The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-04-05
A "SHOCKlNG AND CRUEL
LIBEL"

One of the most inter esting articles
from the pen of New Jersey writer
that has appeared in many years has
Just been published.i in the Newark pa
pers. 1t is by Mahlon Pitney, of Morris
county, president of the state senate
in its last session, and who is about
to retire from political life to assume
the duties of q justice of the supreme
court. The purpose of Judge Pit
ney in his communication is to de-
fend the senate over which he pre-
sided, and incidently the whole
legislature, from an attack by the
Newark Sunday Call, which denounc-
ed that legislature as debauched
corrupt, incapable of good action
and subservient to the bosses. j"
OF this charge Senator Pitney says:
1t is as cruel and unjust all accusation
as have ever read, even in the columns
of an INSCRIPTIONS partisan journal,
and it is entirely out OF place in the
columns of a newspaper which as
sumes to be independent and enlight-
ened.
In fact he declares it to be a
shocking and cruel libel" And the
senator does not content himself with
a general denial of the aspersions
made. His letter is long, and it
analyses both the work of the session
and the character of it's membership
with the closest particularly, as to
the names of senators and assembly
men, and the measures that were
passed or killed. His summary
which is apparent the accuser has
the vaguest generalities, avoiding
the senator's challenge to point out
a single act, an act which warrants
the sweeping charges made as to the
corruption and subserviency of the
legislature to corporate influences and
bosses-is as follows
Now, | aver the fact to be that
in the recent session practically
every bill that was in the interest
of the great corporations, and practi
cally every bill that was backed by a
strong "lobby" was defeated. The
"lobby' returned from Trenton
empty handed. Other journals have
publicly ACKNOWLEDGED this fact. Why
can you not acknowledge it? 1t is a
fact, whether you admit it or not
Judge Pitney in this letter declares
that his own political career is closed,
but he has certainly rounded it up
with one of the most powerful vindi-
cations of the party of his life long
faith and love, as to its actions in the
state of his BIRTH that could be made
He says it was not his purpose to en-
ter into general political discussion,
but he makes this incidental refer
ence to the merits of the two great
parties in New Jersey.
You say that the only remedy for
such a condition is a political change
This suggestion admits of very COM
plete reply from the standpoint of a
Republican partisan, by comparison
of the times that are now, with the
times that are past.
And here the senator touches upon
an argument wherein dwells the most
positive assurance of continued Re-
publican supremacy in this state. 1t
is the comparison of records. 1t has
been our steadfast conviction-never
for moment disturbed by the mum
erous indications that the Democratic
leaders of the state are going to make
a desperate effort to recover it's con-
troll by that party in the election of
next fall-that when such COMPARE
son is fully made, as it will be in due
time, the Democratic pretensions will
be again overwhelmed. Senator
Pitney's article is a most effective
opening of the argument for the Re-
publican party, n-political as it is
intended to be. 1t is, in fact, all the
stronger by reason of its impartiality,
as Democrats will read it with salts
faction because it defends the rep
resentatives of that party in the last
legislature as strongly as it does the
Republicans. But it will not be
forgotten that this Legislature was
under Republican control, and that the
Democrats were powerless for mischief
even had they been disposed to make
it, 1t is cordially admitted on all
sides that never did we have leglsla-
tive body that was freer from partisan
spirit and unwholesome influence of
any kind. that worked more harmon
L..
usefully for the public int erests,
than did the last one. The test that
is to be applied when the next political
campaign opens will not be limited to
the session Of last winter. 1t will
extend back for a quarter of CEN
fury ana will embrace the times