Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1871 — Sound Advice. [ARTICLE]

Sound Advice.

Mack, is the dessiccated sounding and rather plebian cognomen of the gentleman elected Speaker of the Lower House of the Indiana General Assembly. Familiar friends when they meet linn in or other place of “innocent amusement,” slap him on the shoulder and sing out,, “Billy Mack.” , But the more grave newspaper fraternity yplien they have occasion to mention his valorous deeds, designate him l>y the more •dignified title of “Hon. William Mack, of Ymo.” It was under the last title © that he was voted for, and sworn the position he now occupies in the legislature. Perhaps it is unnecessary to say that this Terre Banter is a democrat, although it is principally to this circumstance that he owes his election to preside over the deliberations of the first democratic House of Representatives the Hoosiers have possessed for several years. Well, this gentleman seems to be one of those high-pressure individuals, full of gas, verbose, and ready at all times, “in season and out of season,” any place and everywhere, to talk buncomb by the hoar. Upon obtaining possession of the Speaker’s seat and gavel he confiscated the occasion to reel oft* a flowery v little-spurt in Which he thanked his fellows for the honor they had burdened him with; reverted to the historical fact that the canvass last fall “resulted in our election;” reminded thenrof the nearly forgotten incident thSt they were there “to legislate (ot the

whole people’’ and not alone for a political party; said the people expected them “to protect and guard the publio funds with zeal, fidelity and watchful nets;” exhorted them to be economical yet liberal in measures of reform; cautioned tlie legislature against “the changing of too many laws” and too much legislation in goncral; warned members not to bo influenced by money, intellect or women; and closed with the wish that they might so deport themselves as that their arduous labors would be crowned with ineffable honor, and that each upon returning to his constituents would be received by them “extending the open palm of welcome, and exclaiming well done, well done faithful servant.” That portion of Mr. Mack’s address relating to “wealth, intellect and beauty” we will quote: “Wc hear talk on all sides and read m every newspaper we examamine of organizations, rings, or combinations of men, who, uniting wealth, intellect, beauty and all the means by which mankind may be approached, use their influence and power to obtain legislation for their private interest, to the detriment of the public good. The measures of mighty import which you have to consider may invite them to this assembly. Can I not have the assurance of each member’s pledge of honor, sacred as the oath lie has this day taken, that in whatever shape or guise this hydraheaded monster may approach him, whether with the sweet voice of the fabled syrens, the specious wisdom of venal intellect, or the more potent agency of moneyed influences, you will, in the dignity of insulted manhood, stamp the proposers with the brand of infamy; that you will shun and avoid them as you would avoid a contact with the leper whose touch is death; that whatever may be their name or proposed object or intellectual or social position, they arc to have neither aid nor comfort, sympathy, friendship or power within this legislative hall?” Simmered down to a sentence, this paragraph means: Beware of money, brains and women. It is simply a transposition and paraphrase of the old monkish prayer, “Good Lord, from tlft World, the ITesTiahd the Devil preserve us;” and is rather an improvement on old Weller’s “Samivel bevare of vidders,” because more comprehensive. It is sensible,-withal,- and we hope our law-makers will heed it, notwithstanding the fact that it may in a few instances collide with the non-interference with-thc-appe-tites-and-innoccnt-amusomeiit proclivities of some of them.