St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-31
THE VOICE OF HIS ORGAN.
The Commercial Gazette Scolds
the Senate.

CINCINNATI, O., March 3O.-The Com
mercial Gazette will publish the follow
ing editorial tomorrow: lit is proper
to say that Mr.. Halstead is
not on deck, and has not
been consulted in regard to this
matter. He is, therefore, in no way re-
sponsible for these remarks.l His ap-
pointment as minister to Germany was
rejected. not because of his unfitness
for the place, for that question never
was and never could be raised. He was
rejected because. as an editor, he hon.
estly criticised the methods by which
men were elected to the United
States senate. The origin of this mat
ter was the election of Henry B. Payne.
That was not Republican contest, but
Democratic fight. George II. Pendle-
ton was the known Democratic candi-
date in Ohio. The legislature was
chosen with reference to his election.
When the legislature had been chosen,
Payne, with his money backing, appeared
in the field. He bought Pendleton's
men and was elected. Everybody knew
that then, and everybody knows it now.
There is not an intelligent man in Ohio
who does not believe and does not
know that Payne was elected by fraud.
publican, through the defeat of the
most gigantic frauds ever undertaken
in any state upon the elective franchise.
An Indictment was framed, and the
United States senate was asked to in
qure into the methods of Payne's cleo
tion. This became a party measure.
1t was sustained by the Republican
press. 1t had the sympathy of the best
part of the Democrats of Ohio. 1t went
to the United States senate. There it
encountered the opposition of Republi-
cans who were i'll the same boat with
Fayne-of men who disgraced their
seats then, as they do now, and the in
vestigation was defeated. Had Payne
felt that he was honestly elected
he would have quickly demanded
an Investigation. This he took care
not to do. He knew perfectly well he
could not afford that. He appealed in
stead to that thing called senatorial
courtesy, and he found Republicans
who had been elected as he was-by
fraud. These Joined with him. They
could not help it. They were plainly
threatened that if Payne should
be Investigated the matter would
not stop there. Rascals are natural
towards. The senators who are there
by fraud are towards. They joined
hands with Payne and there was no in
vestigation. The very thing that an hon.
est man would have demanded was de-
feated by the votes of men who owe their
seats in the senate to the use of money.
What the Commercial Gazette said in
the whole controversy was the truth. 1t
was the truth when it was written. 1t
is the truth now. Perhaps it was
roughly expressed, but it was the truth
all the same. For this Mr.. Halstead
was defeated, and for no other
reason. There was no pre-
tense of objection to him on
the ground of fitness. He was rejected
by senatorial frauds because he had
the courage of his convictions, and was
not afraid to tell the truth. The result,
bound to hurt guilty senators. Per-
haps, too. it may lead to a
line of thought, or increase the
force of line of thought that will
abolish the United States senate alto
gether, with its star-chamber proceed
ingS, or compel a change in the methods
of election that will bring that body
closer to the people and force its MEM
bers outside of the money influence.
People would be startled to know how
many seats in the United States
senate were D0uSnC WITH money, ana
how many seats are therefore dis
graced. This is a business that cannot
last. The people will not tolerate it.
This kind of corruption must be wiped
out. Payne thinks the defeat of Hal
stead has vindicated him. This is
bosh. To do that would re-
quire the defeat of nearly all the
editors in Ohio. and of such Demo
Gratis as Allen u. Thurman. But he is
not satisfied with this, and he proposes
in order to further vindication, to- be
a candidate for reelection to the
United States senate. He has a right
to do that. We decidedly favor it. We
dare him to make that test. Appeal
to the people of Ohio and inyesti-
cations will not be stified. The truth
will be brought to the front, and the
people who cannot be bought will settle
the corruptionists. The issue for next
fall has been made in Ohio by Mr..
Payne. 1t cannot be avoided. The de-
feat of Halstead was the result of re-