New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-22
UNSETTLED QUESTIONS.

The we'll known fact that unsettled questions
have no pity for the repose OF nations suggests
many distressing thoughts in connection Win
the ending OF Senator Raines's libel suit against
The New-York Press" and its late Editor the
Hon. Iemuel Ely Quigg. For ii IS propaoie
that no action at law ever left more unsettled
onps1iOns ClamornG for their answers than are
now extant in consequence OF the disagreement
of the Jury in this celebrated case Inc AT
mOsphere is full Of Interrogation MARKS anu
nobody can walk abroad without danger oil
running against some of them. Usually III
case of q failure to find a verdict there is
circumference Of good men and true on one
side or the other. so that either the plainur
mr. the defendant Is able to sOlace himself with
the reflection that he has the best Of 1t. But IN
this instance the Jury split even and neither
party is justified in pointing the finger or SUI
nerioritv az the other Far on in summers that
we may not see another jury may decide the
issue. but in the mean time everything that
was In doubt remains unsettled.
For the purpose of indicating how much IS
still obscure we recall the main facts which
are not in dispute. During the legislative scS-
sion of 1895 a bill for the Increase OF iremen $
salaries. for which Mr.. Quigg felt profound
affection. refused so ohstinately 10 emerge from
the committee TO which it had been referred A.
20 excite Mr.. Quigg's anxiety and Indignation,
and ultimately to cause him to charge through
the editorial columns Of "The Press that II
was being held up by the Hon Louis +. Payn
in the interest of certain persons who had 10
be taken care Of" and Of whom Mr. Payn was
taking carc-the care thus bestowed including
all necessary precautions for the safe delivery
~ thair rpsDpcfiVp and apuTOnri1fp
shares of a doodle fund. amounting 10 $4,000.
collected from among the iircmcn. who were
10 hc the benefcarics of the bill. one of The
pcrsons thus described as the objects Of Mr..
Payn's sollctude was Senator Raincs. who in
due time sued THE Press and the Hon Lem
uel Ely Quigg for damages in the sum Of
$4,000 This is the suit which has just ended
in a miStrial, with six obstinate jurymen for
the plaintiff and six for the defendants.
! If the main question were the only question
left undetermined the situation would be sufii-
clently distressing. But by the Ingenuity Of
/ counsel on both sides an infinite number and
variety of side issues were introduced into the
case as to all Of which the public remains in
condition Of the most painful suspense They
! are imbedded I'm the testimony and the argu-
ments. hut without verdict we have no means
D .
we do not know whether, IN the vivid language
! of the defendants counsel. the Canandaigua
| lamb was or was not bllssfully unconscious Of
the vocation Of the Chatham wolf We do not
know whether Mr.. Payn. having finally been
called off, by Mr.. Plat, really felt that Mr..
/ Qugg owed him no gratitude, or simply cx-
pressed himself to that effect by way Of sar-
/ casm because Mr. Quiggs thanks were not ten
dered IN a satisfactory manner. It remains I'M
certain whether at the Republican state Con
vention Of 1896 Mr.. Qugg merely asked Mr..
Payn some trivial question about the New York
delegation or entrcated him in the hour Of his
great triumph 10 accept a cOntrlte apology for
accusations which had caused Mr. Qugg many
n slecpless night. II s impossible 10 say post
lively whether every breath which Mr. Quigg
/ oXhales Is for the benefit OF Mr. Quigg or
whether when he snecZcs he does occasionally
snceze FOR the Grand Old Republican party.
We shall probably never be able 70 ascertain
whether a considerable sum Of money passed
through the hands Of Mr. Payn to the District
Attorney OF Albany County, now dead, on ac-
count Of legal services duly rendered. or was
otherwise disposed Of In ways which have os-
capped the recollection Of Mr. Payn Nor is
there any immediate prospect Of learning
whether or not Mr.. Quigg is a paupcr from
whom nothing can be collected
Finally we shall never know why Mr. Plat.
nt time when his powers as n callcroff were
In their meridian. did not call off the persons
chiefly concerned from the trial OF n suit which
has produced queer picture Of civil GOV
eminent IN the State Of Ncw-YorI,
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