The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-22
QUAY SPEAKS.

QUAY AhS.
At last, Matt Quay has broken the
silence. For nearly a year he has been
the object of charges OF the most dis
graceful conduct. 1t il not only that
he has been called "a political trickster.
| That, perhaps. is the highest ambition
Of the senator's life. There can be little
doubt that it is his %proudesl boast that
he ran the godly Benjamin Harrison
into office by means that the dwarf oc-
cupant of his grandfather's hat does not
care to inquire into. But thief, en-
bezZler. giver and taker Of brides, de.
baucher OF public ofiice-these are hard
names for any man to maintain silence
under. Especially for an innocent man.
| And the charges against Quay have not
been hidden under a bushel. They have
been the Common talk OF everyday life.
| They have been made on the stump and
in private life, they have been hurled
from the pulpit, and they have filled the
columns not only Of the democratic but
even OF the republican press. They
have cost the republican party the gov
ernorship OF Pennsylvania, and helped
to swell the recent tide of democratic
victory.
Opportunities for r%efutation have not
been wanting. In August last, a we'll
known Philadelphia republican ad-
dressed to Matt Quay an open letter, in
which he offered to bear the cost OF
libel charges against the New York
World, Puck. and other newspapers
that had been foremost in the propaga-
ton Of the charges against the senator.
But he kept his silence. Kept. it, though
the accusations against him were OF a
specific nature, made on responsible au-
thority, and backed by an eager invita-
ton for a judicial inquiry. A repub-
lican member of the house rose in his
place and declared that ''the Judas who
took the thirty pieces Of silver and went
and hanged himself has left an example
for the Matt Quays that is worthy OF
their imitation" And still the senator
kept silence.
AT last, the spell is broken, and we
are invited to read the great refutation.
"The m~alodorous waters of falsehood
are qulescent, and no political conflict is
raging" and Matt Quay's vindlcation
comes forth-to hang him. What does
it all amount to? A simple refutation. a
categorical denial Of each and every
charge. We are to accept the senator's
word as against the solemn statements
of men Of both political parties. Mr..
Quay is the boss of the republican party,
and he must be whitewashed.
"Sifted to the bottom" says the Pho
J neer Press, 'these rumors appear to
have no sufficient foundation, unless
there is more behind them than has yet
come before the public" 1t is a weighty
UNLESS And Mr.. Quay's n descent
into the realm OF particulars puts it
forever out of court. sit is charged
he says, that | used moneys belonging
to the commonwealth Of Pennsylvania
to purchase bonds or stocks or both of
a Chicago street railway. / was invited
by friends in Philadelphia to join in
the purchase Of street railway property
in Chicago, and / did SO, borrowing
money upon my W collateral from the
Peoples bank in Philadelphia"
What a modest, retiring man it is! No
mention OF the fact that the bank he
borrowed from is a depository Of the
funds OF the state. or what general in
teresI can it be that it's president is
kemble, boss OF the 'Kemble pardon
gang?" Who cares to know that said
Kemble was convicted and imprisoned
for bribing members Of the state lcgis-
%lature: Everybody has forgotten that he
was pardoned by telegraph at the in
stance Of the board Of pardons, OF which
Mr.. Quay was "a humble but active
member. Why recall these trivial de-
tails? What possible connection can any
one see ia the fact Of this pardon anC
the loan Of 100000 OF state funds from
; Kemble's bank: Verify, the senator has
. not received his deserts. He has so IA
escaped the fate OF Judas.