The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-04
The Quay Victory in PENNSYLVANIA.

Some clean minded people may be as
tonished to learn that the Hon. Matthew
Stanley Quay has effected a breach in the
defences of his opponents. and seems now
likely TO make his way to the United
States Senate with the aid Of three or
four alleged Democratic votes. AS Mr..
Quay divides with Senator Hanna the
honor of representing every possible ideal,
standard method and practice abhorred
and condemned by Democrats, at first
blush such a thing would appear incon-
ceivable. Almost equally does it seem
! strange that a great State. largely in
habited by sincere and simple straight
forward folk OF sturdy pre-revolutionary
genesis, should regularly give majorities
OF from two hundred thousand to three
hundred and fifty thousand TO the party
which acknowledges the leadership and
control of persons like Hanna and Quay.
Upon analysis, however, the riddle
solves itself. The people of Pennsylvania
are obliged to choose between the frankly
and openly corrupt politicians of the Re-
publican organization and the kind of
Democrats" VINO can generally be count
ed on to assist the ambitions of individuals
of the Quay stamp, and hence must be
regarded as open to purchase. OF the
two. the Republican jobbers, tricksters,
and bribers are by far the more respect
able and worthy of public confidence.
Before dismissing this branch of the
subject it is not improper to say that
the Democrat in the Keystone Legisla-
ture who would vote to return Matthew
Stanley Quay to the United States Senate
is the sort of person who would throw the
portraits of Jefferson and Jackson into
the street, and hang the picture of Thad-
deus Stevens in his parlor for the delecta-
ton and political excitation of his family
and friends
We are panied in being compelled 10 say
hat if Mr. Quay is sent to the Senate by
Democratic means it will not be the first
time such a thing has happened in the
history of the Commonwealth he aspires
once more to represent in Washington. In
1897 as result of the triple-headed cam
paign of 1856, in which James Buchanan, |
Millard Fillmore, and John c. Fremont |
were candidates for the Presidency. the |
Legislature of Pennsylvania was Demo- |
cratic. In the State election which had |
been held in October, 1856, as the local /
custom then was, the Democratic party |
was victorious, although its Legislative |
majority was cut to a very close figure, on
account of successes gained in various |
counties and towns in the two other po-
litical interests Still there was a safe /
Democratic majority on joint ballot.
On the assembling of the Legislature in !
January, 1857, the Democratic Senators /
and Representatives met in caucus and /
nominated the Hon. John w. Forney to /
the Senatorship. The Republicans who /
formed the majority of the opposition were
entirely hopeless of bestowing more than
complimentary nomination upon some
exponent Of their party. At this juncture
Simon Cameron appeared with the re-
markable proposition that, if the Repub-
liclns would support him, he could be
elected, although it was obvious that no
other person supported by them could be.
Simon Cameron was not a personally popu-
lar man in those days, nor was he one
trusted by his political associates. But, as
it was a choice between the possibility OF
his being able to accomplish his purpose,
ator. the Republicans agreed to stand b.
him. The rest is easy TO understand. There
was a miraculous conversion" of three
and Simon Cameron was
elected.
We need not stop to discuss the moral
character of the Democrats who thus
oolted their caucus pledges violated their
party feaIty. and forfeited the respect OF
al honest people. Like the Democrats in
the present Pennsylvania Legislature. such
people are. subjects fer study by profess
sional criminologists rather than COM
ment the part of the press. But as
long as they exist in lots 10 suit the mar
ket, no one need wonder, and it is not
competent for anyone 10 complain that
remains Republican State
The Having Court.