St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-25
PROJECTIONS R1pENED FRUIT.

People in other states wonder occa-
sionally how it must feel to be citi-
zen Of Pennsylvania, just as they do
how men with ideas in any respect re-
sembling our own can remain citizens
of the Turkish empire. The Repub-
licans Of Pennsylvania have just held
their state convention. Practically
there was but one man in 1t.
That man was Matthew Stan
ley Quay, whose renown has
been spread all over the country in
terms that any other man than he
would shrink from. This man, whose
record in Pennsylvania politics would
debar him from political prominence
in any other state, with the possible ex-
ception Of New York, is absolute mas
ter of the party and of the common
wealth. The delegates to this local
convention had no will but his. It was
an assembly as much without volition
of its own as a council Of the ministers
Of Abdul Hamid. It placed Mr..
Quay in the field as Pennsylvania
candidate for the presidency, with
full knowledge, Of what that action
meant
Even in Pennsylvania, we doubt If
there is single man to be found so
stupid as to imagine that any possible
combination Of circumstances could
arise which would confer the party
nomination upon Mr.. Quay. Even in
Pennsylvania we doubt if there Is a.
man who does not know that this ac-
ton is mere commercial speculation
by which Mr.. Quay is to make such a.
trade at st. Louis as will give him
commanding influence, if possible, with
the next administration in exchange
for the votes Of Pennsylvania, placed
on sale to the highest bidder. Yet there
is no revolt In Pennsylvania. There
are few symptoms even of discomfort
with a one man power as absolute as
1T is disgraceful The little opposition
that Mr.. Quay faced came from Magee
and his followers, who are quite as
disreputable in their methods as the
men who are holding them down. From
one end Of the state to the other not
a Republican voice is raised in protest
against the predominance Of the worst
men in the party; not an objection is
entered to the extraordinary spectacle
which is now presented to the country.
Of Quay as auctioneer, with the Penn
sylvania delegates placed on the block
Mr.. Quay may do, and whoever may
be nominated at st. Louis, the Repub-
hcan party Of Pennsylvania will vote
solidly and stolidly for its representa-
tives.
This condition Of sentiment in a
community is the ripe fruit of protec-
ton. 1t is the complete realization of
the bald commercial idea which under
lies that policy. The state is a. machine
to be used to confer the largest possi-
bic benefit upon the men who have con-
troll of it for the time being, at the ex-
pense Of all others. 1t is the right of
the state to take from one man that
which may enrich another. Politics Is
nothing but game to see which set Of
men shall be elected to distribute tba
favors. They who can rob the peo-
pie most for the benefit of their retain
ers are the most statesmanlike lead
ers, and are to be followed and obeyed
implicitly. The crushed and burdened
minority Is to find its COMPENSATION
in the thought that at some future time
equally skillful leaders On its side NAV
beable torob the opposition in their turn
In no country in the world, and under
no form Of government, does public ac-
quiescence in evil reach a lower plane
than this. 1t would be impossible in a
republic If the people had not been
prepared and trained for it by the pro-
tective system. Men like Quay, and
proceedings such as his convention has
just consummated, are the fruit of the
protectioaist creed. Let that idea of
gov@nmsnS ahd its rights and func-
ton e preyail 33and the shame in which
PentsyIvania glories today must