Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-01-09
from thc n. Y.Ilsrald. Of +, c.,erday.y
IFlannran. of Ic Mas.

Flanagan. OF Ickar. f -
When Edmund Burke wanted ~ emphasize the
disappearance of chivalry from Europe and 10
| show what kind of thing the French Revolution
had brought, he fourished dagger before the
| English House Of Commons, which he was then
addressing. As u piece of dramatic effect IL told
upon the House; cheer after cheer Tcsounded as
| he waved The weapon in air. Claptrap OF not, IL
was successful for the moment, and success, we all
know, Is generator of imitation. So, irom Burke
we come down TO Fhnagan from the votnry OF
chvalry to tho idolixer OF greenlscks; from the
impassoned idcaiist to the sordid salary grabbcr
We have been searching for atype of the salary
Erabber, and We thought that In General Butler
we had him but II seems not. There Is. il would
appear. mountainous nidacity which Ben. But
lcr, pllcd On Pig Iron Kelley, would not equal In
height. That steep individuality is Flanagan, OF
Flsnagans Mills. Texas. No dagger did he four
ish IN the face of the astounded Senators wier
terror of Jacobin mobs, laying unc|enn and bloody
| hands on anonted kings and queens. aid he sum
| mon up; no vibrating appeal Tor ten thousand
swords to leap from their seabbords TO avenge the
decapitated Agtrfchoane did he make. Oh, no !
Flanagan was as original as he couid be Clear
ing his melodious throat, he made speech on the
salary grub. which, despite its briefness shall live
beside Burke on chivaiy tor tle deiight OF gener-
aiIons to come. Senator Flanagan, as he cleared
| his melodious throat TO make this speech, vas
picture for the pencil OF an artist Like the Knight
| of La Mancha, the creatures Of hiF visions crowd
ed around and thickened the air ~ his vicinity
The sheeted ghost of Credit Mob,licr Jibbered on
| the back of his chair; the disemhodied spirits OF
| railroad. land and clam jobs fitted crcng around
the champion salary grabber AS he cleared his me
iodous throat to begin. lie was about to speak in
behalf of the meanest and most turtive piece Oi
legislation which Congress had ever passed, and
what moro appropriate than that be should scorn
all the subterfu,,es dodses and shifts under which
his predecessors the same side df the argument
had disguised their intentions "lf there was any
guilt in the grab, i am guilty" Here ia no hum.
bug Flanagan, of Flanagan's Mhls, Texas, has
put himself clear on the record. lie voted for
the increase because ii was bringing more grist To
Flanagan's mill. and his only regret at the time
was that il did not l'ring more. Many weak
kneed Senator and Representative WHO has be-
come sorry for taking back pay will admire the
frmness Of Flanagan. Flanagan was On the look
out for Number One, and he never changed his
opinion regarding what would bcuetit that prinla-
ry numeral. Therefore he says il was out of the
purest motives he voted for the sa any grab. The
age OF grabbing he had reason 10 fear was gone; F;
Tor he was left alone to champonh. Laying his
left hand upon bulging spot over his heart, then
placing his right hand inside his coat ne drew
forth like n lightning fash his back pay IN genu-
ine greenbacks. They made goodly pile, and as
he shook ihem under the noses of the more squeam-
sh Senators they looked like the pictures OF light
ming in the hands of Jupiter. NIlere they are,
sir; this is my pay; l am going to night for 1t to
the last" Such were the fiery words ot Flanagan
He went on to say that the people objected more
to the Credit Mobiller thieves than the salary
steaiers. lie thought Oakes Ames good enough
man, zone of the best he ever knew" which will
not be taken as a very valuable cettihcate of char
actsr Tor the rest OF his acquantances. 1t WINS
the demagogues, he thought, who preferred the
indictment against The stealers. Weneed not take
his word fer this Senator Carpenter said it was
the voice of the people that frightened the money
in his pocket. Be that it may, Flanagan, OF
Fianagan's Mills, Senator fom Texas, has stepped
in striking position into the niche Kept vacant
for the ideal salary grabber.