New-York tribune., 1871-09-11
NEW-YORK POLITICS.
Mr.. CONKLING's RECORD.
Hon ROSCOE CosKLISo, o. g. Senator.

SIR: have read your letter written to the
Hon. John A. Grswod, on the 10th, ut, and published
In The Gev York Daily Times Of the 4th inst For many
years past have been your personal and political r1end
and take the liberty Of addressing yon frank letter on
the subject Of which you write. Having done what
could In my humble way aid in your election 70 the
United States Senate and having desired your political
success and advancement and hoped you would at oil
times by your course toward and measures prove
yourself both competent and worthy feel that need
make other excuse for writing you.
Those things which entitle any political party to the
continued confidence and support OF the people are
nrst correct principles and second, honest capable
men, who fairly represent those principles to occupy ts
places Of trust and emolument The weakness OF the
Democratic party to-day in the State OF not
much owing to the errors OF ts enunciaed doctrines
though those in all conscience bad enough-as 10 tho
deeply settled conviction In the minds OF the people thss
ts leaders and oce-hOlders corrupt ana unworthy
Of their trusts. The "Tammany Ring" at the head OF
which arc Tweed, Connolly & Co., Is the salient po'ns
upon which make battle against the Democratic
party to-day 1t Is because these men control the Demo
cratic party that all good honest men, who have always
voted that ticket refuse to aid that party any longer
Now, Mr. Conhling how is 1t with the Republican party
In the State to-day You substantially correct In
assuming that "the Republicans in this State not
divided upon any principle at stake now, upon any
practical measure" Nor do they refuse fight the bat
ties Of the party because "oaves have not TO their
baskets, or fishes to their nets" II Ia not
because this that Republican does not
hold Office, has not voice IN the
councils which make and unmake officers that the great
OF the party feel outraged and dsgusted No, 1t
for far different reason, and yOu Mr Conkling, I
sorry say largely responsible for It. Men have
forgotten the struggles Of the past They cannot
forget the faithful the false and trescherous There
was time in the history Of the Republican party when
upon ts and the Of the principles and
men which controlled destnes depended the fate OF
the nation During that time were tried, and the
verdict rendered will be that which the people will
demand judgment upon. Those who were traitors then,
they will regard worthy their leadership Those
who were true steadfast then. will be trusted until
come action of theirs shall render them unworthy OF
further confidence.
Now Mr. Conkling, let look at yOur responsibility
In regard to the difficulties existing in the Republican
party When the Of Gen. Z. A. Meritt-than whom
O more honest and competent man is hard TO fnd-was
sent by the President the Senate nominee for the
Office OF Naval Officer OF the Port OF New York evening
journal in this city was furnished with and published
article containing charges which unjust and untrue
and which II stated upon the most Trustworthy author
ity you indorsed and substanated and which charges
at the time you must have known were not true When
the name OF James Kelley OF this city sent to the
Senate for the position of Postmaster here yon strongly
urged his confirmation although you knew that he had
followed the fortunes OF Andrew johnson over into the
Democratic party, filled his Office with men who acted
in the same way, and did all In his power To
defeat the Republican candidates for election In.
the State. Had you have stopped here much
mischief would have been avoided But you urged the
appointment Of Thomas Murphy for Collector OF the
Port OF New-York and exerted yourself to the utmost
TO secure his confirmation You did this, though you
knew he had made vast Of money out OF the Gov
ernment through Government contracts for caps and
blankets for soldiers in the field; that he had be-
ayed the Republican party at every point that he aud
his associates the "Simon pure" Tinmany Hall
Republicans; that he had voted in the State Senate
the 5th Of April 1885, with Ben Wood and the other Dem
ocratc against the resolution requesting
United States Senators to vote to pass the Civil Rights
bill the veto of Andrew Johnson that on the same
day he voted with the Democratic Senators against the
Joint Resolution OF Senate and Assembly declaring In
favor or the Extension Of Equal Suffrage in the Dis
trict OF Columbia;" that subsequently he acted
with the Tammany Ring in passing the "New
Charter" which has given this Ring full sway New
York City; that he helped break up the Republican
Tax Commission and put II in the hands of Tammany,
upon the condition that he and bis friend Crowley who
i by your aid U. s. Disrict-Atorney of the North
District OF this sate should have half the patronage
Of the office which they got; that he and Is
nectcd with Tweed Connolly Co. in large real estate
transactions in this city; that he of their Com
mssioners In the Broadway widening job; that he
made by them membcr OF the School Board that in -
1866 he supported Hoffman and the entire Democratic
state ticket not only by voting ticket by
the contribution Of large sums Of money that from that
time on he repeatedly excluded from all the Repub
lican State Conventions delegates thereof knowing
him to be traitor the You. Mr. Conkling,
knowing all thes. things OF this man. forced him upon
the people position which, in pecunary Cmoument
and responsibility patronage, and power, has equal
in the land.
And what is the result No does he take this,
place than he to he the controlling spirit Of the
party the State. He tells, in effect, his employees and
the people that II they Ito not support him and his policy
they will BE- regarded enemies OF Gen Grant and his
administration. He discharges faithful officers If they
do politically obey his beck and nod. and appoints
men who VIGOROUSLY unqualified las he is hlmselD
for the positions conferred He promises places for the
votes OF delegates In conventions, and when he has
secured the machinery OF the party by corruption and
fraud plays the old confidence game with the Admin
istration claiming that people the great
party, sustaining him. He is
about to 20 back TO the people again and try
to hoodwink them by claiming that 10 oppose him would
Ike to oppose "the Administration" and in all this, Mr.
Conkng, you are aiding and abetting. You did not
stop here You assisted to procure the discharge
Of other competent and faithful officers and men, who
had never faered in their allegiance and labor for the
party in this city and throughout the State, simply be-
cause they msnhood.t resist the tyranny and
outrsges of this Murphy and act for what they be-
evcd be the honor and good Of the Republican party
You secured appointment Of Richard Crowley, who
had long worked In the traces OF the Tammany Ring
But will not enumerate more. Should you desire,
will name many more OF the appointments and dismis-
,as which have shaken the faith Of the people In the
wisdom Of your course. But this Ia not all you have
lone. You lent your aid and support In the das
ardly attempt to break up the party in this city.
You want to perpetuate the reign Of Murphy Co., and
do you want the local machinery here that the dele
rates may be easily controlled IN State convention and
he party machinery in the State kept under Custom