The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-07-17
QUAY AND THE PUBLIC.
F.ct. That Do Not comport With Amer
can Dscency and Honor.


| can Dscency and Honor.
The recent revival OF the stories which
we're rife SOME years since abotit Senator
quay OF Pennsylvania, and the impress
sive and responsible public arraignment
Of Mr. Quay by Mr.. Henry c. Lea and
~ journals Of the highest character,
and in the most direct and unqualified
terms are signs 81 the times which can
not be disregarded. In politics s.the
campaign of muds opens with every
canvass But definite accusations Of
dishonesty and crime, which are pun
ishable with prolonged Imprisonment,
made against prominent public men by
the most honorable and responsible au-
thorities, accompanied by the evidence,
Is an astounding revelation of public
morals which can not be dismissed as
mud and campaign calumnies. II the
mere charge of a political, not pecunfary.
bargain by which Henry Clay was said
70 have secured the election Of John
Qnincy Adams ~. President, ineonsidefl
alton OF the appointment to be Secre-
tary OF State-a charge which was never
in any degree substantiatcd, and was
really discredited- overshadowed Claws
whole political career for quarter of a
century, what ought to be the effect OF
the charges Of pecuniary dishonesty
now brought with testimony, and reiter-
ated in detail day after day, against
Mr.. Quay?
Such accusations can not be dismiss
ed as beneath the notice OF any public
man. Disregard of charges like those
against Mr.. Quay, made as they are
made, is practical admission that they
are unanswerable. We do not, indeed,
admit the moral right Of a newspaper
to accuse men Of dishonesty, and then
with Sinking conceit of candor pro-
claim that its columns are open for an
explanation. II newspaper alleges
forgery against Bishop Potter, or grand
larceny against Vice President Morton,
the outrage is not extenuated by the
announcement that equal publicity will
be given to their denial Such men
will not deny such charges. If their
characters do not defend them, their
word would be no defence. But this is
not Mr.. Quay's case. The time, the
alleged dishonesty, with corroborative
testimony and legal records, are pub
lished. and denial of the truth OF the
charges is defiantly challenged. Under
such circumstances, Washington him
Sc II would have felt it to be the most
imperative public duty to bring the
matter to prompt and thorough investi-
CATION, that tho libellers, if such they
were, should be punished like other
reck less malefactors.
A perfectly reputable Journal makes
and repeats what it states to be "a
charge supported by evidence, that Mr.
Quay took at one time $500, 600 from the
Pennsylvania State Treasurer, and
lost it in stock gambling. and at another
time took 100000, when he was STATE
Treasurer, and used it to pay for GER
tain railroad securities which he had
purchased, subsequently returning
the States money when he had
sold the securities" 1t can not be said
that Mr.. Quay's character defends him
against such charges. His standing in
tho country does not permit him to
treat them with scorn. Indeed, he is
known to the country only by such I'M
answerable accusations made with
PFeef and by reports universally be-
lieved, OF disreputable pecuniary tram
sactions in the conduct OF an election
as chairman of the Republican National
committee. Such charges, without evil
dence, alleged against Senator Edmunds
or Senator Hoar would be discredited
But made as they are made against Mr..
Quay, both of those Senators would at
once challenge legal inquiry. Mr..
Quay. through friends, replies only that
the accusations are due to the spleen of
free-traders and the rage of defeated
Democrats. Was the Philadelphia
Press splenetic free-trader and de-
feated Democrat when it said, abiding
to these charges whom they were first
familiar: "Take the lid from off the
State Treasury, and uncover secrets be-
fore which Republicans would stand
dumb?" Is Mr.. Lea disappointed and
malignant free-trader? Mr.. Quay's in
direct rejoinder is not denial, but
rather confession. 1t makes his po-
sitfon very much worse. Yet he is still
a companion and counsellor of the Pres
ident the associate of Senators, and the
chairman of the Republican National
committee, Do these facts comport
with public decency?-Harper's Weekly.