Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-09-11

During debate in the House of Repre-
sentatives at Washington on Friday
upon the question of unseating Repre-
sentative Breckenridge, a Southern Demo-
cratic Congressman, Representative
| Kennedy, a Republican member from
Ohio, made an onslaught upon his party
in general and especially upon United
States Senator Quay.
Mr.. Kennedy drew from the details
of the Clayton Breckenridge case the
conclusion that q Federal Election law
should be enacted. He reflected severely
upon the Senators who had been opposed
| to the bill. For himself, confident in the
doctrines of the Republican party, fully
committed to the principles of that
party, he must forever dissent from the
cowardly surrender which hauls down
the flag and strikes the colors of the Re-
publican party to a defeated foe. Con-
tinuing, he said:
Speaking for myself shall nail the banner
of the Republican party ut the mast head with
the doctrine which has become inseperable from
its history and its eXistance and which demands
the protection of the humblest citizen in the
right to an honest ballot and the protection
of life and property and stand ready to defend
that doctrine to the last. That the Election bill
has been killed by Republicans or pretended
Republicans is true.
He then attacked the Senate and de-
clared that the cloak of Senatorial court
esy has become a stencil in the nostrils
and a by-word in the mouths of all
honest citizens of the land. 1t makes a
cloak behind which ignorant and arrog-
ant wealth can purchase its way to
power and then hide its cowardly head
behind the shameless protection of Sena
torial silence. He then drew simile
between the betrayal of Christ and the
betrayal of the Republican party of to-
day. Continuing, he said :
The Judas Iscariot of 1900 years ago is to find
a counterpart in the Judas Iscariot of to-day.
The Judas who took the thirty pieces of silver
and went and hanged himself has left an ex-
ample for the Mat Quays that is well worthy
of their invitation. Some time since / stood
upon my place in this floor and denounced
Senator from native State because, when
charged with corruption and branded with in
fanny, he did not arise in his seat and demand
an investigation and inquiry that should estab-
lish the purity of his actions and his personal
honor One other occopying the high place in
the counsels of the party to which / belong
has suffered himself month in and month out
to be charged with crimes and msdemeanors.
demned under the laws of his State and have
had meted out to him the fullest measure of
its punishment. This man is n Republican
shall now remain silent? Is it just and honest
to remain in my seat silent because one who
is accused of crimes and refuses to seek for
vindication is Republican, and that Repub!i-
can the recognized leader of my party ?
Neither decency nor honor would permit me to
so.
| do not know whether the charges made
against the chairman of the National Republi-
! can committee are true or false, but do know
that they have been made by journals of char
acter and standing again and again. and ! do
| know that in the face of these charges, Mat
! Quay has remained silent and has neither
| sought nor attempted to seek opportunity to
vindicate himself of them. l do know that as
a great Republican leader he owed it to the
great party at whose head he was either to
brand them as infamies or to prove their falsity.
or he owed it to that party to stand aside from
its leadership. He has not done either and for
this denounCe him.
The Republican party cannot afford to follow
the lead of branded criminal. He has failed
to justify himself and though opportunity and
ample time have been given him, he remains
silent His silence, under such circumstances
is the confession of guilt. An honorable mar
does not long daily when his honor is assailed
He has delayed too long to justify the belief il
his innocence, and he stands convicted crimi
nal before the bar of public opinion. Unde
such circumstances he should be driven from
the head of party whose very life his presenc,
imperils. The Republican party has don,
enough for its pretended leader. Let him b,
relegated to the rear. 1t is no longer question
of his vindcation; it is now a question of tn,
life of the party itself.