Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-30
TERMS OF THE DISPATCH.
p1TTsBURG, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 80, 1871.
TWELVE PAGES
TUE ri BLIC WATCHING CLOSELY

\ singular fogginesS obscureS the extra
session question to some partisan eyes.
The puhlic has had no difficulty in arriv-
ING at the simple Judgment that if Gov
ernor Pattison has good reason to believe
there is malfeasance or corruption in the
State Treasury he has done but a plain
duty in taking the step which the Consti-
tuition imposes upon him for the removal
OF the offenders. Herein is no question of
Republican party or Democratic party,
bur proceeding prinG fdci6 in the in
terest of all alike.
But though the question is so clearly
above politics, there has already arisen, as
THE DISPATCH intimated would be the
case, such imputation of motives and such
attitudes by party managers and party
organs as are meant to invest the occasion
with political and partisan significance.
That is the aim of the declaration of Col
lector Cooper after his conference with
Mr. Quay, 81 know there is politics in
this, and on the other side it is the aim of
such Democrats as are insisting that any
thing which may be alleged against Nc
Camant, Livsey or Boyer should be used
as material for war upon the Republican
candidates, Morrison and Gregg.
The public will not be misled from the
true issue by the attitude of the mere par
tiSans on either side. They will consider
that Governor Pattison has had ample
ground for his course in calling upon the
Senate 10 consider whether the present
fiscal officers Of the Commonwealth should
be ouSted from in charge of the State
moneys. 1t is not the interest of the pub
lie to assume any other motive on the
part of the Governor than the plain one of
official duty SO long as that clearly exists.
If his administration attempt to abuse the
extra session for campaign capital, or
drag it ou@ so as to delay the inquiry, then
such inferenccs would arise as now as
Sumed by Mr.. Cooper and his colleagues
Ii is as unfair to insist upon these infer
ences at this stage as it would be for the
Democrats at the start to hold that the
Republican party as party wishes to
shield malfeasance in office.
Some OF the organs, both Republican
and Democratic, affect TO see an inconsis-
tency in THE DIsPATCH'S two statements
that the question of maifeasance in the
Treasury should rise above partisanship,
and Yet that before it is ended it may be
attended with partisan significance. But
We note that the line of developments is
steadily proving the precise accuracy of
that view. Already the Republican lead
els in place OF frankly meeting the Gov
ernor and cooperating heartily in public
duty are raising the clamor about his mo-
tives and putting themselves in seeming
attitude OF discoUraging the investigation.
Should they pursue this course they will
produce partisan effect in the coming
eiectiOn-and that one more adverse to
themselves by fac than if they at once
united with Cove nor Pattison. In the
latter case, if his (Pattison's) administra-
ton were to abuse the opportunities of the
extra session, or to seek by unfair means
to make political capital out of it, the Re-
publicans could quickly turn the occasion
into boomerang against him and his as
sociates.
The issue whether or not malfeasance
should be permitted as to the State funds
has per sc no partisanship in it. 1t is the
attitude the politicians take in relation
thereto which alone can fasten partisan
issues upon it. The public will watch
their course keenly and judge accordingly.