The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-08-30
Magnificent Leadership.

The late Pennsylvania Republican
Convention was notable chiefly for its
adulstion OF Senator Quay of that State,
who was Chairman OF the Republican
National Committee during the last
campaign. When the President OF the
Convention referred in his speech'"ro
Chairman Quay's magnificent leader
ship" there was ''Iong. continued ap-
plause." Then followed the reading of
the platform, which rejoiced greatly in
the victory of 1888, first, because it
was fought and won under a Pennsyl-
vania platform; and again, more dis
tinctly and amply, it declared that
The thanks of the Republicans of the
commonwealth are due and hereby
rendered to Mathew 5. Quay for the
honorable and masterful way in which
he conducted that campaign" What
was this magnificent" ana "honora-
BILE" and ''masterful' leadership {? Lin
coin, Sumner. Seward and Andre US
were RepuOlican leaders. They were
men OF the highest ability who with no.
BILE eloquenc taught the country Repub-
lican principles. who maintained by
resistless argument Republican policy
and by their personal character won the
enthusiastic confidence OF the whole
party and the respect ot their opponents.
Mr.. Quay is totally unknown as a lead
or in any such sense of the word. His
reputation is wholly that of a party boss.
He is q magnificent and masterful
leader like ex Senator Dorsey and Mr..
Thomas Platt, or like The eiosr Came
ron, whom the PENNSYLVANIA platform
eulogizes with Mr.. Tanner and Mr..
Quay.
Mr.. Dorsey's magnificent and mas
70 laahQrahir, Cd 81.
''sosp," Mr.. Quay's by marshaIipg
floaters in blocks of five. Mr.. QUAY
was known to ths country before the
last campaign soley by the strong de-
nunciation of Republican journals. A
few years ago, according TO the PhiIa-
delphia "PreSs. " in the case OF attempt
ed bribery OF members of the I.erisla-
ture of Pennsylvania, Mr.. QUAY. oeipg
then Secretary or the Commonwealth.
"connived at crime by setting the
criminals free in defiance of the cousti-
tuition and the law When he was
trying to secure a nomination as State
Treasurer the Press asked how this
story, told upon every DemocI attic
stump, was to be met. "Mr. Quay's
nomination, +" it is said, would raise
questions and involve risks which
would imperlI the result of the can
vass." And again, limiting at his con
nec;ion with irregularities which il
charged IN the management of the
Treasury, 1t is said
"What is still more important. such
a campaign would inevitably lift the
lid from the administration of the
Treasury itself, and uncover Secrets be-
fore which Republicans would stand
dumb"
The New York Tribune" alludinp
TO these things and the conduct of Mr..
Quay, said
"A more inso!ent defiance OF public
sentiment has not been seen since
Tweed asked the taxpayers of New
York what they were going TO do about
itn
This was Mr.. Quay's magnificent
and honorable" and "masteIful'' lead
ership in his own State as estimated by
Republican journals. What was it last
year in the country ? Did it lie in his
eloquence OF his argument !? Was it
the leadership OF intellect or character
or personal enthusiasm No (; it was
OF another kind. The Voice has
shown that Mr. Ciarkson, the present
First Assistant Postmaster General
who wss Vice President under Mr
Quay of the Republican National Com
mittee. bribed two of the clerks of the
Voice to furnish its mail lists TO the Re,
publican committee. That Mr.. QUAY
was ignorant of the transaction will be
believed by those who believe that Mr..
Dorsey knew nothing OF the '.soapn
sent to Indiana, and Mr.. Dudley noth.
ing of ''f1oaters in blocks of five or of
"a trusted man with necessary funds in
charge" of them. Mr.. Quay's leader
ship was illustrated also in the enor-
nous sum of money raised by Mr.. Wan
amaker and devoted to the final expen.
ses of the campaign. Probably there is