The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-07-18
TO RULE OR RUIN.
A REPUBLICAN OPINION Or QUAYs
MACHINE.

cans OF Pennsylvsnis in which he Bit
terly arraigns Senator NJ. 8. Quay,
and comes out strongly 10 favor of ex-
Governor Pattison as the Gubernator.
ial candidate who represents not only
the people against the bosses, but the
people against the corporations"
Henry 9. Lea, the well.known Rep
ublicaD, has come out for Pattison in
the following ringing letter.
To THE REPUBLICANS OF PENNsYLvA-
MA 1t is not often that any political
organization has such an opportunity
of redeemiug itself from a corrupt do.
mination as that which is offered to us
in the November election. Eight
years ago, in 1882, the thoughtful
members of the Republican party rose
against the bossism of the Cameron
clique and taught it wholesome les
son which should have served to puri-
fly our politics for a decade. Unfort-
unately the fruits of that struggle were
thrown away by the supineness which
allowed Mr.. Quay in 1884 TO obtain a
"vindicatlou" by successfully compel
ing for the Office of State Treasurer in
spite OF the rumors which connected his
name with misappropriation of the
public funds. 1t wa, then predicted
that his next step would be to secure
the coming Senatorial vacancy and to
supplant Mr. Cameron as the Repub-
lican boss Of Pennsylvania
These predictions have been, unfort-
unately, verified, and the results are
seen in the degradation of our political
position, which renders our State an
object of pity and contempt through
out the UAion. The bossism of the
Camerons had in it some elements of
manliness; that of Mr.. Quay is sunk to
the lowest level of practical politics"
based as it is solely on the adroit man
ipulation of patronage inspired by the
meanest selfshness. 1t represents not
one single idea of Republican states
manship and public policy, but only
the determination to rule or ruin. The
selfish ambition of the boss and his
henchman is its sole guiding principle,
and its methods, as Exhibited in Cam.
bria county, are those of the sneak
thief and foot-pad when the distribu-
tion of the spoils fails to effect its OBJ
jects.
As in 1884, Mr.. Quay again comes
before you for "vindication" Then
the accusations against him were sim
ply rumors, the truth of which few had
an opportunity of investigating. Now
these rumors have assumed the shape
of public charges, strengthened by
every detail of time aud place and cir
cumstance, and to them have been
added accusations of subsequent NAL
feasances committed by him, of even
criminality, similarly weighted with
more than abundant details. l. is not
necessary to regert to you the humili-
ating story of public life stained
with every variety of political immor-
ality. That story has been scattered
broadcast over the land by journals of
the highest standing, which have de-
family challenged him to assert and
defend his innocence by suing them
for libel
The Courts are open to him, and ex-
emplary damages as well as acq lifted
before his countrymen would reward
him if he could successfully face jury
and undergo cross examination, but
for more than five months he has en-.
dured these accusations in stolid sill
ence. without taking step to redeem
his character The inevitable result is
that he is regarded as acquiescing in
the charges and as virtually confessing
his guilt, and the country at large is
looking to see whether the once proud
State of Pennsylvania has sunk to so
low pitch of degradation as content
edly to endure the domination of such
man.
Mr.. Quay, who so carefully avoids
Courts and juries, has seemed to ina
gine that if the Republicans of Penn.
sylvania could be cozened into endors-
ing at the polls his candidate it would
serve him as political vindication.
With edifying consistency master aud
man are equally in need Of vindication
for Candidate Delamater has been re-
Gently publicly accused by Senator
Emery of bribery to procure his elec
tion to the State Senate and of per
jury to secure the seat thus gained.
His accuser has challenged him to a
suit for SANDER, and he has shrunk
from the Courts and juries like his
boss. He also prefers the apparently
safer course of an indirect vindication
at your hands, and asks you to humili
ate yourselves by electing to the
highest office in the State a smirched
candidate whose nomination has been
forced upon you by smirched boss.
1t is high price that they expect you
to pay for the vindication of two such
individuals, and the impudence of such
a demand upon your selfrespeot can
only he explained by kind of politi-
cal training which has 81 completely
eliminated righteousness from public
affairs that its very existence has been
forgotten.
Fellow Republicans, a vindication
truly is needed at the coming election,
but it is not the vindication of tainted
politicians who dare not yindicate
themselves. You are called upon to
vindicate your own manhood; 10 yindi.
cate the honor of your own State. You
are called upon to show that you do
not wear the collar of Mr.. Quay; that
your votes are not to be bought and
sold by the manipulation of patronage,
and that you are not to be driven 10
the polls like cattle to make good the
bargains Of your bosses. You are
called upon TO teach lesson to your
self constituted masters, aud TO show
the country at large that the grand old
party may still be trusted to manage
the affairs of the nation. If Pennsy-
lvania, the stronghold of Republican.
ism, the typical Republican State, tam.
ely acquiesces in the debauched domin-
alton of Quayism and proclaims that