Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-01
THE COMMERCIALS BLAST,
Richard Smith Continues the Fight Witt
His Trenchant Faber.

Richard Smith Continues the Fight With
His Trenchant Faber.
CINCINNATI, O., April 1.-The Commercial
Gazette publishes the following editorial:
at is proper to say right here that Mr..
Halstead is not on deck and has not been
consulted in regard to this matter. He is,
therefore, in no way responsible for these re-
marks. His appointment as minister to Ger
many was rejected not because of his unfit
ness for the place, for that question never
was and never could be raised He was re-
jected because, as an editor, he honestly crit
icised the methods by which men were elect
ed to the United States senate"
The article then reviews the Payne case
and asserts that the latter bought his seat in
the senate, and giving the history Of the
sending of the matter up to Washington,
says:
"There it encountered the opposition of Re-
publicans who were in the same boat with
Payne-of men who disgraced their seats
then, as they do now-and the investigation
was defeated. Had Payne been conscious of
innocence, had he 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
than He appealed instead to that thing
called senatorial courtesy, and he found Re
publicans who had been elected as he was
by fraud These Joined him. They could
not help 1t. They were plainly threatened
that if Payne should be Investigated the
matter would not stop there. The rascals are
natural towards.
What The Commercial Gazette said on
the whole controversy was the truth. 1t
was the truth when 1t was written 1t is the
truth now. Perhaps it was roughly ex-
pressed, but 1t was the truth all the same"
"For this Mr. Halstead was defeated, and
for no other reason. There was no pretense
of objection to him on the ground of fitness.
He was rejected by senatorial frauds be-
cause he had the courage Of his convictions
and was not afraid to tell the truth. The re-
suit, therefore, cannot hurt him, but it is
bound to hurt guilty senators. Perhaps too,
it may lead to a line of thought, that will
abolish the United States senate altogether
with its star-chamber proceedings, or com.
pei a change in the methods of election that
| win bring that body closer to the people and
force its members outside of the money infiu.
ence. People would be startled to know how
many seats in the United States senate were
bought with money, and how many seats are
therefore disgraced
payne thinks the defeat Of Halstead has
indicated him. This Is bosh. To do that
| would require the defeat Of nearly all the ed.
| itors in Ohio, and Of such Democrats as Al
| len G. Thurman. But he'll not satisfied with
| this. and he promises, In order to a further
! vindication, to be candidate for re election
| to the United States senate. He has right
to do that. We decidedly favorit. Wedars
him to make that tes6
1.-THE issue for next fall has been made il
| Ohio by Mr.. Payne. It can not be avoided
The defeat Of Mr.. Halstead was the result d
revenge Now let the people Of Ohio demon
strate the folly Of revenge