The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-10-05

great campaign OF 1855. which elected
General BENJAMIN Harrison president
Of the United States. Who does not
recall that memorable political bat
tie? Surely the public DO remember il,
though Senator Quay's detractors
would be nightly pleased IL people
would only forget this period in Ameri-
can history.
Grover Cleveland had served as
president for four years, having been
declared elected in 1884 over that prince
II statesmen. James G. Blaine. by the
rote OF New York. though il was gen.
,raliy believed. and now generally con-
; eeded. that Mr. Blaine had carried
! New York. but had been counted out
/ in that state, and therefore cheated out
Of the presidency. Upon the day the
! great campaign of 1883 opened Chair
, man Quay registered a VOW that there
should be no cheating that time. and
that in the event Of General HarrisOn's
election he should be president This
IS what he said:
This is a Republican state Blaine
was elected. do not propose that the
Democrats shall steal New York from
AcoA AaAcE AE6lcAA aNOn nA4rN
be stopped The recount and the
change Of votes from Harrison to
Cleveland must be prevented at all
. hazards. This must and shall be an
, honest election
! THE HISTORIC CAMPAIGN OF 1883.
And what a magnificent campaign It
was. and how adroitly managed, In
I spite of the fact that the whole United
States government, with its hundreds
OF thousands OF efficeholders; was in
the hands of the Democrats. and Tam
many Hall was then in the zenith Of
its power. Harrison was elected, hav-
ing carried New York. though by a
small majority. But the contest did
not end with the close of the polls In
New York The Tammany machine.
finding itself beaten. endeavOred TO re-
peat the work of lSS4-coCnt out the
Republican candidate. and throughout
that memorable night and until even
ing Of the following day desperate
tactics We're resorted TO in the effort
to count Cleveland in. But Chairman
Quay was ready for them. having pre-
pared fer just such an emergency. The
great conspiracy OF the Tammanyites
was foiled. and General Harrison was
duly declared elected president of the
United States. There was no man in
America more Iauded then than Sena-
tor Quay. BY universal accord he was
declared the most masterful leader
known to American politics. His sue
cessor as chairman. General ]. S.
Clarkson, said of him:
He is the greatest political general
that the first century of partisan poll
ties has developed. The Republican
party win never know. and 1t could
never repay it if ii did know. the SER
vices rendered to it In such a time OF
doubt and peril by Senator Quay"
A MAGNIFICENT TRIBUTE.
When he resigned the national chair
manship. a couple OF years after the
election. the committee paid him a
glorious tribute. saying. among other
/ things:
In submitting to It This resignation.
/ with so much of reluctance and per-
sonal regret. We desire to express from
our own knowledge Of the facts OF his
pre-eminent service 10 the party, our
sense OF the deep obligation under
which he has placed the Republican
party and the cause of good govern
ment and patriotism in the United
States. He undertook the leadership
OF doubtful contest at a time when
the Republican party was disheartened
/ and the Democratic party confident in
I the power OF supreme control in the
government Of the nation. and when
/ the odds OF the contest were against
our party. and by his matchless power.
his uneQualed skill in resources, and
I his genius tO-command victory, won for
has party an unprecedented victory IN
the face Of expected defeat In the
/ great contest Of 1855 in the months Of
severe effort then. and in the years of
| personal association with him since,
we have learned to know the nobility
Of the man. and we desire in this con-
spicuOus manner to place on public
record. for the present and for the fu-
tnre, as an enduring answer 10 the par
tisan assaults Of the defeated enemy.
our testimony in appreciation Of his
public services md his personal worth
How different this from the vilifica-
ton and abuse now heaped upon him
by the irresponsible band Of guerillas
now tramping up and down the state.
who. though claiming to ,,e Republi-
cans. have made an alliance with that
Democracy which Senator Quay drove
out Of power in 1858,
MONEY IN POLITICS.
In the campaign of 1855 a consider
able sum Of money was spent by the
Republican national committee, as
. there always is in presidential cleo
tons: something over s1,000.000 it was
in that contest The amount named,
FOR purposes OF organization and educa-
ton. passed through the hands OF
Chairman Quay. OF the national COM
mittee. This sum was raised by q
subcommittee. known as the advisory
committee. OF which John WanamakeF
was chairman. And now the Hon.
John Wanamaker is traversing the
state. denouncing Senator Quay for the
''use Of money In politics." Is Il q sim
ful act to use" money Il politics, and
a sanity act to raise that seIfsame
money? What a beautiful distinction
this is. Surely. Consistency. thou art
a jewell"
Fer his share in the memorable cam
paign OF 1SSS Mr.. Quay was maligned
by every Democratic newspaper in
America. and In due time the jackals
and coyotes Of his own party. Jealous OF
his position and influence. took up the
~ 1A0 mt At H-AAA ~ His ucGtE-
HOW BASE is INGRATITUDE!
For his share m the 1883 campaign Mr..
Wanamaker kas made postmaster gem
eral. as a personal concession TO SEN
atOr QUAY and his colleagues OF the
national committee, who presented only
this one request TO the president-eiect.
And Mr.. Wanamaker had no sooner
taken his seat at the cabinet table than
he began to establish his own machine
in Pennsylvania, antagonIstic 10 the
plans and purposes Of him by whom he
was called from the seciusion OF mer-
chaneizing to public life
And stu moralists write Of gratitude
and poets sing Of Il,
What OF Senator Quay's services in
the senate? No Pennsylvania who has
occupied a seat in that DISTINGUISHED
body has ever done so much for his
native state as Senator Quay
he is not a handsome man. He would
not take first prize az a beauty show.
One Of his eyes Is a little too much ont
ef plumb for that Nor would he wake
the echoes II called upon TO address an