The New York herald., 1871-02-14

She following history of the causes that have led
20 the present struggle between the Murpnyites and
Greeeyes and the future prospects Of The suiie has
been written ny from information received from a
prominent Fenton republican. Although NOT given
In the form o. an interview. some allowance may,
therefore, be made ror partisan coiorlng.
The great local event OF the week politically has
been the brilliant victory over their rivals or the
Greeley wing Of the republican party OF the city IN
tne State Central Committee. This victory although
as yet indecisive is
PREGNANT WITH ULTIMATE TRIUMPH,
and IL all the moro Significant as it was gained,
after square fight In the han Of debate, " the
honest convictions OF few men, formerly affiliated
with ConKling and Murphy, bus who decided to vote
against them. and support what they saw was the
policy best adapted to secure the sohd interests OF
their party. AT tins important
CRISIS OF TEE STRUGGLE
II Is perhaps well 10 look back at the events which
have led 20 SO memorable Geld OF strife. Sucn q
retrospect OF course naturally begins with the
appointment OF Mr. Murphy to the Coliectorship OF
the Custom House and his endorsement by The
administration a lit leader Of the city wing OF The
party.
The necessity for change in the Collectorship,
which lea to Mr.. Murphy's appointment, was very
urgent Mr.. Grinnel was s good man OF business
and maIaEed admirably the routine duties Of
his position; but in the larger and more delicate
task OF healing the wounds OF the party and
making 1t sound and strong and whole his
hands we're altogether too weak. ana he miserabIy
failed. After long deiberation it was determined
60 put Mr. Murphy in his place. The appointments
was at The time strongly opposed: but it pointed
out that although Mr.. Mnrphy had always been
partisan, he had, at least various times, been
A PARTISAN ON EVERY SIDE,
and that he possessed conspicuous genius
perience had proved, for forming new combinations
to suit the crying needs OF the hour. 1t was hoped
that as he had changed his affiliations In the past
with cheerful alacrity the future he would rise
superior TO all the temptations Of faction and by
the
PERSUASIVE pLUMs
OF the Custom House win over into a neutral mode
rate, conclliatory band Of political brethren all men
Irom all sides who were OF any real weight or
strength.
Scarcely however, had Mr. Murphy taken the relns
OF the Custom House car OF triumph than he showed
decidedly partisan sympathes aud when the ure-
limIary arrangements for the State election were be
ing made these distressing omens OF failure became
yet more conspicuous. on every ground it was
necessary that the Saratoga Convention should agree
upon some man VINO, never having been partisan,
would be q ngurehead for whom even the party
mat might be defeated In the convention
could nght without feeling OF humiliation,
thrown away upon man who would direct against
their own bosoms the arrows OF authority they
might help TO place within his grasp. In course Of
time such man appeared upon the scene, as a man
who Is very much needed always does. His name
was Marshall Q. Roberts; ana his unsuilied integrity
vast wealth and unsedsn patriotism led 70 his being
very generally recognized as the
MAN OF THE HOUR
As such, uDhappily, he was at once endorsed by
tne Fenton wing Of the party; and the other side,
without waiting TO calmly weigh all the facts Of the
non that he was a dangerous foe OF the
Conkling faction, and necessarily, therefore,
20 oppose MIN. tooth ana nail, at all hazards But
they soon found that they had OF the labors OF
serves hit upon no Representative OF their own OF
anything like equally commanding character. Tney
BY the severe liness'' o. Mr.. Roberts. This Illness
was OF peculiar character and dated back to
At Mr.. Edwards Pierrepont's handsome villa at
Fishkl at when II had been arranged that General
Grant twho was then visiting West POINT ana Mr..
Roberts should meet, while II had further been ar
ranged by the Conklingites tnat General Grant
should ask NJ. Roberts a personal favor
20 withdraw from the canvass and refuse 10 stand
pe1ore the coming Convention n candidate
Strange TO say, everything arranged duly took place.
ano on lovely midsummer eve, melted by the
peaceful influences OF the hour, Mr. Roberts con-
seuted, out OF respect for General Grant 10 commit
POLITICAL HARI KARI.
THIS is unique instance OF successful personal
pressure, which win probably not Ind many paral-
es IN futuIe political history; az any rate, il this
country, which has always, and with tulh, boasted
its devotion to measures, not men,
Wnen The Convention at last assembled, therefore,
The tliness' OF Mr. Roberts left the Fenionies des-
utute OF a candidate IL fact, all the other men at
last put up for the choice Of the party were in
large measure, tnlDro1nptu selections. They were
three In number. Greeley, Curtis ana WoodloTd. Each
OF them nad OF course, al along had parusans but
most or their ultimate supporters were but late con-
verts TO sense OF their merits Greeley and Curtis
were each supported without distinction OF party
and numbered both Pentonites and Conklingltes
among their friends. Greeley, however, had a
majority OF Fentonites and Curtis majority OF Conk
Hngites. But neither OF them had the necessary
strength to WIN ana Woodl0rd was at last selected
Mooeiord nominated the convention broke mp
with settled conviction that tile democrats would
carry the State.
Retranserred to the city the conflict between the
m nr "a mad
OF here the Murphy and the Rank Smith crowds
at once broke out IN viruent form. Just before
the primaries tha MurphyItos attempted 10 carry
motion through the General Committee TO exclude
from all control OF the election any man holding AN
TAMMAEY HALL,
even thongh such Office were held IN pursuance OF
TIE bargain which last year passed the city charter
and which expressly stipulated that certain COM
missions tno matter which party might be for the
salne ueiue ~ lne ascenoantl shouu De divided
among the two parties. The discussion upon this
question was fierce and animated almost beyond
parallel even IN the history OF the Twenty-second
street Bear Garden, and after waxing hotter and
hotter through the whole OF one memorable Satur-
day night, ended In disgraceful and scandalous
ecene. FINDING mat they were in small but hope
less minority, Colonel Duganne, Charley Spencer
and the other prominent spirits OF the Murphy
faction determined to break up the meeting
II possible In open disorder. They opposed
every motion by the most Irritating forms of parla-
La Legislature are certainly inexcnsabie In
caucus or convention. But this was not ali. They
also began series OF bitter personalities which
soon almost brought on physical struggle between
Mr.. Spencer and Dan d. Conoyer. These gentle
men, white with passion stood Just In front OF the
chairman's table, abusing each other like pick.
pockets, while ali the committee rushed from their
beats and surrounded the prospective combatants
with ring rudely framed, in accordance with
PUGILIsyIC TRADITIONS.
eager yeis and Shouts Of then supporters the loud
rapping OF the gayel and the vain desparingy eio-
Quent appeals OF the chairman for order combined In
q chorus OF discord seldom surpassed Happily
however, the police were called Ia to preserve the
peace, and dozen or more or upliited clubs pre-
Eauf fan an ltopn
dragged its slow length along till after midnight
and having ended In the defeat of the Murphy party
the latter forthwith announced their resolve TO with
draw from the organization, and al once marched
Out OF the room.
day or SO afterwards meetings were held by
TWO REPUBLICAE COMMITTEES
upon the same evening and the world doubted no