Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-07-23
e,rDs OF a FEATHER.

eirDS OF A FEATHER.
Three Of Kind Who Are Typical Repub-
Mcan Managers.
''Well, Mr.. Quay?"
The interrogation is made by q re-
publican journal, which pauses for re-
ply, and, doubtless, will long continue
to pause. The question is prompted by
the attitude of many influential repub-
Hcans of Pennsylvania. who have pub
Gcly expressed the opinion that Quay's
character and methods are such that he
ought not to continue in the leadership
Of the republican party of Pennsyl-
vania- Were he to withdraw thence it
would follow as the night the day that
he would be compelled to abandon the
chieftaincy of the republican national
executive committee. In such place
he conducted the canvass of 1888 for
Benjamin Harrison. and the Pennsyl-
vania republicans, assembled in con-
vention the next year, declared that
the glory of the victory was Quay's.
It would be a gross insult to millions
of honest and respectable republicans
to describe Matt Quay as the average
republican. He is, however, the typi-
cal managing republican politician.
who gets money by indirection and
spends it corruptly. There are heavy
moral indictments against Quay. Both
as treasurer and as secretary of state
for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania
he was an astuter John Bardsley, for
while Honest John" despoiled the
Philadelphia treasury, specialized and
lost. and pays the penalty in solitary
penal confinement, honest Matt was
successful in saving himself from all
charge of technical embezzlement In
political activity he was the lion of the
Harrison campaign Among the jack
ais was the present postmaster gen.
eraL It is not noted that the repub-
ican journals now querying "Wel1,
Mr.. Quay?'' are limiting well, Mr..
Wanamaker?''
Since he entered the senate of the
United States no imputation has been
made upon Quay's integrity as a mem
Der thereof. He has not trafhcked in
his official position. He has not asked
for a share in the plumber of a pending
measure and promises to be no dead
head in the enterprise. He has not got
in on the ground floor of corporations
owing their chance of money-making
to the favorable legislation of con-
gress. He has not taken stock In my
new Credit Mobilier or Northern Pa
cific, or Fort Scott & Little Rock, and
paid for it with the twinkle of the
speakers eye or the tap of the speak
er's gaveL He has cast no legislative
anchors to the windward. At least no
legislative inquiry has developed such
prostitution of the power of official
place on his part. We do not find,
p lie
putting forth the inquiry: ''Well, Mr..
Blaine?'' =.
On the contrary, most of these jour
nails are endeavoring to show that if
the republican nominating convention
were held to-day Mr.. Blaine would as
suredly be selected as the true standard
bearer, and Mr.. Harrison would be left
his lone watch keeping. Official dis
honesty has not been charged among
Mr.. Harrison's shortcomings. He has
been, and, despite the verdict of the
country rendered last November, con-
tinues to be, q servant Of protection.
This position he defends on party
grounds, even upon allegations of prin-
ciple. He accepts seaside cottages and
sumptuous special trains. He is a
spokesman. But no legislative investi-
eating committee ever ascertained, nor
has there ever been a hint that they
should inquire in that view, that as
legislator he sold his vote for stocks
and bonds. Nor, having no profession.
has he become millionaire in a public
service never generous in it's compensa-
ton. Harrison is not magnetic. He is
neither alert nor astute. Not until
long after his willy secretary of state
had discovered that it would be well to
coat the pill of protection with the
sugar of reciprocity did he discover the
value of the trick. In the politician
managed republican party Mr.. Blaine
is at premium, Mr.. Harrison at a dis
count.
just so long as the legal maxim con-
corning the turpitude of the receiver as
compared with the thief shall express
the truth just SO long will Matt Quay
be as respectable as Ben Harrison.
They are typical managing republicans
both Adroiter than either, Mr. Blaine
is Of the same general type. While
Blaine holds his place in the republican
party there is no reason why Matt
Quay should step down and out. He
has less repute but more honesty than
Blaine, the writer of the Mulligan let
ters.-Chicas o Times.