The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-05-28
QUAY AND TIE PUBLIC.
Facts That Do Not Comport with .Ameri.
can Decency and Honor.

can Decency and Honor.
The recent revival of the stories which
were rife some years since about Senator
QUAY of Pennsylvania, and the impress
sive and responsible public arraignment
of Mr. Quay by Mr.. Henry c. Lea and
by journals of the highest character,
and in the most direct and unqualified
terms, arc signs of the times which can
not be disregarded. In politics 1.-The
campaign of mud" 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 pecunlary,
bargain by which Henry Clay was said
to have secured the election Of John
Quincy Adams as President, in consider
alton of the appointment to be Secre-
tary of State-a charge which was never
in any degree substantiated, and was
really discredited-ov Clay's
whole political career for quarter OF
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 mon Of dishonesty, and then
with Sinking conceit of candor pro-
claim that it's columns are open for an
explanation. If 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. 1t their
= characters do not defend them, their
x word would be no defence. But this is
:, not Mr.. Quay's case. The time, the
@ place, the figures the methods, of the
y alleged dishonesty, with corroborative
0 testimony and legal records, are pub
r lished. and denial Of the truth of the
:, charges is defiantly challenged. Under
It such circumstances, Washington him
It Sc If would have felt it to be the most
l. imperative public duty to bring the
r. matter to prompt and thorough investi
h CATION, that the libellers, if such they
" were, should be punished like Other
s rcck less malefactors.
A perfectly reputable journal make:
and repeats what it states to be "a
charge supported by evidence, that Mr.
Quay took at one time $3.50, 600 from the
Pennsylvania State Treasurer, ant
lost it in stock gambling. and at anothe
time took $500, 900, when he was Stat
Treasurer, and used it to pay for Ger
tain railroad securities which he hat
purchased, subsequently returning
the States money when he hat
sold the securities" 1t can not be sal
that Mr.. Quay's character defends hir
: against such charges. His standing i
( the country does not permit him t
: treat them with scorn. Indeed, he
E known to the country only by such ur
g answerable accusations made wit
e proof and by reports, universally bt
- lieved of disreputable pecuniary trar
q sactions in the conduct of an electio
as chairman of the Republican Nationa
committee. Such charges, without ev
l. dence, alleged against Senator Edmund
W or Senator Hoar would DO discreditet
10 But made as they are made against NJ
~ Quay, both of those Senators would {
gu once challenge legal inquiry. M
W Quay, through friends, replies only tn;
40 the accusations are due to the spleen {
IL free traders and the rage of defeate
:, Democrats. Was the Philadelph
ny Press splenetic free-trader and d.
he feated Democrat when it said, alludin
as to these charges when they were fir
'u- familiar: ''rake the lid from off tt
hs State Treasury, and uncover secrets b
py fore which Republicans would star
Oh dumb?" Is Mr.. Lea disappointed al
m alignant free-trader? Mr.. Quay's i
'oi direct reioinder is not denial, b
rather a confession. 1t makes his p
'o sition very much worse. Yet he is stl
ED companion and counsellor of the Pre-
"o ident. the associate of Senators, and Il
"a chairman of the Republican Nation
lte committee. Do these facts compo
ms With public decency?-Harper's Week.
7 THE PENSION OFFICE.