The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-22
MR.. QUAY INNOCENT
Continued from First Page.

AIOm IrBI rage. !
be disappointment to every lover of
justice and every friend of good govern
ment throughout the United States 1t
serves to emphasize the difficulty of con-
Vlctlng potent political defendants charg-
eu with crime, no matter how clear, con-
Vincing and overwhelming the evidence
may be. The story of the corrupt use
and speculation in public money in Penn
sylvania is an old one, and has been a
matter or notorious accusation against a
long line of state treasurers and political
bosses for many years Mr.. Quay him
sell has been again and again accused of
| participation in treasury jobbing by the
newspapers of this and other states, with
circumstantial detail. Heretofore, how
ever, the basis for these accusations
largely consisted of oral testimony and
of allegations by political opponents. The
case which terminated today, unlike pre-
viouS accusations, was founded exclu-
SiVely upon documentary proof III his own
handwriting and that of his friends and
|, confederateS. The evidence of his guilt
did not depend upon the varacity of any
man or men, but was supported eXclu-
sively by his own letter, and by written
entries and statements recorded by his
trusted friends and supporters. From
the day the prosecution against him was
instituted until the verdict was recorded
he has sought by every device to delay
and obstruct the efforts of the common
walth's officers to produce the written
evidence of his misdoing and to bring
him to trial for his offense.
"This is a new chapter of shame for
Pennsylvania, a record of failure in the
administration of Justice that will do
much to encourage corruptlomSts ana
public plunderers generally throughout
the country. The first shout of defiant
exultation over his acquittal proceeded
from the governor of the commonwealth,
who has promptly appointed him Unit
ed States senator, without authority, IN
violation of law, and in defiance OF the
wil of the people as expressed In the
votes in the legislature 1t is htting IN
every respect that the keystone built up
. by Quay politicians shouio De III the soN-
ernors chair.
.Quay. has got his technical verdict
hut the trial of corruptionists and pubic
plunderers will still go on.
United States Senator Bo1es Penrose
said:
"The appointment of Senator Quay by
the governor is the logical result OF the
situation Mr.. Quay's leadership IN tile
Republican party and his candidacy LOT
recollection as senator were made. issues
in the gubernatorial campaign or laSc
fall by the Democratic party, and that
faction of the Republican party which, on
election day, generally turned In Tor the
Democratic candidate.
1.-THE Republican candidate Tor gov
ernor, after a campaign of unparalleled
MISREPRESENTATION and villifcation, was
elected by a great plurality, and Mr..
Quay's candidacy-this issue having been
forced by the opposition-was indirectly
sustained by the vote of the people.
sHThe legislature convened, and eau
Gus of the Republican members was held,
according to usage, and proceeded to
nominate a senator. Up to a short time
before the meeting Of the caucus Mr..
Quay was certain of large majority
in that body and had personal assur-
ances that nearly all Republican mem
bers would attend and abide by it's de-
cision At the last moment minority
of less than one-third refused to attend,
and the Republican nominee OF the eau
Gus, although receiving over two-th1rds
of his party vote, failed to receive ma
jority Of all members of the legislature,
as required by the act of congress. The
majority refused to yield to the dictation
of the majority, and failure to elect
senator was the result.
"In this contest Mr.. Quay really won
one of the greatest victories Of his long
political career The regular Republi-
cans in the legislature, representing the
Pennsylvania, fought to sustain the
principle of majority rule In the party,
and in that contention was successful. A
notable precedent was created, and 1t
will be many years before similar at
tempt is made by the minority to hold
I'D the will of the majority in the cleo
ton of a senator in this state. Those
members of the legislature who stood
so steadfastly for principle are entitled
to great praise, and their course has
been and will be vindicated by the SEN
timent of the Republican party of the