The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-07-10
QUAY HELD RESPONSIBLE.
THE LOOTED TREASURY AND OTHER
EVILS CHARGED TO HIM
A FORMIDABLE REPUBLICAN REVOLT IN
PHILADELPHIA.


A formidable movement against the
domination Of Pennsylvania politics by
Quay has begun in Philadelphia. One
hundred and fifty of the most conser
vative but stanchest Republican bust
ness men-lawyers, bankers and min
isters-issued powerful appeal to the
Republican party to throw Quay over
board and save the party from impend-
ing ruin.
The signers Of this address are not
connected with the Republican Re-
form Association. They represent the
most powerful element in the party
in the city and include the
greater part Of Republicans who have
made Republican majorities in Phila-
delphia possible, and without whose
support it would be impossible to elect
any Republican ticket in Pennsylva
MIA.
The address is as follows:
GAS Pennsylvanians and as Republi-
cans, we, the undersigned, feel con-
strained to address our fellow-citizens
throughout the State upon the present
political situation-to point out what
we believe to be the essential causes
of the alarming degradation in public
affairs from which we now suffer and
the necessary steps towards improve
ment.
"The Republican machine in the
State under the leadership of Senator
Quay and those lieutenants whom he
has drawn about him is corrupt and in
strong contrast to the rank and file of
the party. That leadership is as abso-
lutte in its control as it is unscrupulous
IN its methods and disastrous in its
results.
QUAY's RECORD.
with Senator Qudy's political re-
-ord the public is so familiar that it is
unnecessary at this time to give de-
tailed history Of those more remote
public acts through which its notoriety
was acquired, while brief reference
to its more recent events is appropriate
in order to depict clearly the present
situation.
Mr.. Quay is mainly responsible for
the overwhelming disaster which befell
the Republican party in this State dur
ing the past Autumn, whereby an accus
toned Republican majority of twenty
to thirty thousand was changed to
Democratic majority of 1900. The
single issue Of the campaign as deter
mined by Mr.. Quay himself was the
vindication of his own personal and
political character.
"rhe adoption of the Republican
platform involved declaration of con.
tidence and respect for the Junior Sen
ator, and in the election of the Repub-
lican candidate the acceptance of a
man who was nominated at the dicta-
tion Of Mr. Quay. The State rejected
both the plank and the candidate and
political revolution ensued. The
Republican party was defeated in
Pennsylvania, its most conspicuous
stronghold.
at might have been supposed that
the leader who had inflicted such
wound upon his party and to whom it
had given so overwhelming an evidence
of lack of confidence in MIN would
have retired from public prominence.
Mr.. Quay, however, contented himself
with an elaborate defense of his re-
cord before the United States Senate.
This was both untimely and incon-
elusive. Untlmely, since it came after
all possible damage that could result
to his character had been effected by
his silence under the grave charges re-
peatedly made against him from res.
ponsible sources through the long,
critical period preceding the election /:
inconclusive, since he failed in it to
adopt the simple and the only course
in relation to the Treasury scandal
that could have made clear his inno-
cenCe.
Had Mr.. Quay accepted the sug-
gestion that he should call upon Mr.
MacVeagh and the other gentlemen
who were said to have been present
when his alleged defalcations in con-
nection with the Treasury was covered
by Mr. Cameron, to testify in his favor
he would have adopted the obvious
means for securing vindication. But
this he did not do, and failing to
take such course his defense falls to
the ground and his previous position
remains unchanged.
BALLOT REFORM.
Notwithstanding these facts he still
retains the party leadership, and his
lieutenants, either acting under his di-
rect though hidden command or only
i ..tr:c. accord with the principles Of
lis s1h1oi Of r ol.'.ics ~ Inc ata'ale