Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-02-10
L1N0AsfER, PA, February 10, 1880.
Repeating his History.

The New York World has compiled
history Of Senator Quay for the benefit
Of those who are still ignorant Of the
mode Of his rise and progress to the
control Of the Republican party OF the
nation. The tale IL rather stale one IN
Pennsylvania, but It cannot be too often
told or too widely circulated, for there
u no narrative that can be more typical
Of the state of our society and the con-
ditlons of our politics than one that tells
Of the rise Of this poor, unlearned
and untalented man to the high
distinction, power and wealth that
he has attained. It II . tale
Of the results OF the working OF
. forceful nature and an unscrupulous
spirit amid the elements that control
one Of the great political parties Of the
"tsSnptry. The World tells Il a. the story
Of the life off man who entered into
politics In country village Of Pennsyl-
vania, poor /; and who has by ONCE rolled
Into the wealth Of millionaire with
out any visible means even Of ex-
istence outside Of political ONCE
brokerage. 1t thinks perchance that
the tale will be q warning to
the people, that may destroy the
kind that it has for its hero; but what
ever may be the ultimate effect Of the
publication of such careers, the present
influence NAV rather DO to stimulate
,,tAxn to destroy them. For 1t seems
40 be shown that virtue Is not
!. needed in these times to promote ad-
vancement to fame and fortune and
there are plenty Of people who are ready
TO profit by the lesson and who need but
the promise of success as their stimu-
liant to any course Of life. If Quay
II q senator and q thief, 1t is no
worse they think for Quay but 1t Is an
interesting development Of the fact that
stolen goods and political honors may
fall into the same basket. This il not, 1t Is
true, fresh lesson taught by Quay's
career, for we have had that Of John
Sherman and other great Republican
political lights to teach 1t to us but nc
one perhaps has grown rich and great 90
rapidly as Quay and with 30 little con.
cealment of the methods and with %
general acknowledgment of his complete
rascality.
It has been known of all men In
Pennsylvania for many years. 1t was
known when Quay was elected to the
office of state treasurer. So we'll was II
known that even he IL said to have been
fearful that It ended his political career
before the people and his consequent
political power; so that he sought in
simple desperation to test the question
4 by submitting his name to the people
for election to the state Office that
was about to be filed. Defeat could
put him no lower down, while
election would be his salvation. With al
these dark stories told Of him, his cleo
tion by the people would wash hin
clean of all ofiense from them and se
him up az fre-proof political figure.
This effect followed the success which
he won. Whether his election showed
that the Republican voters did not be
lieve that he was the vile man he wal
painted or that they did not ear'
how vile he was, the effect wa
TO establish him % their leade
and make of him their autocrat
He naturally passed into the Senate
and into the control of tho nationa
party. He became the right arm Of tn
pious candidate for president and Beth
any John Wanamaker carried the bgt
for him. There IL no sign anywher
that he is offensive to his Republi
can associates and whether tn
story Of his ignominy Is destined b.
repetition to cause the people hereafte
to vomit forth his kind, 1t IL quite be
yond dispute that there has as yet beel
no evidence that it disturbs the diges
ton Of the national stomach. On gen
eral principles we would say that sue
cessful Republican government canno
be run by such instrumentalities for an
length Of time, and that before lon
there will be q call for quick lime to d.
stroy the stencil Of their putrid politics
corpses. Let US wait and see.