The Washington weekly post., 1900-05-01

Post reporter who met Senator Vest
In the corridor OF the Senate yesterday
asked him II he had seen ex-senator Quay
since the vote on Tuesday. He replied
quietly that he had not. and had only
| heard from him through his intervlsy
in The Pes
1 am glad 20 see he said, that Quay
is full OF fight and anxious to meet his
enemies in the open field. where no coa-
stitutioual question intervenes. The peo-
pie who think that Quay IS cut OF public
lie are egregicusly mistaken. He is a
born fghter, End I'm nay opinion the bold
est and ablest Political leader In the Unit
ed states. His power In pennsylvania is
not surprising TO one who'knows him "a
l do. He is rssourCeful. vigllant, saga
cieus and has, above all. that rare quail
ity OF great leadership which enables him
to inspire his followers with absolute
confidence.
He Is painted by his enemies as a
monster OF wiCkedness but in fact he ,s
a model husband, father, and brother
While his Kindness % the poor and unfor-
tunate is unCeasing I could, from my
own personal knowledge, FIJI a volume
with Instances Of his unseltish charity 10
people who had not the slightest claim
upon him.
1t Is said by his opponents that the
vote in the Senate on Tuesday was q
triumph of good morals and a personal
rebuke to Quay. ] do not know what
secret motives influenced other Senator's,
but | can say most emphatically that my
vote was based on constitutional grounds
alone. Net a word even of criticism was
uttered against quay in the debate, and II
he had been attacked l should have spoken
as personal friend in his defense
Influenced by ConstituIionnI Views.
'In 1881, when the Bell case was before
the Senate. | spoke and voted against the
cOnstitutisnal power Of a governor TO
make an appointment Of United States
Senator after the legislature, with full
opportunity had failed or refused TO elect.
have so spoken and voted every time
the question has been before the Senate
since. aud while I was Mr.. Quay's de-
voted friend. | WAS unable. after full ex-
animation, to change my views. II there
mad been any doubt with me on the SUBJ
ject, / woutathsve refrained from voting,
but no such ssRbt existed. and L could see
10 other way than TO support the Consti-
tutionS as l mad sworn 10 do | do not
belong 10 this modern school which is
teaching the young men of the United
States that our country has Outgrown the
Constitution. and that the young giant
can no longer be amused by the nursery
songs of his childhood. / believe that
the men who are teaching this doctrine
are worse enemies of the republic than
its armed foes, and if they succeed in
the public mind by their
sneeTs At the Constitution and those who
revere it. it will not be long until our
free institutions are destroyed. / have
the consolation of knowing that In my
service of twenty-five years In the Sem
ate l have never knowingly given a vote
or uttered sentence IN opposition to
the Constitution as | understood It. On
Dne occasion | was compelled to disregard
the instructions Of my own legislature
when ii directed me to support what |
thought TO be an unconstitutional meas
IRE.
VIII He a Lifetime sorrow.
This is the reason of my voting
against Mr.. Quay. and, right or wrong.
{ Will be a lifetime sorrow that / was
constrained TO iniiict pain and disappoint-
nent upon my best friend
These same people wSa are abusing
quay are loading me with enSomiums
)n account of my vote against him. 1
10 not want their praise, for / appreciate
he fact that they care nothing for me,
,ut are actusted alone by hostility TO
quay. l do not sympathize with them
'r their motives, and have no hesitation
n saying that if We are 10 have another
Republican Senator from Pennsylvania, [
prefer Quay to any one else. He Is an
,pen. generous foe. and his opponents
llways knew where 10 find him / sim
,erely hope that he may be elected by
lie legislature Of Pennsylvania next win
eT. and when he comes back to the SEN
Ite none viii welcome him more cordially
han myself
If the Republicans Of Pennsylvania
vii take advice from a Democrat they
will elect him, for / know personally that
10 one can serve the State more efficient
ly than Matthew Stanley Quay"