The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-27
HOUSTON. FRIDAY, APRIL ~, 1900
TEN PAGES TODAY
A rorrnnrSa nosslsM.

When we look behind the fact Of the
senate vote against Mr. Quay and discover
the source OF the forces that finally drove
him hack into private life and have so
seriously Impaired his prestige and weak
ened his power can We not at last revive
the almost dead hope that there is stlll
virility enough in the people Of this coun-
try to check the tide OF corrupt politics
which for some time past has been threat
ening 10 engulf and destroy our instltu
tions?
Only two years or 90 ago, Mr. Quay was
entrenched politically in Pennsylvania in
what was thought to be an lmpregnable
position. For years he had been the ablest
lieutenant OF the Cameron ring. Finally
he became the master, and It is the tosti-
mony OF friend and foe alike to his ability
in such direction that he had behind him
and under his absolute control the most
far-reachIng. the most yigllant aud active.
the most perfect and above all the most
INSCRIPTIONS political organization. or ma
chine. that ever dominated any separate
try. The distribution OF office and the col
lection and disbursement of machine rev.
enues were reduced to almost an exact
science and upon the apex OF the seem
ingly immovable pyramid stood Matthew
S. Quay, the unquestioned and autocratio
master OF all beneath his survey.
The democratic party hurled itself re-
peatedly against this bulwarl OF Doodle
built and machine made politics only to
reooll broken and dsprted. The decent
republican sentiment OF Pennsylvania fret
ted and rebe.ad In vain, The State seemed
TO be hopelessly and forever given over to
bossism based on systematlaed corrup-
ton and fayoritsm Mr.. Quay's fortunes
politically looked as II they we're founded
on rock and could not fall
IL was then that the storm arose which
has at last warped the house and stralnea
the very foundations. John Wanamaker
went before the masses of his State With
complete story OF tho methods and rami-
tcations OF the "maehlne' He got down
TO concrete argument. He gave facts aud
figures. He exposed the sale OF office and
the virtual onsiayement of and contempt
for the people. He appealed to the man
hood and patriotism and sense Of fairness
and decency OF his auditors, aud, To-! When
the next legislature assembled the Quay
majority was gone. The senate has JUST
completed what Mr., Wanamaker began
1t was a notable victory. II Is not a
sweeping one; the enemy has not been
crushed, nor placed beyond the power OF
striking other dangerous and possibly sue
oessful blows, But It has been demon
strated that The greatest can be broush,
low and even the most arrogant bosslsm
has been taught = lesson that It viii no
soon forget, There is an element of divin.
ity about the people that suffers long nut
Is patient. but It is possible to arouse tn,
popular Indignation, after all. 10 a pitch
where petty despots must tremble.
The populace once impressed with the
vnlnerabllity OF an idol. or a boss, art
less disposed thereafter to yield tina,
slaylsh obedience to the machine viii,
which was their won't and the way /.
opened for greater successes in the futur.
u the forces Of good government and op.
ponents Of fnvoritism and corruption ana
'elhshness Wanamsker has placed tn,
'pening wedge, the senate has struck still
mother blow and II viii not be imposs,bI
now for Pennsylvania to redeem itser
within the near future