The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-08

riannSuns OF heA1ss
When Edmund Burke wanted to emphasize
the disappearance of chivalry from Europe
and TO show what kind of thing the French
Revolution had brought, he flourished dagger
before the English House of Commons, which
he was then addressing. AS piece of dra-
matte effect it told upon the House; cheer
after cheer resounded as he waved the weapon
in air. Claptrap or not it was successful for
the moment and success, we all know, Is
generator of imitation. So, from Burke we
come down to Flanagan; from the votary
of. chivalry to the idolizer of greenbacls;
from the impassioned idealist to the sordid
salary grabber We have been searching
for type of the salary-grabber, and we
thought that in General Butler we had him;
but it seems not There is, it would appear,
a mountainous andacity which Ben Butler,
piled on Pig Iron Kelley, would not equal in
height That steep individuality is Flanagan,
of Flanagan's Mills, Texas. No dagger did
he flourish in the face of the astounded
Senator'S; no weird terror of Jacobin mobs,
laying unclean and bloody hands on anointed
kings and queens, did he summon up; no
vibrating appeal for ten thousand swords to
leap from their scabbards to avenge the de-
capitated Autrichienne did he make. Oh, nc !
Flanagan was as original as he could be.
Clearing his melodious throat, he made
speech on the salary grab, which, despite
its briefness, shall live beside Burke on
chivalry for the delight Of generations to
come. Senator Flanagan, as he cleared his
melodious throat to make this speech, was a
picture for the pencil of an artist. Like the
Knight of LIT Mancha, the creatures of his
visions crowded around and thickened the air
in his vicinity. The sheeted ghost of Credit
Mobilier jibbered on the back of his chair;
the disembodied spirits of railroad, land and
claim jobs fitted circling around the cham
pion salary-grabber as he cleared his melo-
dious throat to begin. He was about to speak
in behalf of the meanest and most furtive
piece of legislation which Congress had ever
passed, and what more appropriate than that
he should scorn all the subterfuges, lodges
and shifts under which his predecessors on
the same side of the argument had
disguised their intentions. eff there was any
guilt in the grab, am guilty" Here is no
humbug. Flanagan, of Flanagan's Mills,
Texas has put himself clear on the record.
He voted for the increase because it was
bringing more grist to Flanagans mill, and
his only regret at the time was that it did not
bring more. Many a weakened Senator and
Representative who has become sorry for
taking back pay will admire the frmness of
Flanagan. Flanagan was on the lookout for
Number One, and he never changed his
opinion regarding what would benefit that
primary numeraL Therefore he says it was
out of the purest motives he voted for the
salary grab. The age Of grabbing he had
reason to fear was gone; for he was left alone
to champion it. Laying his left hand upon
o bullying spot over his heart, then placing his
right hand inside his coat he drew forth like
a lightning fash his back pay in genuine
greenbacks They made a goodly pile,
and as he shook them under the
noses of the more squeamish Senators they
looked like the pictures of lightning in the
hands of Jupiter. ''Here they are, sir this
is my pay I am going to fight for it to the
last" Such were the fiery words of Flanagan.
He went on to say that the people objected
more to the Credit Mobilier thieves than the
salary stealers. He thought Cakes Ames
good enough man, zone of the best he ever
knew" which will not be taken as o very
valuable certificate of character for the rest of
his acquaintance 1t was the demagogues he
thought, who preferred the Indictment against
the stealers. We need not take his word for
this. Senator Carpenter said it was the voice
of the people which frightened the money in
his pocket. Be that as it may, Flanagan, of
Flanagan's Mills, Senator from Texas, has
stepped in a striking position into the niche
kept vacant for the ideal salary grabber