The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-01-14
widows. After some debate the bill

IacWc runway IuhutuS Rpil uepate III
attack made by Mr.. Johnson on Editor
Hearst last Friday. Mr.. Mcguire (dem.)
of California printed in the Record this
morning, in connection with his remarks
on the bill, some very Caustic comments
on Mr.. Johnson's rpeech, and the lat
ter, who had been awaiting Mr.. Ma
guire's appearance in the hall, as soon
as he saw him enter, arose and asked
the speaker if it would be in order for
him to rise to question of personal
do so as soon as the pending bill was
out of the way, he bided his time. AS
soon as the bill was passed, the Cali.
fornia member impetuously arose. Thr
house Immediately squared itself around
He began calmly to recite his grievs
ances, but it was apparent that he was
keyed up to a high tension. He had
seen fit. he said, during the debate on
the funding BILL. to point out some
to the bill. He said he had done so
openly and broadly. He had spoken of
what he knew and he had been re-
sponsible for what he had said. He had
heard the attack of Mr.. Cooper, but he
said he had been unable to get the floor
to reply to it. Today he had noticed in
the Record personal attack on him
self by the gentleman from California
(Mr. Maguire), printed under the priv-
their remarks. He was familiar with
the privileges of the house in this re-
gard, but he would assume that the priyi-
lege only gave member an opportunity
to amplify his remarks on the pending
measure. Yesterday, he said, he had
been informed that he was to be per-
sonally assailed by Mr.. Mcguire, not
for what he had said of him (Maguire).
but of another. He had waited all day
had come, and this morning, instead of
an open attack, he had found this bitter
personal assault in the Record. He de-
sired now to say few words about the
matters touched in that printed authority.
as he wanted the antidote to 90 with
the poison. He went on to denounce
Maguire's statements as wanton mali
ciousness. He also referred to the fact
that correspondent had telegraphed to
to expose the skeletons in his closet" to
show that this was no sudden burst of
wrath on the part of Mr.. Mcguire. He
further said he had a telegram saying
that Mr.. Hearst's paper in San Fran
cisco had already printed Mr.. Maguire's
remarks and the charges made.
ut is." Mr.. johnson said, "just as
well for me to face this matter now as
later and meet the cowardly insinuations
made against me at the dictations of
William Il. Hearst. 1t is true that
thirty-four years ago l was in trouble
in New York; that l was indicted that
I went to California to secure a home
and live down the past; but it is untrue
that l went under an assumed name."
He went on to describe how he had
worked in Sacramento to make amends
for the past. His voice shook as he
told how, by the blessings of God and
the help of his good wife, he had at last
been able to pay back every dollar that
he owed
The house greeted him with hearty ap-
plause.
Continuing. he told how ever since
lS1O ne had returned each year to
Syracuse and had been received there at
the scene of his youthful indiscretion.
He told of the honors he had been ac-
corded in California, where the story
was known, but it had remained "fOr a
man from the south district of Califor-
mia (Maguire) to delve like ghoul into
the past. in. order to disgrace his wife
and family"
81 have told him." he said, "that
am not ashamed of my life. and that l
have not concealed this blot upon it.
country say as much?
I'm Sacramento l have built up
Fame and a fame any man might be
proud Of"
In 1896, Mr.. johnson continued, he
had been again attacked by this same
man, but he had carried every election
district in Sacramento and had carried
the county by 1900. He had been most
viciously attacked by editorial and carl
hU hIc vAI
The honored speaker Of the house and
Mr.: Boutelle had been similarly attacked
while visiting California last summer,
but the attacks upon them had been
but the drippings of brook beside
Niagara. compared with those on him.
He said copies of the papers had been
sent to his (Johnson's) wife while she
lay on bed of sickness, in danger of
death, and that the caricatures and edi-
torials had been put in envelopes so
that she might not fail to get them. He
asked: "Is it wonderful, then, that 1
struck back when the opportunity
cameW
"Is there any man who would do any
less, except the gentleman from Califor-
mia. James G. Maguire?"
He knew that he would be attacked,
but did not expect to be in such an in
famous, underhand way.
Referring to the attack on Mr. Hearst,
he said;
Every charge have made is capable
of proof l do not shelter myself behind
my constitutional privilege. Everything
/ say as a member am responsible for
as citizen, personally and financially"
"If either the gentleman from Wiscon-
sin tCoOper) or the gentleman from CAL
ifernia (Maguire) thinks am cowardly,
let either repeat to me outside this cham
Der what he has said inside and his Gu
riosity will be appeased."
In conclusion. he said: "There is
statute of limitation in every civilized
nation against crime. Is it right to go
back thirty-four years and unlock the Sc
cret chambers and bring out skeletons
Of my past and shake them before the peo-
pie; to forever throw at man the follies
and crimes of his youth? Should there
not be statute of limitation against this?
Oh, may that day come in this nation
when men will be judged solely by their
acts in the present and no man or news
paper will delve into his past and bring
sorrow to his wife, his children and to