New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-17
MR.. QUAY'S VINDICATION.
A COMPREHENSIVE DENIAL OF THE
CHARGES AGAINST HIM.
THE PENNSYLVANIA SENATOR MAKES DIsPAS-
sIoNATE REPLY TO DEMOCRATIC SANDERS
AND IMPUTATIONS-THE CHARGES
TAKEN Up AND DISpROvED
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TkiBCNE1

tBY TELEGRAPH TkiBCNE.l
Washington. Feb. Ex-senator Quay's formal ana
official answer to the charges of corruption and mis-
conduct made against him with such lavishness ana
reckessness by Democratic newspapers and campaign
orators, since the elimination Of his brilliant
pOitical services at the head of the Republican Na
uoBa Committee in 1883, was made this afternoon
in the Senate. while the Diplomatic and Consular Ap
preparation bill under consideration, and favor
able opportunity offered TO insert in the pubhc
record, without sensation or display, a compact Dn'
comprehensive denial of ISLANDERS and imputauons
which have been dinned in the public ear Tor the laS
two years, and which have been more thah once 'no
subject of political debate in the other branch OF 'ol
gress. 1t is understood that Mr. Quay maze up MS
mind some time ago TO reply to the attack upon MN
delivered in the House of Representatives aN' sep
tember by General Kennedy, of Ohio, ana il,
has simply been waiting until the heat anu
excitement of that episode should pass away Del'iv
undertaking to exOnerate himself with dignity anu
dispassionateness from the charges Whlch 'hdl sPu
suggested if it did not actually embody them. lhc
Pennsylvania Senator has shown both patience anu
courage in delaying his answer to his deractorS u'
II cond be Judged with calmness, and 1T will be te
moro convincing and decisive for its drectness' us
de6neness and its entire lack Of oraorcal sensauo
alism
The reply speaks for itself, however IL touches
briefly on the various chargcs-of official and personal
misconduct many of them in themselves apparent GA
travagances-whch have appeared from Tune 10 UNIV
in print and stamps each in succession as IalseI'oo
Most If not all, of the accusations touch Only upon ~
Ouays relations 10 Pennsylvania AFFAIRS, anu '"o an
swer to them is made directly to Mr.. Quays iiinie
diate constituents. But the ISLANDERS ana asper'on
Is Mr. Quay Justly says, have been spread as ia'
and wide as the limits Of the country ana '''eii
refutation will undoubtedly have as national an Ill
terest Mr.. Quay's speech occupied but hlteeh Hi"
utes and as the doors Of the Senate hao uS' pec" "
opened, it made practically to empty sdlcii0
A great number of the seats on the hoor "ero Hou'
however and several Democratic senators moNeu
across the aisle to hear what Mr. Quay h1 10 say
Mr. Reagan took the chair Of one of the oihcial re-
porters and seated himself conspicuousN IN inc 1icd
in front of the VicePrcidents desk facing the speaker
The PENNSYLVANIA senator read carefully from Npe
written sheets which he held in his hand ana ala ho
beray either in voice manner, the slightest shade
of nervousness or excitement. There was no demon
straton when he finished and the Senate went straight
ahead with the Appropriation bill Probably not
more than fifty sixty persons in all heard the
speech. Here is what Mr.. Quay said
Never, probably since Alexander Hamilton was
hunted his death. has one in public life been pu,
sued persisenuy and Indignantly. Inc helu W
the malign ehot ma been the entire mon no, nc
carry with them their own refuatlon Were IL Oller
wise i could not remain, nor would my constituents
permit me 70 remain member Of tlis senate. lart'
through indifference 10 SANDER, Il weapon which HdS
never had a place in my political arsenal, ana partE
by the advice of friends who urged me TO treat u;
assassins OF reputation as undeNervng oil open con
1
sage of the food of fasehOod. Its malodorous waers
chance this time TO be quescent and now when
hope nor fear be deemed the Inspiration OF my
utterance, / choose briefly 10 comfort accusation
with tiuh. / would not aude to this subject III
this presence had not members OF IN; OtNcr hol-c
made it matter OF debate there LoohinS to ihe
future and knowing that me records OIL TINS 'ohSc>>
will remain for other generations 10 Tedd Nhei HlvNt
f tru N Of hS and W for ta wSich dcarcr to ali
men than riches, to dspel the mist OF iaisehoou "h
1t is not my purpose to weary the Senate bv
heasa of each detail OF the mass OF misrepresentation.
Nevertheless. avoiding proiXity. l will cndeavOr to
make this statement specific and complete as 10 be
mai. II any thread in the fabric of falsehOOd re
is So complex is so ravellcd with contradiction and
clouded with inslnuaton, tnat some insignificant po
'' The ' ri 's ssseron official acts is that
at time Continuously between te years OF iS'O
and 1882 alone, Or acting with another, or OILERS
used the moneys tile STATE of Pennsy Vania for apccn
iays or PTyaG In s7 6 party Of
Pennsylvania elected state Treasurer and an Auaor
year or two later, pending .ir terms OF ohce, be
tons / vas associated and jo!ay interested with the
gentleman VINO at that time the cashier OF INC
State Treasury These transactions floved serously
disastrous, and l compelled to pay a portion %
his losses as well as my own. IN dong i1 II became
in the Treasury. As portion Of the fund for tins pu
pose borrowed 100000 from the gentleman who Is at
present my colleague in tine senate. | gave MN my
Judgment note therefor, the amount Of which note !
PAID 10 him, dollar for dollar years ago; Not untiI
the beginning OF the settlement. OF our losses was i
aware a deficiency existed ana had every assuf
that my associate was able 10 carry Us i'Ty ,. 81
the losses. Ny connection thereafter Wa SIMPLY VIII
the aid of friends to raise the necessary funds 70 supply
II is charged that again l used moneys belonging T.
the Commonwealth Of pennsylvania TO purchase 6ohn'
or STOCK or t gC GI p6apa to ION in the pm
chase of street railway property IN ocdGo, aiu t u
SO, borrowing the money upon my own coiaeIdI Hol
the Peoples Bank in Philadelphia sloou upon lIg
same footing with the other gentlemen cOhcerltu anu
ton, and ned no connection IN any way , WIN o any
public fund public interest The charge ina, secnm
ties belonging to the state of Pennsylvania were u7rd
in this transaction Is false ana imposing Vi ur'n
The only negotiable securities held by the Stilc oi
states transferable only the books Of the National
Treasury by the AudltOrLieneral, secretary OIL ule
Commonwealth and state Treasurer acting c0nlOlntIy'
after having filed certificate with the Governor ID
their official characteg.
defrauded. or attempted to deiraud the widow Of
deceased friend This also is absolutely false There
can truthfuy say that ever defrauded or attempted
to defIaud hin or her OF dGaT P3n mn '9 md Ro,
any p rsOnal explanation. Samuel Cuisine Ihomp,0n,
member Of the Philadelphia bar and president OF INC
Young Mems Democratic Association Of that city, j.
one Of several thoroughly converssnt with the lactN
who can give them to the public they o see proper perth
ground OF criticism OF my public conduct. ms wa,
my a. ia T mse for Of b tine 5or Gd Pt fcrn
bers Of the Pennsylvania Legislature and Others upon
whom sentence had been passed for bribery. Ny con,
Is proper to say that the facts patent to the
people of the state and were thoroughly discussed be
fore nv election to the Office Of state Treasurer and.
subsequently, to seat in this Chamber. / had 40
personal interest in the legislation involved. Ny vote
as a member Of the Board Of PardOns was in ac-
coriance with the law and with the action Of my |
colleagues. and was compelled by the fact that the
sentence imposed by the conrt upon the persons
pardoned was Illegal. Upon this point The Attomey
General Of the state filed his written opinion without
decision I am frank to say tnat have regrets |
for that vote and would repeat under the same cir
cumstanccs Even had not the sentence been unlaw |
l il is nrv opinion that the ends OF Justice had been
fully served by the conviction OF the deiendaniS one
weeks received the unanimous thanks OF the Pennsyl
wanna Legislature for important services rendered
humanity and the State.
Incidentqv the statement has been made that in |
some unspecifed manner procured. or attempted To
nrocure The pardon of "A man named Lynch under
Sentence for forgery, by threats delivered personally
10 Mr. Bycrs. OF Pittsbnrg ] cannot. az TINS DAY. |
remember the facts the tendency OF the case bui
&c charrn lie. which there never was The |