Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1891-02-28
TRUTH VS.. ISLANDER


ton of President Harrison, His mas
terly conduct of.that'memorable political
battle, which overthrow "the man OF
destiney," marked Senator Quay as the
greatest politician of his time.
The organs of the democratic party
which are ever ready to assassinate the
personal character of every acknowledge
ed republican leader, at once set about
to accomplish the ruin of the honored
chairman of the Republican National
Committee by ingeniously manufactur-
ing and industriously circulating the
most audacious libels-libels very SINH.
lar to the villainous creations which
were conceived and circulated some
years ago, by the same democratic
agencies, to work the downfall of Gar
field and Blaine.
These infamous defamations of Sen
ator Quay accomplished their immediate
purpose, to-wit: the overthrow..of the
republican party in Pennsylvania, but
the reaction has already come and Sem
ator Quay today has more loyal friends
in the grand old party than ever before.
1t is to the eternal shame of some few
republicans particularly to one Ken
nedy, an obscure member of Congress
from Ohio-that they joined the meaner
class of democrats in this indecent as
sault upon sthe good name of Senator
Quay, Just as there were some few re-
publicans, mean and weak enough to
join in the equally groundless cry against
those other pure and brilliant leaders of
our party, to wit: the martyr Garfield
and eloquent Blaine.
No man who has the slightest regard
for heroic character Can Withhold his
admiration of the stoical Indifference
with which Senator Quay ignores demo-
cratic SANDERS during political cam
palgn. But now, when the elections
are over, when no explanation of the
Senator can be OF any political advan-
tage to his party, he makes statement
to the Senate, as question of privilege;
and the straightforward manner in
which he "confronts accusation with
truth" in that brief statement. attests
the honesty of the man and the infamy
of his accusers.
"Never, probably, since Alexander
Hamilton was hunted TO his death" says
Senator Quay, ''has one in
public life been pursued so
persistently and Indignantly. The field
of the maIign effort has been the entire
Union. The assaults were of a character so
as largely To carry with them
their own refutation. Were it other
wise, l could not remain, nor would my
permit me to remain
of this senate.
Partly through Indifference to SANDER,
a weapon which has never had place in
my political arsenal, and partly by the
advice Of friends, who urged me to treat
the assassins of reputation as undeserv-
ing of open controversy, l have per-
without comment, the passing
Of the flood of falsehood. Its malodo-
reus waters chance at this time to be
1uiescent, and now, when no heated
political conflict is raging, when neither
hope nor fear can be deemed the iDspir
alton of my utterance, choose briefly to
confront accusation with truth.
~ would not allude to this subject in
his presence had not members of the
other house made it matter of debate
there. Looking to the future, and know
. L. 10 80
remain for other generations to read when
most of us composing 1t will be forgotten,
[ choose, for the truth of history, and
for that which is dearer to all men
than riches, to dispel the mist of false
hood with the clear light of fact"
Senator Quay then answered the
charges of his accusers seriatim. He
documentary and other incon-
proofs of the falsity of each
md every accusation made against him,
md his statement is made doublyfm-
presslve by the fact that the leading
citizens of the state of Pennsylvania, of
both political parties, are called in cor
of its verify.
These puerile accusations are all on a /
oar with the assertion that a grave
;harge published in a Pittsburg news
PAPER years ago was true, because the
enator had failed to prosecute libel
uit against the editor, whereas it is now
hown that the offending editor promp
y retracted the libel and pleaded no
paying the costs of the cas-
md the fees of counsel.
Another charge is that Quay, as one
# the members of the Board of Pardons,
lad joined with his notwithstanding a /
epublican, his motives were bad, of
;ourse-in recommending the pardon of
me who is alleged to have been wholly
Unworthy of executive clemency: yet it
low transpires that this mana man
Who, according to the Senator's accusers,
'ught never to have left felon's cell
las, within the last few weeks, received
he unanimous thanks of the Pennsyl-I
-ania legislature for important services
endered humanity and the state.
The other accuations, one after an
'ther, are shown to be false, particular
y the charge that he used the state |
unds of Pennsylvania for speculative
which is not only groundless,
tut so palpably malicious as to awaken
10 other sentiment than disgust for
he author.
Senator Quay is today one of the most
figures in American politics, |
~ reason of his genius as political
manager, no less than because he is the
lead of our party organization. AS such j
lie is shining mark of every poisoned
haft Of his political foes. Envy and
will seek in vain to tarnish the /
air fame of Matthew Stanley Quay, for
he reason that his pure life and lus-