose instantly and protes-
ted against Speer. He protested 10 be-
half Of honesty and consistency. because
it was the intention of the convention to
denounce the back pay steal in which
Speer had participated.
Sreer set up piteous howl Of defense
He did not deny having taken the money.
but claimed to hare voted steadily agains.
the bill. This is a simple lie. for the re-
cord shows that Specr voted twice for the
swindle while it was before the House.
He thought he ought not TO have thorn
planted in his breast BY the Democracy,
that he was entitled to some consideration
for all he had done in Congress. L, real
ly ought to have occurred to Speer that
his salary Of five thousand dollars was
considered enough for his services in Con-
gress. and when he stole the extra Eve
thousand he was generally thought to have
been somewhat overpaid
After Speer had finished. Mr.. Mona
gan. of Chester county. who was . per-
sopal friend of Speer, planted his thorn.
although be said it was the most unpleas-
ant duty Of his life. 1t was with wound
ed feelings that he approached the ques-
tion. but with earnest zeal for the success
Of his party, and desire for Democratic
supremacy. Back of this Convention was
constituency of hard-working men.-
Whether these members of Congress who
went to the Treasury and took from it
more money than the people who elected
them had said they should have were ac-
tuated by honest feelings or not was a
question. The Indignant. people did not
choose to ask questions. They say that
they have been wrongcd, and that those
men who wronged them shall not again be
placed in positions Of honor and trust
We find a general gloom resting upon our
people in the farming districts. Heavy
taxation, and this grab is part of it, has
wrung from them their hard earnings un-
Ill they are poor. In Mr. Monagan's own
county men who have worked hard since
they left their cradles till now that they
are tottering into their graves are being
sold out by the sheriff. They turn to
their servants-for they are servants and
not masters-and find that they who we're
sent to Congress have opened the public
treasury and helped themselves .You,
sir. you, sir. MIR, Speer," continued the
speaker. land the rest Of those men who
took SIS. 900 for few months service,
while old men. your constituents. have
not made so much in long life Of honest
toll. Shall this man come here and ask
US to advance him and outrage the mil
lions whom he has wronged? Many
voices. mol In Gods name I answer
No! As one who loves the people and
don't care much for office-bolders | have
been notified by member of Congress.
that ] might make the most of this; that
they were going to drive this thing through
the Convention. Let the issue come right
here. say unless We stand straight on
this record VIC will be defeated most over
whelmingly. Let US tell the people that
We are on their side. aud not on the side
of those who have robbed them If this
has been the mistake of these mems lives,
let them repent and take back seat, and
allow men who have not sought office. or
honor or money to be brought forward;
let them allow some man who has not
touched this foul thing to preside over our
deliberations. l implore Mr.. Speer to
rise iu his place aud magnauimously de-
cline the honor"
This was a terrible bomb. and created
amongst the thieves. 1t
was evident from the applause which fol-
lowed Dir. Mouagan's shot that there was
nothing but destruction for salary thieves
10 that convention. Sam Randall had
brought his tools and plunderers to the
wrong market. Mr.. j. Laurence Ge,z.
Of Reading. was not inclined to let the
matter 60 so. He vas salary grabber
himself, aud he rushed to the defense of
Speer. Gctz said be knew all about that
salary matter. He was in Congress. and.
in obedience to instructions from Sam
Randall, voted with him and Ben Butler
every time in favor Of the bill. At this
point the honest Getz was interrupted in |
his confession Of infamy BY storm Of his
ses aud groans proceeding generally from
,ll parts Of the house. Il Was some time |
before Ge.s could proceed. and when be
did 60 on he proceeded to tell lie. 1t
has always been understood that . man
sho would steal would lie. Ge,x stated