Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-02-22
QUAY AS A CANDIDATE.
Virginia -Fortieth Anniyer-
sary of the Republican Party.

friends. which includes most every one
in Congress, since hiscaudidacy for the
Republican Presidential nomination
was announced, but no man in either
branch of Congress could take it more
good-naturedly than he does. The
other candidates for the nomination,
in the Senate. have all had crack at
him, and Speaker Reed has also had
his say. Whether Mr. Quayss caudi-
dacy is to be merely of compliment
AIRY nature only time can tell, but
there is no doubt that he would make
a President who would please most
Republicans. It is very we'll known
to all who are on confidential terms
with Mr.. Quay, that he doesn't wish
to be President. but he is human, and
the man who would refuse nomina-
ton to the Presidency is not yet born,
especially when, as will be the case
this year, the nomination will be
equivalent to election.
The situation of the House tariff bill
is an unsolvable puzzle at this writing
Had the four Republican Senators
who voted against taking it up sew
eral days ago voted with the party,
it might have been passed by the
Senate by this time, but as they didn't
it is still hanging in dangerous po-
sition. 1t is not very clear what those
four Senators are driving at. Had
they wished to make it impossible for
the bill to become law, they would
have voted to take up the bill. and
even voted for the free coinage SUBJ
stitute, which would have sent the
bill to certain death in the House,
where the free coinage substitute for
the House bond bill had Just been
killed by such an overwhelming ma
jority. The only explanation they
have given of their action was to say
that they were opposed to taking the
bill up and making it the unfinished
business" of the Senate without any
previous notice of such an intention
having been given. Republicans out
side of the Senate had supposed that
when the Republican Senatorial eau
Gus decided that the bill should be
supported without amendment it was
assured of a solid Republican vote.
The number of members who lodged
the silver vote in the House was much
smaller than is usually the case when
votes are taken upon questions which
have strong supporters upon both
sides in many districts. Only 81 out
of the $50 members failed to vote or
to pair for or against the concurrence
Of the House in the free coinage sub.
stitute for the House bond bill, which
had been passed by the Senate The
silver men could only muster 90 votes,
while the ants piled up ais.
General Groner. of Virginia, doesn't
take as hopeful view of'the Republi-
cans chances of carrying the Old Do
minion as some of the other prominent
Republicans of that State who occa.
sionally visit Washington do. Speak
ing of the outlook, Gen. Groner said:
"What is the use of talking about it2
The Democrats will count themselves
in. no matter what majority has been
polled against them. On a square
count the State is Republican by 5o,-
600, but with all the election ma
chinery in their hands they can get
any returns they want He added
that he saw nothing to indicate that
Legislature could be elected that will
amend the election law in way that
will prevent dishonesty in manipu-
lating the votes.
There seems to be misapprehen-
sion as to the Republican birthday
celebration on the 22d inst. which was
started by the Union Republican Club
OF Washington, and has been pushed
along as good thing by the National
officials of the League of Republican
Clubs, to judge by publications in
Washington and elsewhere. 1t has
been pointed out by numerous gentle
men, and may be by some ladies, too,
that the Republican party is more
than 40 years old. That there were
local organizations of Republicans in
several States more than forty years
ago we'll known to those who first
proposed this celebration of the for
tieth birthday of the party. But its
birthday as a National organization
was at the National Convention-held
at Pittsburg, Feb. ~ and IS, 1856
which nominated John c. Fremont
for President and launched the Repub-
lican party. which four years later
elected Lincoln President, as Nation
al organization. That is the birthday
that is going to be celebrated. II IS
worthy of mention that two of the
few surviving delegates to that first
convention OF the party-Hon. A. NJ.
Clapp. who was delegate from New
York, and Hon. Lewis Clephane, who
was delegate from the District of
Columbia are now honored mem
bers OF the Union Republican Club of
Washington and will take part in the
celebration of the fortieth birthday.
May they aud the party live to enjoy
many more
The adage. Give a dog a bad
name etc. is recalled by the ex-
perience of Representative Howard, OF
Alabama. who wrote a scandalous
book before the Populists elected him
to the House. He has been almost
completely ostracised by members OF
the House ever since he took his seat.
y