Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-04-01

|
The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette Of yes
yesterday says editora!Iy; sit is proper to
say right mere that Mr.. Halstead is not on
deck, and has not been consulted in regard
TO this matter he il, therefore, in no way
responsible for these remarks His appoint
ment 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 be
cause, es al editor, he honestly criticised tho
methods by which men were elected TO the
| United States Senate. The origin of this
matter YRS the election of Henry B. Payne.
That was not republican contest but 8
democratic fight George II. Pendleton was
| the known democratic candidate in Ohio.
| The legislature was chosen with reference 10
his election. When the Legislature had
been chosen Payne, with his money back
ing, appeared in The field. He bought Pen
dletons men and was elected. Everybody
knew that then, and everybody knows it
now There is not an intelligent man in
Onio who does not believe and does not
know that PayDs was elected By fraud
The subsequent Legislature was republican,
through the defeat of The most gigantic
fraud3 ever undertaken in any State upon
the elective franchise
AN Indictment Was framed and the
Uaited STATES Senate Was asked TO inquire
into the methods OF Payne's election. This
became party measure. IL was sustained
hy the repub ,can press. Ii had the sympa-
thy of the hest part OF he democrats OF Ohio
|; went 10 the United States Senate. There
il encountered the opposition OF republicans
who were in the samo boat with Payne; Of
men who disgrsced their seats then, as they
do now, snd The Investigation was defeated.
Had Payne been conscious ofinnocence, had
he felt that he was honestly elected, he
would have quickly demanded an iDveetiga-
ton. This he took care not to do. he
knew perfectly we'll he could not afford that
lie appealed instead to that thing called
Senatorial courtesy, and he found republic
cans 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 here. Rascrls are
naturally towards. The Senators who are
there by fraud are towards. They joined
hands with Payne and there wss no investi-
cation. The very thing that an honest man
would have demanded WAS defeated by the
votes of men who owe their seats in the
Senate to the use of money. What the Com
mercidl. Gazette said in the whole controver-
sy was the truth. IL was the truth when it
was written. 1t is the truth now. Perhaps
it was roughly expressed, hut it was the
truth all the same. For thia Mr.. Halstead
was defsnted, and for no other reason. There
was no pretence Of objection TO him on the
ground Of ftn sc. He was rejected by Semi
torial frauds, becnuse he ha6 the courage of
his convictions, and was not afraid to tell
the truth. The result, therefore, cannot
hurt him. but it ia bound to hurt guilty Sen
ator7. Perhaps, too, it may lead to
a line of thought, or increase the
force Of e line of thought that will abolish
the United States Senate altogether with its star
chamber proceedings, or compel 3 change in the
methods of electi-n that will bring that body
closer 10 the people and force its members outside
of the money Influence People would he startled
to know how many seats in the United States
Senate were bought with money, snd how many
seats are therefore disgriced.s This Is business
that cannot last. The people will not tolerate it,
This kind of corruption must he wiped ont.
Payne thinks tho defeat of Halstead has vindl-
Gated him. This is bosh. To do that would
quirc the defeat of nearly al the editors in Ohio
and of sach democrats as Allen G. Thurman. Bat
he is not satisfied with this, and he proposes, in
order TO further vindication, to be q candidate
for 70 election to the United States Senate. He
has right to do that. We decidedly favor it.
We dare him TO make that test. Appeal to tho
reople OF Ohio and invcsti cations will not be