The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-15

Some days since The Tribune asked
why do the Democratic leaders and
press SO vigorously and even violently
support Quay in his fight for suprema-
cy in the party leadership? The Phil
adelphia Record volunteers to answer
this frequently asked but not heretofore
answered question. The reason 1t gives
is remarkable for its frankness. Here
is the gist of it:
'There are, however, specific as we'll as
general reasons why Democrats should
side with Senator Quay rather than with
his enemies. Democrats will never forget
that when Republican president and con-
gress sought to substitute the rule OF the
bayonet for that OF the ballot box Sena-
tor Quay's vote was cast against and
helped to defeat the infamous force Dill
A weak man, or a cowardly man AFRAID OF
the party lash. would not have dared 10
take that manly and magnan'mous
course
The reason here given Is at least
a substantial one. and 1t may be ad-
mitted that Democrats have good cause
for an expression OF gratitude to Sena-
tor Quay. 1t us true. as the Record
says. that a Republican president and
a Republican congress made the at
tempt to pass a federal elections bill
(the Democrats call 1t the force bilD,
a measure which contemplated nothing
more than to secure to the white ana
black Republicans In the southern
states the right to vote and to have
their votes counted as they We're cast.
The Democratic leaders, north and
south, realized that the passage of that
bill would assure free. fair and compar-
atively honest elections in the south,
and result i'm the loss of half dozen
southern states to the Democrats In the
presidential election Of 1892. Senators
Quay and Cameron joined the ranks OF
the southern brigadiers In the senate
and the defeat of the federal elections
bill may fairly b. attributed to their
efforts. The first result was the loss
of the presidency for four years, for
there Is no reasonable doubt that had
fair and honest elections been possible
General Harrison would have carried
half dozen southern states and been
reelected three years ago.
If the Democrats, as the Record to all
interests and purposes claims. owe their
restoration to power in the national
government to the treachery of Senators
Quay and Cameron in voting with the
Democratic senators against the fed
eral elections bill, then 1t must be ad-
mitted that the Pennsylvania Demo-
Gratis would be ungrateful indeed If
they did not rally around the Junior
senator in his present firht, but the
giving of such a reason, as the Record
does, at the same time supplies a very
substantial argument why Republicans
should not feel it to be a duty to spe-
cially honor him.
No Democratic senator had the power
to render his party such efficient SER
vice as Senator Quay did, according to
the Record. The Tribune most heart
lily ltSctl vi
the means of solving the problem:
why do the Democratic leaders and
press so earnestly and so unanimously
rally around Quay?' The answer of
the Record VS. emphatic and apparently
conclusive. Senator Quay deserted his
party associates in the senate, defeated
the federal elections bill, made the cleo
tion of Cleveland possible. and gave
the Democratic party four years Of
power in the national government. How
do Observation-Disclosures Republi-
cans relish that kind Of an admission
by the paper owned and controlled by
the last Democratic candidate for gov
ernor, Hon William NJ. Singerly, the
man repudiated by the voters of Penn
sylvania by a majority of 100000? We
thank Commodore Singerly for his
frankness in answering The Tribune's
question.