The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-13

during the debate on the funding Mil 10
point out some underlying facts" behind
the opposition to the bill. But he said he
had done so openly and broadly lie had
spoken Of what he knew, aud he had been
responsible for what he mad said. lie had
heard the attack OF MIR. Cooper. hut he
said he had been unable 20 ket the noor
TO reply to H. Today he had noticed I'm The
Record a personal attack on .linself Nv the
gentleman from California tMr. Macuire),
printed under the privilege granted 20
members OF extending their remarks
He was unfamiliar with the privileges OF
the house In this regard, but he would as
sumo that the privilege only gave menu
Der an opportunity to amplify his remarks
on me pending measure. Yesterday, he
said. he had been informed that he was To
be personally assailcd by Mr. Maguire. not
Tor what he had said Of him ,Malriirc) but
OF another. He had waited al day in an
ticipa'ion OF the attack. but hone had come
ana tins morning instead OF an open attack
he had found this bitter personal assault, In
the RECORD. He desired now TO say a lew
words ABOUT the matters touched liz that
printed assault. because lie wanted the au-
tdote TO 30 with the poison tie went on
10 dcnouuce Maguires statements rs wan
ton maliciousness lie also refereed TO the
tact that st. Louis correspondent had
teiesrsph'd to his paper that MIR. ,iaguiro
was going to expose the skeletons In his
johnson 81 closet" to show that this WIS
no sudden burst of wrath on The part OF
Mcguire. He further said that as far as
saying that Mr. llcarsts paper In San
Francisco had already printed Mr.. Ma
CURES remarks and the charges made. ut
Is. Mr.. johnson said, Just as we'll for me
TO face this matter now as later tnd meet
the cowardly insinuatlons made against me
NJ the dctations of William r.. Hearst. 1t
b. true that "a years ago | was N trou-
bic in Now York. that was indicted; that
| went to California to secure a home and
1.-Two down the past but 1t Is untrue that
went under an assumed name. -
lie 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 ray
back every dollar OF what he owed.
The house greeted him with hearty APP
plauge.
Continuing. he told how ever since 1870
he had returned each year to Syracuse and
had been at the scene OF his youthful in-
discretion. lie told of the honors he had
been accorded in California where the
story WAS known. but It had remained Tor
the man from the South district of Cali
iornia tMaguire) to deVo like a ghost into
the past In order to disgrace his wife ard
family"
Il have told him." he said. that am
not ashamed of my life and that ! have
not concealed this blot upon it. Can every
man in this house and country say as
much?
In Sacramento have built Up a name
and fame any man might be proud Cf.
In 1896. Mr. johnson continued. he had
again been nominated and although the
bittcrest fight ever known had been made
against him. he had carried every election
district In Sacramento and had carried the
county by 1900. He had been most vicious
ly attacked by editorials and caricatures
daily by this person called Hearst"
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 drip
Pings of n brook beside Niagara compared
with those on him.
He said copies of the paper had been sent
to his johnson 81 wife while she lay on Il
bed of sickness in danger OF death. and
that the caricatures and editorials had hecn
put in envelopes SO she would not fail to
get them. lie asked. is It wonderful that
l struck back when the opportunity Gamer"
Us there any man who would do any
less except the gentleman from California,
James G Magure?"
lie knew that he would be attacked. but
did not expect to be attacked In such sn
Infamous and underhandcd way. There was
a race in Ireland called informers. there
were hired assassins in Italy and raid
spies in Russia. but any one of them would
have scornod TO 10 what the gentleman
from California had done.
Referring to his attack on Mr.. Hearst,
he said:
Every charge have made is capable
Of proof. do not shelter myself behind
my constitutional privilege. Everything |
say member am responsible for as a
citizen. personally and financially"
II either the gentleman from Wisconsin
cooper or the gentleman from California
tMaguirel thinks | am cowMdly let either
toll L.. 10
has said inside aud his CURIOSITY Will be
appoased.
In conclusion he said;
There Is statute Of Limitation In every
civilized patton against crime. u it tight
to 10 back thirty four years and unlock
the secret chambers and bring out the
skeletons of my past and shake them be
fore the people. to forever throw at II
man the folies and crimes OF his youth
Should there not be statute Of limitation
against this2 oh may the LAY come In
this nation when men will be judged soioly
ny their acts in the present and no news
paper or man will dclvc into his past aud
bring sorrow TO his Wife, his children and
to the gray hairs he has.
There was deep silence when Mr. Ma
guire arose TO reply. He began:
II never printed anything | never asked
any man 10 print anything, | have never
said anything anywhere, | am not willing
to repeat again before any taan myself.
Last week ono Of the most remarkable In
decent. malicious speeches | over heard
anywhere was made here against a man
absent from this place. not even able TO
LIT up his voice to say nay ia this pres
Cncc.
lie related that he had prepared the
addition to his speech to which Mr.. John
son objected had cndcayorod To get recog-
utriou Friday and Saturday to deliver it
and on Monday had asked the speaker IL