The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-18
QUAY'S SILENCE BROKEN
He Denies All the Charges
Against Him
And Says They Are the
Offspring of Malice,
But Doesn't Explain Just How
They Originated.
On One Charge He Prefers to
Remain Silent.
Trying to Shift Responsibility on
Another.
On One Charge He Prefers tc
Remain Silent.
Trying to Shift Responsibility on
Another.

WAsruNGTox, Feb. 16,-In the senate
today Mr.. Quay rose and addressed the
senate in refutation of charges circulated
against him. He said: Never, probably,
! since Alexander Hamilton was hunted to
his death, has one in public life been per-
sued so persistently snd Indignantly. The
field of the malign efforts has been the en-
tire Union. The assaults were of charac-
ter so monstrous as largely to carry with
them their own refutation. Were it other
wise I could not remain, nor would my
constituents permit me 10 remain a mem.
Der OF this senate. Partly through
on 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
undeserving OF open controversy, have
permitted, without comment, the passing
OF the flood of falsehood. Its malodorous
waters chance at this time to be quiescent
and now, when no heated political conflict
is raging, when neither hope nor fear can
be deemed the inspiration of my utter
ance, l choose to confront the accusation
with the truth.
Il would not allude to this subject in
this presence had not members of the
other house made it a matter of debate
| there. Looking to the future. and know
ing that the records of this congress will
remain for other generations to read when
most of US composing it 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 falsehood with
the clear light OF fact.
at is not to my purpose to weary the
senate by a rehearsal OF each detail OF the
mass of misrepresentation. Nevertheless,
avoiding prolixity, will endeavor to make
this statement specific and so complete as
to be final. Ii any thread in the fabric of
falsehood remains unsevered, it will be
because the tissue of lies is so complex or
so ravelled with contradiction and clouded
with insinuation that some insignificant
portion has escaped my attention.
"The first assertion concerning my official
acts is that at some time or continuously
between the years of 1879 and 1882, alone,
or acting with another, or others, used the
moneys of the state of Pennsylvania for
speculative or private purposes. l de-
nounce this statement as absolutely false.
In 1877, the democratic party OF Pennsyl
vania elected a state treasurer and an
auditor general as the financial officers
of the commonwealth. a year or two
later, pending their terms of Office, be-
came engaged in stock operations. In
| Il it, Il
Jointly interested with the gentleman who
was at that time the cashier OF the state
treasury. These transactions proved
seriously disastrous and / was compelled
to pay portion of his losses as we'll as
my own. In doing this it became neces-
sary to supply an alleged deficiency he
had caused in the treasury. As portion
OF the fund for this purpose. l borrowed
100000 from the gentleman who is at
present my colleague in the senate. /
gave him my judgment note therefor, the
amount of which note | paid to him del
lar for dollar years ago. Not until the
beginning of the settlement OF our losses
was | aware that deficiency existed,
and / had every assurance that my asso-
ciate was able to carry his share of the
Losses. My connection thereafter was
simply, with the aid of friends, to raise
the necessary funds to supply the deficit.
at is charged that again used moneys
belonging to the commonwealth OF Penn
sylvania 10 purchase bonds or stock, or
both, of a Chicago street railway. l was
invited by friends in Philadelphia to join
in the purchase of street railway property
in Chicago and did so, borrowing the
money upon my own collateral from the
Peoples bank in Philadelphia. l stood
upon the same footing with the other gen.
tlemen concerned and it was a perfectly
straightforward business transaction, and
had no connection in any way with any
public fund or public interest. The charge
that securities belonging to the state of
Pennsylvania were used in this transac-
tion is false and impossible of truth. The
only negotiable securities held by the
state of Pennsylvania are the registered
bonds of the United States, transferable
only on the books of the national treasury
by the auditor-general, secretary OF the
commonwealth and state treasurer, acting
co-iointly, after having filed u certificate
with the governor in their official cbarac-
ter.
Collateral to this last accusation is a
charge that l defrauded, or attempted to
defraud, the widow of a deceased friend.
This is also absolutely false. There
breathes not upon the earth man or
woman who can truly say that ever de-
frauded, or attempted to defraud, him or
her of dollar. Upon this point, charity
to the dead and the living forbidsm my max
ing any personal explanation. Samuel
Gustine Thompson. member of the
Philadelphia bar and president of the
Young Mems democratic association of
that city, is one of several thoroughly
conveIsant with the facts, who can give
them to the public if they see proper.
IT come now to what might be called
the fourth ground of criticism of my pub
lie conduct. This was my action as
member of the board of pardons Of
Pennsylvania, in voting for the par
don OF certain members of the
Pennsylvania legislature and others
upon whom sentence had been
passed for bribery. My conduct in that
matter has been bitterly assailed, and it
is proper to say that the facts were patent
to the people of the state and were thor
oughly discussed before my election to
the office OF state treasurer and subse-
quently to seat in this chamber. ! had
no personal interest in the legislation in
yolyed. My vote as member OF the