Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-25

declaring that fourth-class postmasters must
go may have misled him, but it does not
qualify him for the task of wiping out a
figure like that of james G. Blaine. His
effort is much more likely to result in the
elimination of an infnitesimally smaller
factor in the person of James S. Clarkson.
Mr.. Delamater and his organs have, after
some trouble, elaborated a reply to Mr.
Hensel's arraignment of the Republican
candidates Infringement upon the consti-
tutIonal prohibition of members of the Leg
islature obtaining profits from the State de-
posits. The reply can be fairly summarized
as follows: First, Mr.. Delamater has con-
suited eminent attorneys, who inform him
that the matter does not disqualify him for
the Governorship; second, the State deposits
in the bank OF Delamater & Co., preceded
by many years, the election of the head of
that firm to the State Senate; third, there
are now State deposits in the bank of which
Ex-Governor Pattison is the President,
witch, as Mr.. Delamater puts it, indicates
''the practice of the State Treasurer to
make his deposits wherever be may see fit I"
This evinces an utter inability on the part
of the Republican candidate and his sup
porters to comprehend the gravity of the
assertion that candidate for the highest
Office In the State has already demonstrated
his readiness to ignore the fundamental law
where it conflicts with his personal in
terest. Every one was perfectly we'll aware
that in the absence OF formal conviction
the disqualification prescribed by the Consti-
tuition cannot take effect. The confusion of
ideas with regard to the deposit of State
funds in Governor Pattison's bank and in
Mr.. Delamster's bank before he was Sena-
tor is even more indicative of an utter fail
ure to understand the point No one alleges
that there is anything wrong in the deposits
in Governor Pattison's bank, and the record
of that gentleman justifes the belief of his
supporters that when he is elected Governor
he will respect the Constitution by dissoIv-
ing his connection with any financial insti-
tuition that profits by the State deposits.
Whether there was any political motive in
the State deposits given to Senator Della
mater before he was elected Senator, that
gentleman knows better than anyone else;
but the present point is that the constltu-
tional prohibition took effect when he was
elected Senator, and that the violation con-
tinued throughout his Senatorial term.
Pattison is only private citizen, and not
included in the constitutional prohibition.
n.lo ela&o Ind
There is manifested throughout the entire
Republican response to Mr.. Hensel's charge
a characteristic ignorance of the principle
that the Constitution is the fundamental
law of the State, to which all owe obedience
and for which candidates for State position
should be especially expected to show the
most scrupulous respect Yet that is the
broad and fundamental issue of the present
campaign. We have Constitution framed
by the best and most independent minds of
the State, containing provisions designed to
place the restraints OF the law upon some of
the notorious abuses of the time. That Con-
stitution, with full discussion of its
provisions, was adopted by one of the largest
popular majorities ever given in this State
to any measure. Among the provisions of
this fundamental instrument, was the one
intended to check the well-known evil of
the use of State funds for the private ad-
vantage of the managing politicians. 1t
may not have been the most vital OF the
constitutional provisions, but it was directed
against known evil, and it is the constitu-
tional enactment of the State. If Senator
Delamater, having taken an oath as Sena-
tor, to support and obey the Constitution of
the State can ignore its provisions where
his own bank is concerned, what guarantee
can be given to the people, that the similar
oath taken by him as Governor would bind
him to the support OF the constitutional
provisions affecting the interests of mlghtier
corporations, which have already shown
their readiness to nullify that instrument?
There Is no reason for holding up Senator
Delamater as the only or even the chief
offender in the way of ignoring and nullify-
ing the salutary prohibitions of the State
Constitution. But his position as shown by
Mr.. Rensel and emphasized by his own re-
ply, makes him fair representative OF the
evil that has been widespread and of long
standing in this State. 1t defines the issue
of this campaign, whether the fundamental
law shall be obeyed by all alike, or whether
it shall be ignored by the politicians and
corporations. There is not in Senator Del
amater's reply to Mr.. Hensel the slightest
trace of perception that the Constitution is
a law to which public officials owe their
first fealty; but this is no more than the ex-
preston of lapse that is almost as broad as
Republican administration of the State
almost from the date of the new Constitu-
ton itself 1t is the same idea that was de-
clared by John B. Robinson, of Delaware
county, on the floor of the House, when
speaking in the interest of the railways
against an anti-discrimination bill. He as
serted that there are many things in the
Constitution that I cannot indorse;" and
exactly the same practice has been mani
Tested on gigantic scale, in the nullifica-
tion of that instrument by the greatest cor
porations conducting operations in Pennsyl-
vania.
1t is on exactly this ground that the sup
porters of Governor Pattison, and especially
those who are disregarding party ties in sup
porting him, can be well content to take