Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-05-22

QUAY AND THE PUBEfC.
Facts That Do Not Compors with Ameri-
can Decency and Honor.
The recent revival of the stories which
we're riie 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, are 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 ca1umnies. If the
mere charge of a political, not pecuniary.
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-oversha Clay's
whole political career for a 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
MIR. Quay?
Such accusations can not be dismiss
ed as beneath the notice of any public
man. Disregard of charges like those
~
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. If a 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
place, the figures, the methods, of 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 the 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 $3.50, 600 from the
Pennsylvania State Treasurer, and
lost it in stock gambling. and at another
time took $500, 900. 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
the country does not permit him to
treat them with scorn. Indeed, he is
known to the country only by such I'M
answe-able accusations made with
proof, and by reports, universally be-
lieved. of disreputable pecuniary tran
sactiens 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 when 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
a alignant free-trader? Mr.. Quay's in
direct rejoinder is not a denial, but
rather confession. 1t makes his po-
sition very much worse. Yet he is still
companion and counsellor of the Pres
ident the associate of Senators, and the
Oh airman of the Repu blican National
with public decency?-Harper's Weekly.
THE PENSION OFFICE.
| Family Snap.
| The pension agency conducted by
John Raum, son of Green b. Raum, the
Commissioner OF Pensions, pursues in
its circulars the methods by which Pre-
| torianism has been made a menace to
| American institutions. 1t urges all
who can put in a claim for pensions to
DO so sat once" and insists that those
who have been pensioned already should
| apply for increase or rerating.
By this method thousands of old SOL
diers who would have been content
| otherwise to earn living in independ-
| ence, as Americans should, have been
debauched until they prefer dependence
| on the public purse as outdoor paupers
| to the work necessary to retain their
own self-respect and prevent them